BUFFET ATTENDANT - SEASONAL

ViziRecruiter,LLC.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

PENN Entertainment and Sam Houston Race Park are seeking a friendly Buffet Attendant to maintain a clean, inviting buffet area during live racing and events. You will stock stations, ensure proper food presentation, and engage guests with attentive service.

The ideal candidate values teamwork, cleanliness, and safety, works well in a fast-paced hospitality environment, and is available for evenings, weekends, and events.

Qualifications

• Experience in restaurant, buffet, catering, or hospitality preferred
• Strong customer service and communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Food Handler certification may be required

Responsibilities

• Greet guests in a friendly and professional manner.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and attractive buffet area throughout service.
• Monitor buffet stations and replenish food items, utensils, plates, napkins, condiments, and other supplies as needed.
• Maintain proper presentation of all buffet items throughout the service period.
• Ensure food is properly labeled and presented according to established standards.
• Monitor food levels and communicate replenishment needs to the kitchen or Food & Beverage Supervisor.
• Maintain proper food temperatures and follow all food safety and sanitation requirements.
• Replace serving utensils and other service items as needed.
• Keep buffet tables, counters, sneeze guards, and surrounding areas clean and presentable.
• Promptly clean spills, crumbs, and other messes to maintain a safe environment.
• Remove empty, expired, or improperly presented food items as directed.
• Assist guests with questions regarding buffet selections, ingredients, or available food items when appropriate.
• Communicate dietary or allergy-related questions to the appropriate Culinary or Food & Beverage team member.
• Assist with clearing and resetting tables in assigned dining areas as needed.
• Monitor guest traffic and help maintain an orderly and enjoyable buffet experience.
• Assist with setting up buffet stations before service and breaking down stations after service.
• Transport food, supplies, dishes, and other items safely between kitchen and buffet areas.
• Follow proper food handling, sanitation, and personal hygiene procedures at all times.
• Work closely with Culinary, Servers, Dishwashers, Hosts, and Food & Beverage Management.
• Report equipment issues, food quality concerns, guest concerns, spills, or safety hazards to management promptly.
• Assist with special events, catered functions, and other Food & Beverage activities as assigned.

Job description

Introduction

...

Overview

We’re always looking for talent that believes in having fun. At PENN Entertainment, you’ll get to be a part of an exciting industry, where the days and nights are fast paced. You’ll work with an incredibly diverse set of coworkers driven by their enthusiasm for helping people find and have more fun. You’ll also get to work at a company that cares about your career growth and will help you get the support you need to expand your possibilities.

Initial placement within the salary range is based on an individual's relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. Base salary is just one component of our competitive Total Rewards package, which includes wellness programs designed to support our team members' financial, physical, and mental well-being.Specific benefits—such as day‑one medical coverage, 401(k) matching, and annual performance bonus—may vary by position.Paid time off is earned according to the local policy and increases with the length of employment.

Click HERE to discover how we empower team members to grow, thrive, and advance in their careers.

The Buffet Attendant is responsible for maintaining a clean, attractive, well‑stocked, and welcoming buffet area for guests at Sam Houston Race Park. This position supports the Food & Beverage operation by ensuring buffet stations remain properly presented, replenished, clean, and organized throughout service.

The ideal candidate is friendly, attentive, dependable, and comfortable working in a fast‑paced hospitality environment. The Buffet Attendant plays an important role in the overall guest experience by maintaining high standards of cleanliness, food presentation, sanitation, and guest service during live racing, simulcast racing, private events, and special events.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests in a friendly and professional manner.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and attractive buffet area throughout service.
• Monitor buffet stations and replenish food items, utensils, plates, napkins, condiments, and other supplies as needed.
• Maintain proper presentation of all buffet items throughout the service period.
• Ensure food is properly labeled and presented according to established standards.
• Monitor food levels and communicate replenishment needs to the kitchen or Food & Beverage Supervisor.
• Maintain proper food temperatures and follow all food safety and sanitation requirements.
• Replace serving utensils and other service items as needed.
• Keep buffet tables, counters, sneeze guards, and surrounding areas clean and presentable.
• Promptly clean spills, crumbs, and other messes to maintain a safe environment.
• Remove empty, expired, or improperly presented food items as directed.
• Assist guests with questions regarding buffet selections, ingredients, or available food items when appropriate.
• Communicate dietary or allergy‑related questions to the appropriate Culinary or Food & Beverage team member.
• Assist with clearing and resetting tables in assigned dining areas as needed.
• Monitor guest traffic and help maintain an orderly and enjoyable buffet experience.
• Assist with setting up buffet stations before service and breaking down stations after service.
• Transport food, supplies, dishes, and other items safely between kitchen and buffet areas.
• Follow proper food handling, sanitation, and personal hygiene procedures at all times.
• Work closely with Culinary, Servers, Dishwashers, Hosts, and Food & Beverage Management.
• Report equipment issues, food quality concerns, guest concerns, spills, or safety hazards to management promptly.
• Assist with special events, catered functions, and other Food & Beverage activities as assigned.
• Follow all PENN Entertainment and Sam Houston Race Park policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Food & Beverage Management.

Guest Service Expectations

• Provide a welcoming and positive experience for every guest.
• Maintain a friendly and professional demeanor throughout the shift.
• Be attentive to guests who need assistance navigating or understanding the buffet.
• Keep the buffet area looking fresh, clean, and inviting at all times.
• Respond promptly to guest requests and direct questions to the appropriate team member when necessary.
• Maintain awareness of guest needs without interrupting their dining experience.
• Work as part of a team to provide smooth and efficient Food & Beverage service.

Food Safety & Sanitation Expectations

• Follow all applicable food safety and health department regulations.
• Maintain proper food holding and serving temperatures.
• Use appropriate utensils and equipment when handling food.
• Prevent cross‑contamination by following proper food handling procedures.
• Maintain clean hands, uniforms, and work areas.
• Replace contaminated or dropped serving utensils immediately.
• Properly handle, store, and dispose of food products.
• Immediately report food safety concerns to a supervisor.
• Maintain clean and sanitary buffet equipment and surrounding areas.

Requirements

• Previous restaurant, buffet, catering, hospitality, or customer service experience preferred but not required.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Dependable, punctual, and team‑oriented.
• Strong attention to cleanliness and detail.
• Ability to follow food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Ability to interact professionally with guests and coworkers.
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends, holidays, live racing days, and special events as scheduled.
• Food Handler certification may be required based on assigned duties and applicable regulations.

Preferred Skills

• Previous experience in a buffet, hotel, casino, country club, restaurant, catering operation, stadium, racetrack, or entertainment venue.
• Experience working high‑volume events.
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices.
• Ability to remain organized and attentive during busy service periods.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Familiarity with horse racing or the entertainment industry is a plus, but not required.