Food Runner
Houston, TX, USA
Posted on Jun 12, 2026
Job Overview
The Food Runner plays a vital role in ensuring a smooth and elevated dining experience by delivering dishes to guests with precision, professionalism, and urgency. This position requires strong communication, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the menu and timing expectations in a refined dining environment. The ideal candidate is guest-focused, team-oriented, and thrives in a fast-paced setting.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The Food Runner plays a vital role in ensuring a smooth and elevated dining experience by delivering dishes to guests with precision, professionalism, and urgency. This position requires strong communication, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the menu and timing expectations in a refined dining environment. The ideal candidate is guest-focused, team-oriented, and thrives in a fast-paced setting.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Deliver food and beverage items from the kitchen to guests promptly and accurately.
- Carry and deliver multiple plates safely and confidently, as service is executed without the use of trays.
- Communicate effectively with kitchen staff and servers to ensure timely and correct orders.
- Describe dishes to guests with confidence, noting key ingredients and presentation details.
- Ensure that plates are delivered at the proper temperature and with appropriate accompaniments.
- Accurately assemble, package, and quality-check all to-go orders, ensuring proper presentation, correct components, and secure packaging.
- Proactively identify allergy or dietary needs, clearly understand which menu items can be modified, and provide confident, informed recommendations to ensure safety while still delivering an exceptional dining experience.
- Assist servers in monitoring tables and responding to guest needs throughout the meal.
- Maintain cleanliness and organization in expo areas, bread service stations, and throughout the dining room.
- Handle guest inquiries and concerns with professionalism and promptly alert a server or manager when needed.
- Perform opening, side-work, and closing duties as assigned.
- Follow all health, sanitation, and safety regulations consistently.
- Support team members and contribute to a positive, respectful workplace culture.
- Attend mandatory meetings and complete company-assigned training.
- Maintain uniform standards and demonstrate professionalism in all interactions.
- Adhere to a reliable work schedule and perform duties safely.
- Perform other tasks, including cross-training in different areas, as assigned by management.
Qualifications
- Previous experience in a food runner or similar support role, preferably in upscale or fine dining.
- Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills
- Strong knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and multitask effectively
- Must be able to work nights, weekends and some holidays.
- Flexible schedule helpful.
- Valid Food Handler Certificate required.
- Valid State Alcohol Server Certificate (TABC) required.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.