What does a Bar Attendant do?

A bar attendant serves customers food and beverages in a restaurant environment. She may be responsible for the patrons seated at a counter or bar, at tables in the establishment or both. Depending on the volume of customers, she may work alone or with a team of servers, cooks and managers.

Customer service is generally a high priority for a bar attendant. She is commonly required to frequently survey the customers in her area of responsibility to make sure they have everything they ordered and are satisfied with the items they have received. If additional services or items are needed, the attendant is expected to provide them with efficiency and friendliness.

When her customers’ service needs have been met, a bar attendant is normally expected to prepare food and beverage orders for other customers. She is frequently called upon to alter ingredients or presentations to accommodate customer requests. If items are returned for any reason, she is typically expected to correct the infractions and serve the accurate order to the customer.

The cleanliness and maintenance of the bar are customarily part of her job. Wiping down counters and tables and removing dishes and debris from eating areas are general requirements of for this position. Restocking counter items available for customer selection, such as chips and snacks, is usually part of her job, as is refilling condiment containers provided at the bar and on tables.

If food preparation areas need to be stocked prior to opening the bar, the attendant is typically responsible for this task. This frequently requires slicing vegetables and meat, the preparation of soups and salads and arranging utensils and pots for easy access during service. Keeping these areas stocked throughout her shift is commonly part of her job.

As her customers prepare to exit the premises, the bar attendant is ordinarily required to process payments from them. Acuity in cash handling procedures and the ability to efficiently deal with credit and debit card transactions are generally required for this position. Accuracy in charging customers is important to be a successful bar attendant.

Friendliness and organizational skills are general requirements to be a successful bar attendant. Good math aptitude is highly preferred. Legible handwriting is normally required to prepare customer checks that are readable by both staff members and customers.

A high school diploma or equivalent is normally a requirement for this job. Background in food preparation or customer relations is desirable. Bar attendants who demonstrate exceptional food service and customer service talents are frequently promoted to management positions.