Microsoft Office
Lerenzo Anthonio Hector
Waiter
Cape Town
Summary
Adept at enhancing guest experiences and streamlining service operations, I leveraged guest relations management and upselling techniques at Taj Hotel Cape Town to significantly boost customer satisfaction and sales. My ability to foster warm relationships and maintain high operational standards underscores my commitment to excellence in hospitality.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Restaurant Waiter
Taj Hotel Cape Town
Cape Town
06.2023 - Current
- Quickly reset and cleaned up tables after customers left to enable speedy turnaround and guest flow.
- Answered customers' questions, recommended items, and recorded order information.
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
- Maintained clean and organized dining areas for optimal guest experience.
- Bussed and reset tables to keep dining room and work areas clean.
- Managed multiple tables simultaneously while maintaining high levels of accuracy on order placement and delivery.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by providing attentive service and anticipating guest needs.
- Maintained professional demeanor under pressure while managing challenging situations involving dissatisfied customers.
- Supported fellow waitstaff through teamwork during busy times, sharing responsibilities as needed.
- Explained menu items and suggested appropriate options for food allergy concerns.
- Promoted restaurant specials and upsold menu items, increasing overall sales revenue.
- Collaborated with kitchen staff to ensure timely delivery of orders, resulting in positive feedback from guests.
- Processed cash and credit card transactions accurately, maintaining accountability for all sales revenue generated during shifts.
- Addressed guest concerns promptly and professionally, fostering a positive dining atmosphere.
- Developed strong rapport with regular customers, encouraging repeat visits and loyalty to the establishment.
- Effectively communicated dietary restrictions and allergies to kitchen staff, ensuring accurate meal preparation for guests.
- Balanced excellent customer service with efficient task completion by multitasking effectively throughout each shift.
- Adhered to company guidelines and safety protocols for proper food handling and presentation.
- Demonstrated knowledge of diverse menu offerings, guiding guests towards optimal meal choices based on preferences or dietary requirements.
- Contributed positively to the overall workplace culture through proactive communication, problem-solving, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
- Assisted in training new waitstaff members, contributing to a cohesive team environment.
- Remained calm and poised when dealing with difficult customers or during busy shifts.
- Shared knowledge of menu items and flavors, enabling customers to make personal decisions based on taste and interest.
- Folded napkins and prepared silverware sets to provide adequate supply for host station.
- Processed orders and sent to kitchen employees for preparation.
- Inspected dishes and utensils for cleanliness.
- Carried out complete opening, closing and shift change duties to keep restaurant working efficiently and teams ready to meet customer needs.
- Presented menus to patrons promptly after seating and answered questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
- Collected payment for food and drinks served, balanced cash receipts and maintained accurate cash drawer.
- Printed dining checks with total due, collected payment and offered receipts to complete transactions.
Chef Trainee
Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa
Franschhoek
04.2019 - 02.2023
- Maintained safety standards by adhering to proper food handling procedures and cleanliness guidelines.
- Developed expertise in multiple stations within the kitchen, increasing versatility as a chef trainee and supporting team cohesion during busy shifts.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by creating visually appealing and delicious dishes.
- Collaborated with head chef to develop innovative menu items, attracting new customers and boosting sales.
- Completed daily mise en place tasks efficiently, allowing for smooth service during meal periods.
- Worked closely with other kitchen staff to foster a positive teamwork atmosphere conducive to learning and growth.
- Contributed to successful catering events by preparing large quantities of food while maintaining quality standards.
- Excelled in fast-paced kitchen environment by adapting to changing circumstances and maintaining a professional demeanor under pressure.
- Streamlined plating process with proper portion control, reducing food waste and increasing profits.
- Mastered knife skills through daily practice, improving precision in cuts and overall presentation of dishes.
- Received positive feedback from supervisors on strong work ethic and commitment to continuous improvement as a chef trainee.
- Shadowed head chef on inventory management tasks, gaining valuable knowledge about ordering supplies and minimizing costs.
- Received hands-on training from experienced chefs to hone culinary skills and improve overall performance in the kitchen.
- Supported fellow team members during high-volume periods, ensuring timely completion of orders and satisfied guests.
- Cleaned kitchen counters, refrigerators, and freezers.
- Checked expiration dates, rotated food, and removed any items that were no longer usable.
- Signed for deliveries, checked items into inventory and stocked goods into proper locations.
- Read through recipes and set up ingredients for Type chef.
- Maintained food safety and sanitation standards.
- Kept kitchen clean and organized by performing daily maintenance tasks.
- Followed strict standards for food handling and safety, minimizing risks to customers.
- Managed opening and closing shift kitchen tasks.
- Restocked inventory and ingredient items to maintain optimal kitchen efficiency.
- Oversaw scheduling, inventory management, and supply ordering to maintain fully stocked kitchen.
Corporate Liaison
JUST PCs
Brackenfell
08.2017 - 12.2018
- Served as the primary point of contact for corporate partners, providing reliable support and guidance throughout the partnership lifecycle.
- Worked closely with executive leadership to align corporate liaison activities with organizational goals and objectives.
- Supported end-users by building, documenting, testing and presenting solutions.
- Conducted regular performance reviews to assess partnership effectiveness, implementing changes as needed to optimize results.
- Produced data for analysis and decision-making.
Education
National Senior Certificate -
Silversands High School
Cape Town 12.2016
Skills
Guest relations management
Food and beverage pairings
Daily specials memorization
Wine service
Menu presentation
To-go order preparation
Guest seating arrangements
Accurate money handling
Cash handling
Food spoilage prevention
Stocking and replenishing
Hospitality service expertise
Point of sale operation
Food running
Menu memorization
Order delivery practices
Food sales and promotion
Guest relations
Bill computation
Order accuracy
Item promotion
Food station setup
Upselling techniques
Compliance standards
Dining area maintenance
Software
Microsoft Excell
Nebula POS
Certification
Food and Beverage Training program
Interests
Hospitality and Tourism
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
On-SiteRemoteImportant To Me
Career advancementWork-life balanceCompany CultureFlexible work hoursHealthcare benefitsPersonal development programsPaid time offTeam Building / Company RetreatsPaid sick leaveLanguages
English
Advanced (C1)
Afrikaans
Upper intermediate (B2)
Timeline
Restaurant Waiter
Taj Hotel Cape Town
06.2023 - Current
Food and Beverage Training program
10-2022
The Exceptional Guest Experiences
10-2022
Chef Trainee
Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa
04.2019 - 02.2023
Corporate Liaison
JUST PCs
08.2017 - 12.2018
National Senior Certificate
12-2016
National Senior Certificate -
Silversands High School