Server

This Isn't a Typical Server Job

Bain Barbecue is a counter-service restaurant, but we don't believe counter service should mean less hospitality.

Our service line operates somewhat like Chipotle: guests move through the line while our team prepares and serves their food. But that's about where the comparison ends.

Bain is premium craft barbecue, and we expect the hospitality to match the quality and price of the food. We want guests to receive the warmth, attention, menu knowledge, and personal service they'd expect from a great full-service restaurant — just delivered in a faster, more casual environment.

We're looking for people who genuinely like taking care of people.

You don't need to be the loudest person in the room. You don't need a huge personality. And you don't need years of barbecue experience.

We can teach you barbecue.

We can teach you our menu.

We can't teach you to genuinely care about people.

What You'll Actually Do

As a Server / Hospitality Team Member, you'll work throughout our front-of-house operation, including our service line, register, dining room, and takeout operation.

You'll:

• Welcome guests and make them feel genuinely wanted.
• Guide first-time guests through the Bain experience.
• Learn our menu well enough to confidently explain every item.
• Help guests decide what and how much to order.
• Make thoughtful recommendations based on what the guest actually wants.
• Explain our meats, sides, sauces, portions, and specials.
• Serve and portion food accurately.
• Suggest additional items when they genuinely improve the guest's meal.
• Recognize and build relationships with regular guests.
• Pay attention to what's happening beyond the person directly in front of you.
• Keep the dining room, service line, and guest areas exceptionally clean.
• Handle guest concerns calmly and professionally.
• Look for opportunities to turn an ordinary restaurant visit into something memorable.
• Jump in wherever you're needed when the restaurant gets busy.

What Great Hospitality Looks Like Here

We don't want scripted customer service.

We're not looking for someone who shouts "WELCOME IN!" because a manager told them to.

We're looking for someone who notices people.

Maybe a guest has never had Texas-style barbecue before and needs some guidance.

Maybe they're debating between brisket and ribs and want an actual recommendation.

Maybe they're in a hurry.

Maybe they're celebrating something.

Maybe they've been here fifteen times and you remember their order.

Great hospitality means recognizing that those guests shouldn't all receive the exact same interaction.

Your job is to read the person in front of you and figure out how to make their experience better.

Who We're Looking For

The strongest candidates are naturally:

Warm.
People feel comfortable talking to you.

Curious.
You ask questions because you're actually interested in the answers.

Observant.
You notice when someone looks confused, needs something, or isn't having the experience they should be having.

Confident.
You can talk comfortably with strangers and make recommendations without being pushy.

Composed.
You can maintain great hospitality even when there's a line out the door.

Reliable.
Your coworkers can count on you to show up on time and ready to work.

Coach-able.
You can receive feedback without taking it personally and actually apply it.

Proud of your work.
Details matter to you even when nobody is watching.

Most importantly, you need to like people.

You do NOT have to be an extrovert. Some of the best hospitality professionals are quieter people who are exceptionally good at listening, remembering details, and making people feel cared for.

Experience

Restaurant experience is helpful, but it isn't required.

Experience in fine dining, full-service restaurants, hotels, country clubs, coffee shops, bartending, upscale retail, or other hospitality-focused businesses can translate extremely well to this position.

But we'd rather hire someone with the right personality and teach them the restaurant business than hire someone with ten years of experience who doesn't enjoy taking care of guests.

What We Don't Want

This probably isn't the right job for you if:

• You want to come to work, complete your assigned tasks, and go home without interacting much with guests.
• You think hospitality means saying the same scripted greeting to everyone.
• You get irritated when guests ask questions.
• You don't like recommending or selling products.
• You disappear when the restaurant gets busy.
• You believe cleaning is someone else's job.
• You need a manager to constantly tell you what needs to be done.
• You treat guests differently depending on whether you think they'll tip.
• You view restaurant work as "just a job" and don't take pride in doing it extremely well.

There's nothing wrong with wanting a different kind of job.

This just isn't that kind of restaurant.

About Bain Barbecue

Bain Barbecue serves Central Texas-style craft barbecue in Memphis.

We take barbecue seriously, but we don't take ourselves too seriously.

Our goal is to create the feeling of being invited to an incredible backyard barbecue — great food, relaxed atmosphere, and people who seem genuinely happy you're there.

We believe hospitality should feel personal rather than corporate.

Guests aren't transactions to move through a line.

They're people we're inviting into our restaurant.

And because our food is premium, we believe the entire experience surrounding it should feel premium too.

What Success Looks Like

A great Bain hospitality team member doesn't just serve food accurately.

Guests remember them.

Regulars recognize them.

First-time guests feel comfortable asking them questions.

They can confidently guide someone through a $30–$50 meal without making the interaction feel like a sales pitch.

They notice problems before someone has to complain.

And when the restaurant gets slammed, they move quickly without making guests feel rushed.

That's the standard we're hiring for.

Compensation & Schedule

Pay: $9-$13 + tips

Schedule: Full or Part-time

Location: Bain Barbecue — Germantown, Tennessee

Weekend availability is Preferred.

One Last Thing

Skills can be taught.

You can learn our POS system. You can learn how we portion food. You can learn the difference between brisket point and flat. You can memorize a menu.

What we're really trying to find is harder to teach:

Someone who notices people, enjoys taking care of them, and takes pride in making their day a little better.

If that sounds like you, we'd love to meet you.

Pay: $22.00 - $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Food provided
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person