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What is a Food Runner?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

A food runner is a specialized type of food server that may work in a very busy restaurant, especially during peak restaurant hours. In small restaurants, a waitperson typically takes orders from guests and delivers their food. In larger restaurants, some companies employ runners who may be responsible for delivering meals ordered and for doing other things like getting drinks for guests. These people may also be called food attendants.

The work of the food runner helps free up the waitperson, so he or she can focus more on certain aspects of customer service. This could include discussing details of a menu, taking orders, and checking back with patrons to be sure their meal is enjoyable. A well-trained runner may also perform a little of this work, especially if a delivered order is not correct. Food runners could replace incorrect orders with appropriate ones if this is part of their work.

Food runners make sure buffets are fully stocked.
Food runners make sure buffets are fully stocked.

Restaurants may differ on how many runners, if any, they employ and the number of hours in which they employ them. During non-peak hours wait staff may both take orders and deliver food, but during extremely busy times, food runners can help serve diners more quickly. Improving efficiency of food delivery can help increase patron satisfaction and keep restaurants popular for years to come.

As food handlers, food runners must wash their hands often.
As food handlers, food runners must wash their hands often.

Most runners get an hourly wage and then a portion of the tips for any waitperson they work for. This team system of waiting can be extremely successful when the food runner is polite, efficient, and professional. Poorly performed jobs can diminish the tips of the waiters, which can create issues between runners and wait staff.

Since not all restaurants employ a food runner, this additional employee may sometimes confuse patrons. For instance, if a food order is incorrect, whom should the guest tell? There isn’t total consensus on this issue but many advise that the food runner should be informed if a guest notices an immediate problem with a dish, like the fact that the guest ordered something else entirely. On the other hand, if the problem with the food is more related to how it is prepared, the patron should speak to his/her waitperson, or a manager if necessary.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PracticalAdultInsights contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PracticalAdultInsights contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

WalrusTusk

@leiliahrune - Actually, several restaurants I know specifically have a position that's a food runner job. Companies that know they are going to be successful or have show a steady increase in business over so long will develop this position because they know it will benefit service. Servers are often times overwhelmed with multiple tables and multiple people (6 guests at one table, 12 at another, etc), so it's easily understood why they employ this position.

leiliahrune

You will typically see a food runner in all the major restaurants in your area. Food runners are quick, efficient, but sometimes can get a little mixed up thanks to the chaos. Often times food runners are normally servers or newer recruits into the food industry.

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    • Food runners make sure buffets are fully stocked.
      By: sattriani
      Food runners make sure buffets are fully stocked.
    • As food handlers, food runners must wash their hands often.
      By: mast3r
      As food handlers, food runners must wash their hands often.