Self-service and fast-food restaurants are popular in situations where work or other commitments mean limited time in which to eat, and people's requirements range from a snack to a full meal.
Your first duties of the day will include setting up the restaurant: refilling salt, pepper, sugar, sauces, napkins, tray and cutlery points, making coffee, arranging the display counters with cold drinks and pre-packaged food. Salads, sandwiches, filled rolls, and cold sweets are collected from the kitchen and arranged in the counters. Hot dishes are left until just before service begins, although the hot cupboards will have been turned on earlier to reach the correct temperature. Customers making their choice of food and drink are influenced by the look of what they see, so an attractive arrangement and well presented food is very important. To increase sales, you will suggest drinks, extra large portions, side dishes, special meal combinations or promotional offers. Hygiene standards must also be excellent.
During service, you will have to restock counters as necessary, collecting new dishes of food from the kitchen and returning empties. In some restaurants, all the dishes are pre-plated or packaged or portioned so that customers can help themselves from the counters, or there are some dishes which the staff serve. Accurate portion control is important, but there may be some menu items which give customers the option of piling the plate as high as they wish. Your duties may also include making tea and coffee, possibly using specialist machines for espresso based drinks, milk shakes and other drinks. You may also undertake some simple cooking and food preparation such as making toast, frying eggs, grilling burgers, making sandwiches and rolls or assembling various meals. Throughout the shift you will be tidying and cleaning: the kitchen and counters, tray and waste collection points, tables and chairs, floors, toilets and the entrance, amongst other areas.
You may also take your turn at operating the cash point, where customers pay for what they have chosen. Customers appreciate friendly, helpful staff, who enjoy giving good service, taking pride in their appearance and that of the restaurant. You should be able to answer questions about the day's specials, other menu items, and their ingredients (particularly important for those who cannot eat certain foods, e.g. nuts).
Your duties at the end of service may include returning items to the kitchen, helping with the washing up, cleaning the counters themselves, the service and customer areas, and restocking cutlery, china and glassware ready for the next service.