My first job is as a busboy?

Question

I'm from new orleans, I'm turning 17 in november and I'm in high school. i plan on working at a chinese place called Five Happiness where my brother used to work. he started out as a busboy and made lots of tips. what does a busboy do actually? i always thought they delivered the food to the tables but my friend says they clean the tables. my main concern is if a chinese person comes in and starts speaking chinese but i wont be able to understand. what do i do in that situation?

Answer 1

Clear tables of dishes, help pour beverages and sometimesyou may help waiters/waitresses carry out their food trays.

Answer 2

Busboys clean the tables and usually get their tips from the waitresses.  If you are anything other than Chinese, I'm pretty sure that your Chinese customers are going to know that you don't speak Chinese.  Even they recognize that it's a very hard language and most who live in America know English.  If you're really concerned about this, ask one of your Chinese-speaking co-workers to teach you how to say, "Sorry, I don't speak Chinese," in Chinese.  Good luck on your first job!

Answer 3

Busboy usually cleans off the table after customers leave and may do dishes.  Its an easy job, and a good first job.

Hardly anyone will speak any chinese to you... the only chinese that will be said is to the waitress when they order lo mein.  :)  Dont worry, I worked in a oriental restaurant and not one person ever tried to speak to me in chinese and I was the cashier/server.  But if somone does try, they most likely know English b/c this is an English speaking country.  Just tell them you dont understand Chinese.

Answer 4

Your friend was correct....the busy boy clears the tables after the customers leave. And sometimes set the table with new silverware.

It is the waiter or waitress that deliver the food.

Don't worry about the language barrier, how can they really expect you to know Chinese....Most patrons, if not all, will know English.