CAFÉ ATTENDANT JOB DESCRIPTION

A Café Attendant role is straightforward to define. Harder to do well. In hospitality and food service settings - ranging from hotel lounges to golf course beverage carts - this position owns the direct guest-facing service moment: taking orders, processing payments through Point of Sale systems, maintaining product displays, and keeping service areas compliant with food safety and sanitation standards. Each shift requires independent judgment about stock rotation, guest needs, and cleanliness, with no supervisor necessarily present. The role sits at the front of the guest experience and is evaluated on every interaction.

As the Café Attendant, you deliver consistent food and beverage service to guests across hospitality venues, handling Point of Sale transactions, maintaining sanitation compliance, and supporting upselling efforts that contribute directly to outlet revenue. You operate within a service team structure, coordinating with kitchen or culinary staff to ensure product availability and guest satisfaction throughout every shift.

Career Impact: Gaining fluency in Point of Sale operations, food safety regulations, and guest-facing service builds a transferable foundation for advancement into shift lead, food and beverage supervisor, or front-of-house management roles.

Business Impact: Guests form their impression of a hospitality venue through the quality and consistency of each service interaction, and the Café Attendant is the person who determines whether that impression holds.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to multi-outlet hospitality operations, inventory management, and TIPS certification expands both your market value and the range of venues and formats you can work across.

• Serve food and beverage orders to guests promptly, ensuring accuracy and presentation meet established outlet standards.
• Process all transactions through the Point of Sale system, including cash, credit, and comp payments, and ensure receipts are completed correctly.
• Stock and replenish service areas, displays, and grab-and-go refrigerators according to rotation standards and shift schedules.
• Monitor product quality, holding temperatures, and storage conditions to maintain food safety compliance throughout each shift.
• Maintain cleanliness of the service area, equipment, and guest-facing spaces in accordance with sanitation regulations and outlet procedures.
• Record daily sales, reconcile shift reports, and complete opening and closing documentation accurately.
• Coordinate with kitchen and culinary team members to align product availability with service demand during peak periods.
• Identify guest preferences and apply upselling techniques to support outlet revenue targets.

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience.
• 6 months or more of customer service experience in a food and beverage or hospitality setting.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation standards, and safe food handling procedures.
• Ability to process cash, credit, and comp transactions accurately and reconcile shift-end reports.
• Strong verbal communication skills with the ability to engage guests professionally and recall preferences.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs throughout a full shift.
• Must be at least 18 years of age and authorized to serve alcohol where applicable.
• Availability to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as scheduled.

• TIPS certification or equivalent responsible alcohol service training completed prior to start.
• Previous experience in a hotel, resort, or multi-outlet hospitality food and beverage environment.
• Familiarity with inventory receiving, FIFO rotation, and product labeling procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple guest orders simultaneously in a high-volume service setting.

• Guest order accuracy rate, reflecting consistency between orders placed and items delivered.
• Point of Sale transaction error rate per shift, measuring cash handling and comp processing precision.
• Sanitation compliance score during health inspections or internal audits, tied directly to daily cleaning responsibilities.
• Stock-out incidents per shift, reflecting how reliably service areas are replenished before guest demand peaks.
• Upsell conversion rate on eligible transactions, measuring effectiveness of revenue-supporting sales interactions.
• Typical tools: Point of Sale systems (commonly Micros or equivalent); inventory tracking logs and daily sales report forms.

• Base Salary Range: $13 to $18 per hour depending on location and venue type.
• Bonus: Shift differential or occasional performance-based gratuity pooling where applicable.
• Equity: Not typical at this level.
• Health Benefits: Varies by employer; part-time roles may offer limited or no coverage.
• PTO: Accrued paid time off common for full-time positions; varies for part-time.
• Common Perks: Complimentary or discounted meals during shifts, uniform provision, and employee venue access where offered.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Candidates requiring reasonable accommodations during any stage of the hiring process should notify the hiring team upon request. All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a background check. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Café Attendant delivers customer-facing service across a residential bistro, managing Point of Sale transactions, vendor order placement, and poolside beverage service for residents and guests. Working alongside the Lifestyle Director and fellow Bistro attendants, this role supports community safety, inventory accuracy, and revenue growth through upselling and thorough shift communication logs.

Key Reponsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service that enhances the resident and guest experience.
• Greet customers warmly and maintain open lines of communication and good rapport with residents and their guests.
• Ring up customer items into the Point of Sale system and ensure customers sign receipts.
• Initiate telephone calls to place orders for the Bistro to appropriate vendors.
• Maintain an inventory list and keep current, up-to-date information regarding inventory for the Bistro and other assigned areas.
• Maintain a log containing updates and notes regarding concerns, comments, and feedback to share with the Lifestyle Director and other Bistro attendants.
• Assist in developing and implementing upselling strategies to increase revenue.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe food and beverage area in the kitchen and resident and customer areas at all times.
• Monitor guest and resident activity at the pool and provide poolside service for beverages and certain food items.
• Recognize and respond effectively to emergencies.

Required Qualifications

• Previous customer service experience in a food and beverage environment preferred.
• Experience standing for long periods and lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Knowledge of food and beverage safety standards and regulations.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to handle a variety of duties simultaneously.
• Effective oral communication skills.
• Dependable, punctual, and able to work weekdays, evenings, and weekends.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision and as part of a team.

Embedded within JB's Cafe at Horseshoe, the Café Attendant owns the full service cycle from taking food and beverage orders and processing payments to stocking displays and maintaining sanitation standards across the dining area. Working closely with the culinary team, this role ensures coordinated workflow, product quality, and compliance with State of Iowa and Harrahs sanitation requirements to sustain customer satisfaction during every shift.

Core Functions

• Interact with guests and co-workers in a helpful, positive, upbeat, and professional manner while taking food and beverage orders, accepting payment, delivering orders, and bussing and cleaning the dining area.
• Monitor and replenish all food products in the work area by stocking counters and displays in a neat, accurate, and timely fashion.
• Ensure the work area is neat, clean, and sanitized before and throughout the shift by wiping counter areas, beverage stations, sinks, and floors as required.
• Monitor rotation and quality of product for appearance, safe holding temperature, and proper storage of prepared foods under refrigeration with product, date, and proper storage containers.
• Partner with the culinary team to ensure coordinated workflow during the shift to meet business demands and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Maintain all equipment in proper fashion such as the cappuccino machine and Micros station.
• Adhere to all State of Iowa and Harrahs sanitation requirements, regulatory, safety, departmental, and company policies.
• Support safety and accident prevention programs including non-slip footwear and proper lifting.

Qualifications and Experience

• 6 months of experience in food or customer service with cash handling preferred.
• Ability to stand for the entire shift and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to tolerate areas of high temperature in excess of 115 degrees and push, pull, reach, bend, twist, stoop, stack, crouch, kneel, and balance when stocking and maneuvering around the work area.
• Ability to tolerate areas containing secondhand smoke, high noise levels, and bright lights.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills with fluency and literacy in English.
• Ability to listen and respond to visual and aural cues.

Reporting to dining supervisors, the Café Attendant (Barista) prepares and serves hot and cold beverages including espresso drinks and blended coffees using Micros for transaction processing and daily reconciliation across a 32-hour, 9-month university dining operation. Partnering with new staff trainees and inventory teams, this role advances food safety compliance, product quality, and customer satisfaction within a high-volume institutional café setting.

Primary Duties

• Prepare and serve hot and cold beverages such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees, teas, and baked goods according to standard recipes and requested customization.
• Acknowledge and greet customers with enthusiasm while offering excellent customer service, suggestively selling items, and demonstrating concise menu and product knowledge.
• Check temperatures of food, freezers, refrigerators, and heating equipment to ensure proper functioning and follow all food, physical safety, and sanitation guidelines.
• Properly label and store all perishable food and maintain a clean and organized work environment.
• Accurately enter and process all transactions in Micros, correctly handle monetary funds, reconcile daily reports, and complete opening and closing documents.
• Encourage and promote diversity in a team environment and assist supervisors with training of new staff.
• Assist with inventory, ordering, receiving, and stocking of supplies and retail products, and complete daily service records.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience working as a Café Attendant (Barista) or similar position in a restaurant, commercial, or institutional facility.
• Ability to complete and maintain University Housing and Dining Food Safety Training and/or ServSafe.
• 6 months or more experience as a Café Attendant (Barista) or similar position preferred.
• Experience working with Starbucks or Petes Coffee products.
• Experience using a cash register and handling cash.
• Experience preparing drinks in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Experience operating standard beverage and kitchen equipment.
• Ability to multitask and work with little supervision with a professional demeanor and ability to work with a diverse staff and customer base.

Sitting at the intersection of food service and guest hospitality, the Café Attendant performs cashier duties for food, coffee, and retail transactions while maintaining the service bar, managing janitorial upkeep, and verifying guest age for alcohol purchases throughout each shift. Operating across kitchen and dining floor responsibilities, this role ensures supply continuity, sanitation compliance, and a consistently clean establishment that supports positive guest experiences.

Duties

• Perform cashier duties for transactions relating to the sale of food, coffee, and retail items.
• Set and replenish the morning service bar and grab-and-go refrigerator with clean condiments, dairy, baked goods, coffee, and other items according to restaurant standards.
• Serve water, soft drinks, beer, coffee, and juice to guests and properly ID guests to ensure legal age for purchasing alcohol.
• Clean and stock throughout the restaurant as necessary and carry dishes, food, silverware, and trays from the kitchen to serving counters when supply runs low.
• Perform janitorial duties as needed, including cleaning work stations, emptying trash, mopping spills, and sweeping during the shift.
• Polish and clean walls, shelves, furniture, and equipment throughout the establishment during the shift.

Experience and Qualifications

• Ability to stand for extended periods and push, pull, and lift 40 lbs or more.
• Ability to follow all safe food handling procedures and sanitation practices.
• Good memory to manage multiple orders simultaneously and recall faces, names, and preferences of frequent patrons.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to communicate in the primary language of the work location.
• Ability to serve customers quickly, efficiently, and kindly.
• Must be available to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Must successfully complete training in food preparation, food service skills, and customer service procedures.

A key member of the hotel food and beverage team, the Café Attendant shapes the guest experience by delivering professional service, maintaining properly stocked and labeled displays, and handling cash, credit, and comp transactions accurately across each shift. Collaborating across departments under established service standards and safety policies, this role supports seamless hotel operations and sustained guest satisfaction.

Functions

• Consistently offer professional, friendly, and engaging service to all customers.
• Provide quality beverages and food orders consistently for all customers.
• Assist guests regarding hotel facilities in an informative and helpful way.
• Ensure all displays are properly stocked and labeled accordingly.
• Handle cash, credit, and comp procedures correctly and complete all required paperwork accurately.
• Follow department policies, procedures, service standards, and all safety policies.

Background and Experience

• Previous customer-related experience preferred.
• Previous restaurant experience as a busser or server is an asset.
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving abilities.
• Highly responsible, reliable, and able to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work cohesively with colleagues as part of a team.
• Ability to focus attention on guest needs while remaining calm and courteous at all times.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Windows applications is an asset.

Member satisfaction at Peloton Studios New York depends on the Café Attendant, who builds the lounge sales pipeline through customer-centric selling, FIFO product rotation, inventory monitoring, and Health Department-compliant food handling across a 365-day operation. Based within the Peloton Lounge team, this role delivers a luxury service experience that directly supports studio revenue growth and long-term member loyalty.

Accountabilities

• Drive lounge sales growth and profitability through customer-centric selling, teamwork, superior product knowledge, and impeccable customer experience.
• Cut, prepare, and serve products ensuring quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Maintain the cleanliness of the cafe to meet or exceed Health Department standards for cleanliness, food handling, and sanitation.
• Monitor stocks of ingredients and food items and assist with the preparation of inventory supply orders.
• Receive delivered food stocks and supplies, verifying receipt of ordered items.
• Store and rotate all products properly following FIFO and properly store, label, and date all products.
• Share customer feedback with a store manager regarding product requests, concerns, and suggestions.
• Promote a strong sense of teamwork by working together collaboratively to achieve goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience required.
• Minimum 1 year of customer service experience.
• Must be at least 18 years or older.
• Ability to build customer relationships and deliver exceptional service.
• Ability to quickly learn new procedures, processes, and product knowledge.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with proficiency in English.
• Ability to work under pressure and multitask within a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent team player with the ability to work independently.

As the Café Attendant at SentryWorld, this role leads on-course food and beverage service by delivering items to guests via a stocked beverage cart, recording all sales, and producing daily sales reports through the Point of Sales system. The golf operations team relies on this work to provide guests with a prompt, convenient dining experience that complements one of America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses.

Job Functions

• Provide a prompt and convenient method for guests to obtain food and beverage items while on the course.
• Serve food and beverage items to guests while on the course.
• Stock and clean the beverage cart throughout the day.
• Record all sales, collect money for payment, and be responsible for guest checks.
• Utilize the Point of Sales system and create daily sales reports.

Professional Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent work experience required.
• 0 to 2 years of related work experience.
• Must be able to obtain TIPS Certification.
• Knowledge of fine wines and food preferred.
• Strong listening and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of and ability to adhere to quality standards for safety, sanitation, and food handling.