May 19, 2012

A busboy or busgirl is an employee at a restaurant whose job it is to clean the tables and setting the tables and generally assist the waiting staff as they need it.

Each restaurant is different but in some places the busboy will bring out the chips of the bread to the table before the waiter comes to take the customer’s order. The busboy may bring the customers their water before the drink orders are taken. They can float around the dining area cleaning tables and setting tables but if a customer needs some ketchup or a new fork, he is made available so that they can get new silverware or maybe a new napkin.

In some places the busboy will clear the dishes but they will wash them as well. In some places a busboy will get rid of garbage or sweep the floors in the dining room. They pretty much so grunt work for about minimum wage. Some places with give the busboy a tip from the house or the waiters that work with them may offer them a 2 percent of what tips that they collected. But that is up to the wait staff on how much they want to give.

You have seen busboys plenty of time; they are the people who set the table before you sit down to the table. They will be the people who bring you water and bread to your tables. Then they may serve the food once the wait staff has taken your order. Then they work in the dining room, cleaning up the dishes left on the table. If you need a fork or maybe new napkins then they will bring you one.

They are also the people who are responsible for changing the table linens and removing all of the dishes left behind. Busboys will also sweep or light vacuum under and around your table making sure that it is spotless when you sit down. Some places let the busboys serve the appetizers or entrees after the wait staff has taken the order.

The busboys in these restaurants never have a quiet moment and they get paid so little. Next time you are in a restaurant and a busboy does something nice for you tip them. Now you know how little they get paid and they may or may not get tipped at the end of the night.