Backwaiter Career Overview

A Backwaiter plays a crucial supporting role in the restaurant industry, working alongside Waiters, Bartenders and kitchen staff to ensure smooth service and an exceptional dining experience for guests. Often considered an entry-level position in fine dining establishments, this role is perfect for those looking to gain hands-on experience in hospitality and advance their careers in the food service industry.

What Does a Backwaiter Do?

A Backwaiter plays a crucial support role in restaurant service, helping maintain smooth operations and enhancing the guest experience. Their responsibilities focus on assisting Servers, keeping the dining area clean and ensuring efficient service flow.

Setting and resetting tables

Backwaiters ensure tables are clean, properly set with utensils and ready for new guests. This involves wiping surfaces, arranging tableware neatly and maintaining a polished presentation that meets restaurant standards.

Delivering food and beverages

Assisting Servers by bringing dishes from the kitchen to tables is a key responsibility. This helps service run smoothly, reduces wait times for guests and ensures food arrives at the correct temperature and presentation.

Clearing tables

Backwaiters remove empty plates and glassware efficiently to maintain a tidy dining area. They also reset tables quickly to accommodate new guests and keep the restaurant running at an optimal pace.

Refilling drinks

Keeping guests’ water glasses full and assisting with beverage service helps maintain a high level of hospitality. Backwaiters also monitor tables for any additional drink needs, ensuring prompt and attentive service.

Coordinating with the kitchen

Acting as a bridge between the front-of-house and back-of-house teams, Backwaiters ensure food reaches the correct tables in a timely manner. They communicate special requests or modifications to keep guests satisfied.

Supporting waitstaff

Backwaiters provide extra hands during busy shifts by assisting with large parties or high-demand periods. This teamwork allows servers to focus on guest interactions while ensuring service remains efficient.

Maintaining cleanliness

Keeping the dining area tidy and organized is an essential part of the role. This includes sweeping floors, wiping down surfaces and ensuring the restaurant meets health and safety standards.

Backwaiter vs. Busser

While the roles of a Backwaiter and a Busser share some similarities, they are distinct positions in a restaurant. A Busser primarily focuses on clearing and resetting tables, ensuring a quick turnaround between guests.

Their main responsibility is maintaining the cleanliness of the dining area and assisting in resetting the table for the next service.

In contrast, a Backwaiter not only helps with clearing tables but also plays a more active role in service by delivering food, refilling drinks and supporting Waiters directly. Backwaiters act as a crucial link between the kitchen and the dining area, ensuring seamless service and an elevated guest experience.

Where Do Backwaiters Work?

Backwaiters are typically employed in high-end restaurants, fine dining establishments, hotels, country clubs and catering events.

Their role is essential in busy environments where superior customer service is expected. While casual restaurants may not always have a dedicated Backwaiter, fine dining venues rely on them to provide guests with an elevated experience.

Top Skills Every Backwaiter Should Have

Working as a Backwaiter requires a mix of technical skills and personal qualities to succeed in the role:

• Attention to detail: Ensuring tables are set correctly and guests’ needs are met promptly.
• Multitasking ability: Handling multiple tasks at once, from refilling drinks to assisting with food delivery.
• Strong communication skills: Effectively relaying messages between Servers, kitchen staff and guests.
• Physical stamina: The job involves being on your feet for long hours, carrying trays and clearing tables quickly.
• Teamwork: Working efficiently with Waiters and kitchen staff to create a smooth dining experience.
• Basic food and beverage knowledge: Understanding menu items, ingredients and proper serving techniques.

How To Become a Backwaiter

Becoming a Backwaiter is a great way to start a career in the restaurant industry, especially in fine dining. This role requires strong teamwork, attention to detail and a willingness to support the service team. Follow these steps to get started.

1. Gain entry-level experience

Many Backwaiters begin as Bussers or Food Runners, gaining hands-on experience in restaurant operations. Previous experience in a fast-paced hospitality environment can be helpful.

2. Develop key skills

Customer service, multitasking and teamwork are essential. Some restaurants offer training programs to help new employees develop these skills.

3. Learn about food and beverage service

Familiarizing yourself with fine dining etiquette, menu knowledge and wine pairings can give you an advantage, especially in upscale restaurants.

4. Apply for Backwaiter positions

Many high-end restaurants and hotels are always looking for reliable Backwaiters. Highlight any prior restaurant experience, your ability to work in a fast-paced environment and your teamwork skills when applying.

5. Advance your career

With experience, Backwaiters can move up to become full-time Waiters, Bartenders or even Restaurant Managers.

Pros and Cons of Working as a Backwaiter

A career as a Backwaiter can be a great starting point in the hospitality industry, but like any job, it comes with both advantages and challenges. While it provides valuable experience and an opportunity to learn from industry professionals, it also requires physical stamina and the ability to work under pressure. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of the role.

Pros

• Valuable industry experience: A great starting point for those looking to move up in hospitality.
• Networking opportunities: Work closely with experienced professionals and learn from them.
• Tips and gratuities: Many Backwaiters receive a share of tips from Waitstaff.
• Fast-paced, engaging work environment: Ideal for those who enjoy active roles.

Cons

• Physically demanding: Requires lifting, bending and being on your feet for long shifts.
• Lower pay compared to Waiters: While tips help, base pay is usually lower than that of a Server.
• Repetitive tasks: Some responsibilities, like resetting tables, can become monotonous.