Career guide

Commis waiter: career guide and training

As a commis waiter you help serve food and drinks in a restaurant, brasserie or hotel.

What will you do?

You prepare the dining room, take care of the mise en place, help welcome guests and clear the tables. As a commis or dining room assistant you support the waiters during service, and as a breakfast employee you are ready for the first guests of the day. You always follow the rules for quality, hygiene and food safety.

  • Take care of the mise en place
  • Welcome guests
  • Assist with the dining room service
  • Clear tables and clean the dining area
  • Wash up and tidy away materials
  • Work according to food safety and hygiene rules

Skills to develop

  • Friendly and customer-oriented
  • Quick and efficient in a busy dining room
  • Physically fit, you stand and walk throughout the service
  • Team player who gladly helps out
  • Flexible for evening and weekend work

Your foundation for this occupation

Learn tableware, glassware and room layout. Support service without obstructing guests or colleagues.

From preparation to your first day

  1. Develop the practical skills

    Practise setting, clearing, tray carrying and timely cutlery replacement.

  2. Check your work

    Check clean equipment and complete settings; pass on questions you cannot answer.

How can you grow?

Build product knowledge and ordering skills to become a waiter.

Frequently asked questions

When should I clear a plate?

Follow service conventions and observe the whole table. Ask when uncertain; interrupting a meal makes guests feel rushed.

Sources and training

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