Hire Temporary Workers in Memphis, TN

4 Qualities of an Exemplary Food Runner

As mentioned, food runners don’t just take food from the kitchen to the table. They also interact with your kitchen staff and guests. They set up tables and bus them when guests leave. They also often handle issues customers have with their food and help the server ensure that the guest experience is the best that it can be. So, here are several qualities that take a food runner from an average part of a hospitality team to an excellent one.

Excellent Customer Service

Customer service is number one for food runners. While they are not the primary server for any given table, they still regularly interact with customers and often have to respond to problems that customers have with their food. In a restaurant environment, food runners will encounter all sorts of personalities and should be prepared to problem-solve on behalf of guests. 

Stamina

This means both mental and physical stamina. A restaurant is often a high-volume environment. As soon as food runners walk in the door each day, they should expect to be on their feet and moving for their whole shift. Depending on the type of restaurant, they may need to bus and turn over tables quickly, serve multiple tables in quick succession, and respond to customer requests all at the same time. Food runners should both be physically fit and mentally capable of handling multiple tasks at once. 

Communication Skills

Candidates for food runner positions don’t just need to have excellent customer service skills; they also need to be able to communicate with other people on their team. Whether this means relaying customer feedback to the kitchen, talking to servers to see what kind of support is needed, or discussing customer experiences with management, food runners will be constantly interacting with their coworkers. They need to be able to communicate with a friendly demeanor, efficiently, and accurately.

Reliability

Every food runner will be expected to uphold food safety and sanitation standards, which means they must be trustworthy and consistent in the way they approach their job. Of course, reliability also means showing up to work on time every day. Unlike some jobs where start and end times are more flexible, restaurant jobs start at precise times to ensure a smooth service. Food runner roles are no exception here. 

We hope these tips will help you find the best food runners for your restaurant and develop questions to screen candidates during the interview process.