waitstaff
Those taking orders
Waitstaff is a gender-neutral collective term for the servers at a restaurant or catering event: The waitstaff here is excellent.
It emerged as an alternative to waiter/waitress distinctions and the awkward plural waiters-and-waitresses.
The word treats the group as a unit, like staff or crew.
One who attends tables
- busboyRestaurant table clearer
- hostessFemale event organizer
- hostOne receiving guests
- maître d'Chief dining room attendant
sommelier · bartender · barista · steward · stewardess · attendant · caterer · runner
Place serving meals
- dining roomRoom for meals
- caféCasual eatery serving drinks
- dinerCasual American eatery
- bistroInformal small restaurant
eatery · banquet hall · country club · fine dining · brasserie · tavern · inn · buffet
Shallow portable platform
- apronWaist-tied protective garment
- uniformIdentical throughout
- notepadBound sheets for writing
- corkscrewTool for opening bottles
wine key · crumber · serving tongs · order pad · name tag · pen · non-slip shoes · bread basket
Noticing things readily
- responsiveQuick to react
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- mindfulConsciously attentive
- watchfulCarefully attentive, observant
attentive · perceptive · anticipatory · courteous · polite · helpful · considerate · prompt
Measured food portion
- clearingTreeless space in forest
- table settingArranged dinnerware for one
- refillingRestoring to capacity
- recommendingSuggesting something worth trying
server
One who attends tables
maître d' · sommelier · bartender · barista · steward · stewardess · attendant · caterer · runner · food runner
restaurant
Place serving meals
- dining roomRoom for meals
- caféCasual eatery serving drinks
- dinerCasual American eatery
bistro · eatery · banquet hall · country club · fine dining · brasserie · tavern · inn · buffet · cruise ship
tray
Shallow portable platform
corkscrew · wine key · crumber · serving tongs · order pad · name tag · pen · non-slip shoes · bread basket · water pitcher
observant
Noticing things readily
- responsiveQuick to react
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- mindfulConsciously attentive
watchful · attentive · perceptive · anticipatory · courteous · polite · helpful · considerate · prompt · discreet
serving
Measured food portion
- clearingTreeless space in forest
- table settingArranged dinnerware for one
- refillingRestoring to capacity
- food industryrestaurants, eateries, fast food, cafeterias, catering
- restaurantsmenu, chef, reservations, table service, hostess stand
- restaurant jobschef, cook, bartender, server, pastry chef
- diningrestaurant, menu, servers, server, entree
- dining serviceserver, hostess, maitre d, table setting, place setting
- event servicesevent planner, coordinator, bridal consultant, festival organizer, catering manager
waitstaffkitchen staff
Restaurant food preparers
cooks · chefs · line cooks · prep cooks · sous chefs
wait, staff, waiting, waiter, waitress, await, awaiting, waits, waiters