17 Room Service Server Interview Questions and Answers

Do you have what it takes to provide world-class customer service to guests of a hotel? If you’re hoping to start a career in the hospitality industry, one of the best places to start is by working as a room service server. This entry-level position is a great way to learn the ropes of the hospitality business and develop customer service skills that will serve you well in any role in the industry.

But before you can start working as a room service server, you’ll need to go through a job interview. In this interview, you’ll be asked questions about your customer service experience, your knowledge of different types of food and drink, and your ability to work under pressure. To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve put together a list of common room service server interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the area in which our hotel is located?

Employers ask this question to make sure you know where the hotel is located and how to get there. They also want to see if you have any experience with the surrounding area, such as local attractions or restaurants. Before your interview, look up the location of the hotel on a map and familiarize yourself with it. If you have time, research some nearby places that may be of interest to guests.

Example: “I am very familiar with the area in which your hotel is located. I grew up just outside of town, so I’m quite familiar with all of the local attractions. In fact, I love going to the beach when I have free time. There are several great seafood restaurants within walking distance from the hotel, too.”

What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of working in the food and beverage industry?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and how you feel about your job. It also helps them understand what motivates you and whether this position is a good fit for you. When answering, try to focus on positive aspects of working in the food and beverage industry.

Example: “My favorite aspect of working in the food and beverage industry is interacting with customers. I love making people happy by providing excellent service and ensuring they have an enjoyable experience. My least favorite part of working in the food and beverage industry is when customers are rude or disrespectful. I always do my best to provide great service, so it’s upsetting when someone doesn’t appreciate that.”

How would you describe your personality?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how it might fit in with their company culture. They want to know that you are friendly, outgoing and enjoy interacting with others. When answering this question, try to highlight the positive aspects of your personality while also being honest.

Example: “I would describe my personality as warm and welcoming. I love meeting new people and making them feel comfortable. I am always willing to help anyone who needs it, even if they don’t order room service. I think these traits make me a great candidate for this position because I can provide excellent customer service to all of our guests.”

What is your level of experience working in the food and beverage industry?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your experience level and how you feel about working in the food and beverage industry. If you have little or no experience, share what other types of jobs you’ve had that are related to serving customers. If you do have experience, share what type of work you’ve done and how it relates to this position.

Example: “I worked as a server at a local restaurant for three years before applying here. I also did some freelance photography work for the restaurant’s website and social media pages. This helped me develop my communication skills and taught me how to use different types of equipment.”

Provide an example of a time you handled a difficult customer.

Interviewers ask this question to see how you handle challenging situations. They want to know that you can remain calm and professional when faced with a difficult customer. In your answer, try to focus on the steps you took to resolve the situation.

Example: “In my previous role as a server, I had a regular customer who was very demanding. He would often call me over just to tell me he wasn’t happy with his meal or service. Eventually, I decided to speak with him about it. I told him that while I appreciated his business, I wanted to make sure we could continue our relationship without any issues. He apologized for being so demanding and promised to be more patient in the future.”

If a guest requested an item that was not available, how would you respond?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a challenging situation. When answering, it can be helpful to mention that you would try your best to find an alternative item or offer the guest a discount on their meal.

Example: “If a guest asked for something we didn’t have, I would apologize and ask if they wanted another option. If they were okay with it, I would bring them what we did have and give them a discount on their meal. If they weren’t okay with it, I would see if there was anything else I could do to make up for the inconvenience.”

What would you do if you noticed a colleague preparing a meal incorrectly?

This question can help interviewers understand how you work with others and your ability to communicate. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation in which you noticed a colleague preparing food incorrectly and helped them learn the proper way to do so.

Example: “When I was working as a server at a restaurant, one of my coworkers prepared meals for customers without washing their hands first. This led to some customers getting sick after eating there. I spoke with him about the importance of hand-washing before handling food and he understood. He also learned that if any customer got sick after eating at our establishment, we would have to close down until an inspector could come and test the food.”

How well do you follow directions?

This question can help an employer determine how well you can work independently and follow instructions. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a time when you had to complete tasks without supervision or guidance from another person.

Example: “I am very good at following directions because I have experience working in a busy restaurant where I was often the only server on my floor. This meant that I needed to understand all of my tables’ orders and communicate them to the kitchen staff without any assistance. I also learned how to multitask by remembering each table’s order while taking care of other customers.”

Do you have any experience working with food preparation or serving equipment?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with the equipment they use in their establishment. If you do, share your experience and how it helped you perform your job duties. If you don’t, explain that you’re willing to learn about the equipment used by the hotel or restaurant.

Example: “I’ve worked as a server at several restaurants throughout my career, so I’m familiar with most food preparation and serving equipment. However, I also enjoy learning new things, so I would be excited to learn more about the specific equipment used here.”

When dining with a large group, how would you determine who gets which entree?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a challenging situation. In your answer, explain the steps you would take to ensure everyone gets their food at the same time and that no one is left waiting for an entree while others are eating.

Example: “I would first ask if anyone has any allergies or dietary restrictions. If so, I would make sure those people get their meals first. After that, I would start with the person who ordered the most expensive meal and work my way down from there. This ensures that everyone gets their meal in a timely manner without having to wait too long.”

We want to ensure our guests have an exceptional dining experience. How would you define exceptional?

This question is an opportunity to show your understanding of what it means to provide exceptional service. Use examples from previous experiences that highlight the importance of providing quality customer service and how you achieve this goal.

Example: “Excellence in customer service is my top priority when working with customers. I believe exceptional service starts with a positive attitude, which helps me remain calm and friendly even during busy times. It also involves anticipating needs before they arise and being proactive about solving problems or answering questions. In my last role, I had a guest who was looking for a specific type of wine. Rather than simply telling them we didn’t have it, I offered to call other restaurants within a five-mile radius to see if they carried it. The guest was so impressed by my initiative that they left us a generous tip.”

Describe your experience serving large groups.

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with large groups and how you handled them. Use examples from previous jobs to describe what you did, including any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

Example: “At my last job, I often served large groups of people who were celebrating special occasions or just wanted a fun night out. One time, I had a group of 20 people that came in for dinner. They were all celebrating one person’s birthday, so they ordered quite a few appetizers and entrees. It was challenging because there were so many different orders, but I organized everything by table number and made sure each server knew which tables they needed to deliver food to.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you feel you would be a good fit for the role. Before your interview, make sure to read through the job description so that you can refer to specific requirements or skills they are looking for in an applicant. In your answer, try to highlight any of these qualities that you possess.

Example: “I believe I am an ideal candidate for this position because of my customer service experience and my ability to multitask. Throughout my career, I have worked as a server at several restaurants, where I learned how to provide excellent service to customers while also handling multiple orders at once. This skill has helped me become proficient at prioritizing tasks and working efficiently.”

Which room service etiquette guidelines are you most familiar with?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand proper etiquette for serving room service. Use this question as an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of how to serve customers in a way that makes them happy and keeps them coming back.

Example: “I always make sure to greet my guests with a smile, introduce myself and ask if they have any questions about the menu or specials. I also try to be attentive throughout their meal, checking on them frequently to ensure everything is going well. If there’s anything else they need, I’m ready to help.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of delivering a meal to a guest?

This question can help the interviewer determine what you value in your work and how you prioritize tasks. Your answer should show that you understand the importance of customer service, but also highlight a specific skill or quality that makes you an ideal candidate for the job.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of delivering a meal to a guest is making sure they receive their food quickly and accurately. I always make sure to confirm the order with the kitchen staff before taking it to the table so there are no mistakes when I deliver the meal. This helps me ensure my guests get exactly what they ordered as soon as possible.”

How often do you think a room service server should check on a guest?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and manage time. Your answer should show that you know when to check on a guest and when it’s appropriate to wait longer periods of time before returning to their room.

Example: “I think it depends on the situation, but I would try to check in with my guests every 30 minutes or so. If they’re eating, I’ll ask if everything is okay and if there’s anything else they need. If they’re not eating, I’ll just make sure they have everything they need and are comfortable. If they don’t respond to me knocking after several attempts, I’d call for backup.”

There is a long wait for a guest’s meal. How would you respond?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to prioritize tasks. When answering, it can be helpful to mention the steps you would take to ensure that the guest’s meal arrives as quickly as possible while still maintaining quality service standards.

Example: “If there was a long wait for a guest’s meal, I would first check in with them to see if they needed anything else from me. If not, I would ask my manager how much longer their meal would take so I could relay this information to the guest. Then, I would work on other tables until the food arrived. Once the food arrived, I would make sure everything was correct before delivering it to the guest.”