Frances Renken
Charleston,SC
Summary
Trained in all upscale dining positions, including steward, food runner, back waiter, and front waiter. Knowledgeable about wine pairings, mixed drinks, and bar service. Conversational skills in \English. The customer-focused candidate is eager to put excellent communication and interpersonal skills into practice. Handles reservations, seating arrangements, and payments. Trainable and committed to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Dependable Server is successful in providing fast, high-quality customer service to guests in restaurant settings. Adaptable professional with expertise in personnel development, team collaboration, and resolving issues with customers, waitstaff, and management. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Fine Dining Server
Food Fire And Knives (Private Chef Business)
08.2018 - 07.2023
- Ran food from chefs to guest tables with dishes that required special serving techniques.
- Promptly served dishes as they were plated
- Informed guests of what was being served
- Rolled silverware, set up tables and polished glassware and silverware.
- Took and submitted orders that accommodated customer preferences and dietary requirements.
- Displayed enthusiasm and promoted excellent service to customers, successfully increasing referrals, and walk-in business.
- Helped customers with dietary restrictions, allergies and intolerances obtain safe, delicious food by working closely with kitchen staff on alternatives.
- Resolved guest and employee complaints to maintain complete customer satisfaction and workforce effectiveness.
- Supervised dining table set-up to prepare for a diversity of event types, following strict service standards.
- Supervised banquet food station setup and coordinated service to multiple dining areas.
- Collected payment for food and drinks served
- Inspected dishes and utensils for cleanliness.
Server
Gingerline
09.2022 - 06.2023
- Served food and beverages promptly with focused attention to customer needs.
- Worked with POS system to place orders, manage bills, and handle complimentary items.
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
- Maintained clean and organized dining areas to uphold restaurant hygiene standards.
- Set positive tone for entire dining experience as first point of contact for incoming guests.
- Bussed and reset tables to keep dining room and work areas clean.
- Resolved customer complaints promptly and professionally to maintain positive reputation.
- Followed health and safety protocols crucial for maintaining safe and sanitary environments for customers and staff.
- Explained menu items and suggested appropriate options for food allergy concerns.
- Used slow periods to restock supplies, ice, trays, togo boxes, etc
- Utilized communication practices with kitchen staff to deliver customer meals in timely manner.
- Upsold high-profit items such as appetizers and mixed drinks to enhance sales numbers.
- Arranged and prepared tables for customers to offer memorable experiences to guests and foster repeat business.
- Learned and followed local alcohol laws to keep restaurant compliant with regulations while serving spirits.
- Carried out complete opening, closing and shift change duties to keep restaurant working efficiently and teams ready to meet customer needs.
- Displayed enthusiasm and promoted excellent service to customers, successfully increasing referrals, and walk-in business.
- Answered customers' questions, recommended items, and recorded order information.
- Collected payment for food and drinks served, balanced cash receipts and maintained accurate cash drawer.
- Maintained thorough menu knowledge to sufficiently answer questions regarding menu item sourcing, ingredients and cooking methods.
- Shared knowledge of menu items and flavors, enabling customers to make personal decisions based on taste and interest.
- Helped customers with dietary restrictions, allergies and intolerances obtain safe, delicious food by working closely with kitchen staff on alternatives.
- Printed dining checks with total due, collected payment and offered receipts to complete transactions.
- Increased sales significantly by upselling higher-end products to customers.
- Inspected dishes and utensils for cleanliness.
- Checked guests' identification before serving alcoholic beverages.
- Presented menus to patrons promptly after seating and answered questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
Server
Taco Boy
01.2022 - 07.2022
- Served food and beverages promptly with focused attention to customer needs.
- Worked with POS system to place orders, manage bills, and handle complimentary items.
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
- Maintained clean and organized dining areas to uphold restaurant hygiene standards.
- Bussed and reset tables to keep the dining room and work areas clean.
- Upsold high-profit items such as appetizers and mixed drinks to enhance sales numbers.
- Resolved customer complaints promptly and professionally to maintain a positive reputation.
- Followed health and safety protocols crucial for maintaining safe and sanitary environments for customers and staff.
- Used slow periods to restock supplies, ice, trays, and table catty.
- Informed guests of all drink and food specials
- Seated customers in timely manner by managing reservations and waitlists skillfully.
- Informed guests of waitlist times using "RESY" adding them to the waitlist and keeping it updated and in order
- Displayed enthusiasm and promoted excellent service to customers, successfully increasing referrals, and walk-in business.
- Answered customers' questions, recommended items, and recorded order information.
- Collected payment for food and drinks served, balanced cash receipts and maintained accurate cash drawer.
- Shared knowledge of menu items and flavors, enabling customers to make personal decisions based on taste and interest.
- Checked guests' identification before serving alcoholic beverages.
Line Cook
Taco Boy
01.2022 - 06.2022
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction, and repeat business.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Created identical dishes numerous times daily with consistent care, attention to detail, and quality.
- Operated varied kitchen equipment, observing operation guidelines to avoid accidents and prevent malfunctions.
- Plated and presented all dishes to match established restaurant standards.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches, and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
- Prepared food items such as meats, poultry, and fish for frying purposes.
- Maintained well-stocked stations with supplies and spices for maximum productivity.
- Checked food temperature regularly to verify proper cooking and safety.
- Prepared and cooked full course meals based on restaurant recipes and specifications.
- Wrapped up and stored unused food in appropriate containers and placed in refrigerator to avoid spoilage.
- Instructed new staff in proper food preparation, storage, use of kitchen equipment and sanitation.
- Followed restaurant stock management schedule to monitor product freshness and rotate out old products.
- Grilled meats and seafood to customer specifications.
- Produced adequate amounts of mise en place to make meal preparation easier.
- Followed health, safety and sanitation guidelines while preparing and serving food.
- Kept kitchen clean and organized by performing daily maintenance tasks.
- Prepared and cooked meals according to recipes and customer specifications.
- Prepared food items in compliance with recipes and portioning control guidelines.
- Monitored food quality and presentation to maintain high standards.
- Checked for quality, kept track of old and new items and rotated stock to confirm freshness of food and ingredients.
- Maintained smooth and timely operations in preparation and delivery of meals.
- Trained new kitchen staff on food safety, preparation and cooking techniques.
- Interacted with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.
- Maintained high food quality standards by checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
- Verified proper portion sizes to consistently attain high food quality standards.
- Tasted, smelled, and pierced food with fork to verify sufficient cooking.
- Placed food trays over food warmers for immediate service or stored in refrigerated storage cabinets.
- Managed inventory and ordered food and supplies to maintain adequate stock.
- Assisted in developing new menu items to reflect restaurant's style and standards.
- Baked consistent quality items by accurately mixing, dividing, shaping, and proofing.
- Oversaw scheduling, inventory management, and supply ordering to maintain fully stocked kitchen.
Server
Wiki Wiki Sandbar
02.2021 - 01.2022
- Served food and beverages promptly with focused attention to customer needs.
- Worked with POS system to place orders, manage bills, and handle complimentary items.
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
- Maintained clean and organized dining areas to uphold restaurant hygiene standards.
- Resolved customer complaints promptly and professionally to maintain positive reputation.
- Followed health and safety protocols crucial for maintaining safe and sanitary environments for customers and staff.
- Bussed and reset tables to keep dining room and work areas clean.
- Used slow periods to restock supplies, ice, trays, and delivery bags, water pitchers.
- Explained menu items and suggested appropriate options for food allergy concerns.
- Seated customers in timely manner by managing reservations and waitlists skillfully.
- Used the "RESY" system to add guests to waitlists and properly time each reservation/waitlist guest
- Learned and followed local alcohol laws to keep restaurant compliant with regulations while serving spirits.
- Carried out complete opening, closing and shift change duties to keep restaurant working efficiently and teams ready to meet customer needs.
- Displayed enthusiasm and promoted excellent service to customers, successfully increasing referrals, and walk-in business.
- Familiar with both breadcrumb and toast computer systems, using both to place orders and check out guests with cash and card payments.
- Processed orders and sent to kitchen employees for preparation.
- Printed dining checks with total due, collected payment and offered receipts to complete transactions.
- Increased sales significantly by upselling higher-end products to customers.
- Strategically timed check-ins with customers to take orders and confirm satisfaction with meals after delivery, taking action to correct any problems.
- Presented menus to patrons promptly after seating and answered questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
- Checked guests' identification before serving alcoholic beverages.
- Supervised dining table set-up to prepare for diversity of event types, following strict service standards.
- Monitored patrons for alcohol intake to appropriate levels and took measures to curtail inappropriate behavior.
Hostess
Wiki Wiki Sandbar
02.2021 - 01.2022
- Greeted customers warmly upon arrival and provided friendly and warm presence throughout dining experience.
- Took reservations and to-go orders by phone, answered customer questions, and informed of accurate wait times.
- Answered customer questions about hours, seating, and menu information.
- Supported servers, food runners, and bussers with keeping dining area ready for every guest.
- Worked with front of house staff to move tables and adjust seating to accommodate groups with special requests.
- Trained new hostesses on customer service best practices and restaurant policies to maintain high standards of service.
- Monitored seating area and checked restrooms regularly to keep spotless.
- Resolved guest and employee complaints to maintain complete customer satisfaction and workforce effectiveness.
- Accommodated special seating requests for guests to enhance satisfaction.
- Cultivated positive guest relations by managing information and orchestrating speedy seating.
- Developed and maintained up-to-date knowledge of menu items and daily specials to accurately respond to customer queries.
- Relayed guest comments or suggestions to manager on duty for further action.
- Used cash registers and credit card machines to cash out customers.
- Answered phone calls to take orders, give information and document reservations.
- Provided adequate supply of place settings for tables and miscellaneous supplies for work stations to last throughout assigned shift.
- Organized, stocked and cleaned establishment's front lobby during shifts to maintain welcoming appearance.
- Completed daily side work and opening and closing duties without fail.
- Rearranged tables and chairs for large parties and retrieved high chairs for children.
- Backed up servers by checking on tables and retrieving items for guests.
- Seated patrons based on guest preferences and seating availability.
- Provided patrons with estimated waiting times during peak service hours.
- Opened and closed seating sections according to volume of guests.
- Cross-trained to handle different restaurant roles, including bar, kitchen and to-go stations.
- Took initial drink orders and relayed information to wait or bar staff.
- Advised customers about special offerings and menu items to help drive sales.
- Assisted customers with delivering orders, carrying additional trays and helping dish out items.
- Collected credit card, cash and gift certificate payments and dispensed change for cash transactions.
- Input orders accurately into POS terminal, split bills and accepted payments.
- Helped facilitate cooperation between service and kitchen staff to professionally meet guest needs and resolve problems.
Hostess
Taco Boy
11.2020 - 02.2021
- Greeted customers warmly upon arrival and provided friendly and warm presence throughout dining experience.
- Took reservations and to-go orders by phone, answered customer questions, and informed of accurate wait times.
- Answered customer questions about hours, seating, and menu information.
- Supported servers, food runners, and bussers with keeping dining area ready for every guest.
- Trained new hostesses on customer service best practices and restaurant policies to maintain high standards of service.
- Worked with front of house staff to move tables and adjust seating to accommodate groups with special requests.
- Monitored seating area and checked restrooms regularly to keep spotless.
- Resolved guest and employee complaints to maintain complete customer satisfaction and workforce effectiveness.
- Accommodated special seating requests for guests to enhance satisfaction.
- Assigned patrons to tables suitable for needs and restaurant section rotation.
- Cultivated positive guest relations by managing information and orchestrating speedy seating.
- Relayed guest comments or suggestions to manager on duty for further action.
- Used cash registers and credit card machines to cash out customers.
- Provided adequate supply of place settings for tables and miscellaneous supplies for work stations to last throughout assigned shift.
- Answered phone calls to take orders, give information and document reservations.
- Organized, stocked and cleaned establishment's front lobby during shifts to maintain welcoming appearance.
- Completed daily side work and opening and closing duties without fail.
- Rearranged tables and chairs for large parties and retrieved high chairs for children.
- Backed up servers by checking on tables and retrieving items for guests.
- Seated patrons based on guest preferences and seating availability.
- Opened and closed seating sections according to volume of guests.
- Cross-trained to handle different restaurant roles, including bar, kitchen and to-go stations.
- Took initial drink orders and relayed information to wait or bar staff.
- Maintained balanced cash drawer with correct money values and accurate documentation.
- Assisted customers with delivering orders, carrying additional trays and helping dish out items.
Server
Jackson Hole Playhouse
04.2017 - 08.2017
- Served food and beverages promptly with focused attention to customer needs.
- Worked with POS system to place orders, manage bills, and handle complimentary items.
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
- Maintained clean and organized dining areas to uphold restaurant hygiene standards.
- Bussed and reset tables to keep dining room and work areas clean.
- Resolved customer complaints promptly and professionally to maintain positive reputation.
- Followed health and safety protocols crucial for maintaining safe and sanitary environments for customers and staff.
- Explained menu items and suggested appropriate options for food allergy concerns.
- Set positive tone for entire dining experience as first point of contact for incoming guests.
- Upsold high-profit items such as appetizers and mixed drinks to enhance sales numbers.
- Utilized communication practices with kitchen staff to deliver customer meals in timely manner.
- Carried out complete opening, closing and shift change duties to keep restaurant working efficiently and teams ready to meet customer needs.
- Displayed enthusiasm and promoted excellent service to customers, successfully increasing referrals, and walk-in business.
- Collected payment for food and drinks served, balanced cash receipts and maintained accurate cash drawer.
- Shared knowledge of menu items and flavors, enabling customers to make personal decisions based on taste and interest.
- Processed orders and sent to kitchen employees for preparation.
- Supervised dining table set-up to prepare for diversity of event types, following strict service standards.
Education
High School Diploma -
Charleston County School of The Arts
North Charleston, SC06.2019
Skills
- Process Monitoring
- Transactions and Cash Handling
- Procedure Preparation
- Table Setting
- Restaurant Operation
- Workflow Coordination
- Staff Training
- Wine and Liquor Service
- Age Verification
- Food Preparation and Safety
- Sales Abilities
- Conflict and Complaint Resolution
- High-Volume Dining
- Conflict Resolution
- Menu Memorization
- To-Go Order Preparation
- Guest Inquiries
- Glassware Polishing
- Recommend Menu Items
- Bottle Service
- Suggestive Selling
- Cool Under Pressure
- Wine Pairings
- Guest Satisfaction
- Warm and Friendly
- Table Monitoring and Turnover
- Customer Service
- Billing and Payment Processing
- Special Requests and Substitutions
- Process Payments
- Bus Tables
- Specials Promotion and Upselling
- Courteous Phone Demeanor
- Food and Beverage Pairings
- Cleanliness Standards
- POS Systems Operations
- Safe Food Handling
- Ability to Lift 30 Pounds
- Menu Memorization and Presentation
- Dining Room Cleaning and Upkeep
- Place Settings
- Dietary Restrictions
- Order Accuracy and Delivery
- Front- and Back-Of-House Coordination
- Restroom Servicing
- Reading Comprehension
Languages
English
Full Professional
French
Limited Working
Timeline
Server
Gingerline
09.2022 - 06.2023
Server
Taco Boy
01.2022 - 07.2022
Line Cook
Taco Boy
01.2022 - 06.2022
Server
Wiki Wiki Sandbar
02.2021 - 01.2022
Hostess
Wiki Wiki Sandbar
02.2021 - 01.2022
Hostess
Taco Boy
11.2020 - 02.2021
Fine Dining Server
Food Fire And Knives (Private Chef Business)
08.2018 - 07.2023
Server
Jackson Hole Playhouse
04.2017 - 08.2017
High School Diploma -
Charleston County School of The Arts
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