Hotel Restaurant Server (PT/FT)

The Durham Hotel; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 17,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Durham Hotel in Durham, NC is seeking a Server to provide attentive, knowledgeable, guest-focused service while serving food and beverages in line with property standards and all regulations.

This role emphasizes accurate order taking, menu knowledge, responsible alcohol service, and effective upselling, with strong cash-handling and teamwork expectations to ensure a welcoming guest experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of full-service serving experience.
• Bartending experience is a plus.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Appropriately welcome, interact with, and take food and drink orders from guests.
• Check identifications to ensure guests meet age requirements for alcohol.
• Ensure service areas are set up and maintained throughout the shift.
• Set and maintain guests with appropriate service ware and serve, check on, and run food.
• Demonstrate the ability to speak knowledgeably about all menus.
• Assess customer needs and preferences and make recommendations.
• Upsell on food or drink as appropriate.
• Serve customers in a friendly and helpful manner.
• Provide guidance on property programming and regional information.
• Stay guest focused and nurture an excellent guest experience.
• Ring in and collect payment for all food and beverage served.
• Handle assigned bank and follow cash handling procedures.
• Communicate ordering needs to minimize item shortages.
• Communicate scheduling changes to managers and colleagues.
• Work with the team in a "One Team, One Dream" mindset.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety; comply with NC food safety and ABC regulations.

Skills

Customer-oriented

Upbeat personality

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Tact and professionalism

Education

High School Diploma / GED

Job description

OUR CORE VALUES

INSPIRE WONDERInnovate with Flavor | Surprise and Delight

FOSTER HOSPITALITYInclusive Culture | Home Away from Home

PURSUE EXCELLENCEExceptional Every Time | Details Matter | Quality First

DEMONSTRATE INTENTIONALITYEmpathetic Engagement | Anticipatory Service | Ownership Mindset

CULTIVATE COMMUNITYTeam Collaboration | Community Connection | Celebrate Often

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Server is responsible for delivering attentive, knowledgeable, and guest-focused service while serving food and beverages in accordance with property standards and all applicable regulations. This role ensures a welcoming guest experience through accurate order taking, menu expertise, responsible alcohol service, and effective upselling. The position requires strong cash-handling skills, collaboration with the bar and service team, and a commitment to cleanliness, safety, and compliance with NC food safety and ABC regulations, all while contributing to a positive, team-oriented work environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Food and Beverage Service

• Appropriately welcome, interact with, and take food and drink orders from guests
• Check identifications to ensure guests meet age requirements for purchase of alcohol
• Ensure that the service areas are fully set up and maintained throughout the shift
• Set and maintain guests with appropriate service ware and serve, check on, and run food
• Demonstrate the ability to consistently speak knowledgeably about all menus

Guest Experience

• Assess customers’ needs and preferences and make appropriate recommendations
• Ability to utilize sales tactics to upsell on food or drink as appropriate
• Serve customers in a friendly and helpful manner
• Provide guidance to guests on property programming and general regional information
• Stay guest focused and nurture an excellent guest experience

Cash Handling and Inventory

• Ring in and collect payment for all food and beverage served
• Handle assigned bank and follow all cash handling procedures per property standard
• Communicate ordering needs to minimize running out of items

Communication and Teamwork

• Perform other duties as assigned by managers
• Communicate scheduling conflicts, vacations, and shift changes to managers according to policies and procedures
• Communicate in a professional manner to all other staff, guests, managers
• Work together with other staff in a “One Team, One Dream” mentality

Cleanliness, Health, and Safety Standards

• Ensure all work surfaces are kept in neat and tidy condition throughout service
• Monitor any possible alcohol abuse and appropriately communicate any guests who must be cut off
• Maintain clean work areas throughout service
• Comply with all NC Department of Food and Safety regulations
• Comply with all NC ABC regulations

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 1 year full service serving experience
• Bartending experience is a plus!
• Customer-oriented and upbeat personality
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• Exceptional organizational and operational skills, and detail-oriented
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact and professionalism in dealing with staff, customers, and management

*Ability to work a flexible schedule to include AM/PM shifts weekdays, weekends, and holidays

EDUCATION:

High School Diploma / GED preferred

PHYSICAL ABLITIES:

• Ability to be on your feet and alert for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs. as needed
• Ability to carry and balance heavy food & beverage trays
• Continuous use of hands and arms
• Continuous bending, reaching, and twisting
• Maintains strong personal image and uniform standards

Note

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor.