Operations articles
34 published articles covering operations for restaurant and BOH operators.
What Is a Kitchen Porter?
A kitchen porter (KP) is a back-of-house worker responsible for washing dishes, cleaning kitchen equipment, and supporting chefs with basic food prep. Kitchen porters are entry-level BOH staff and a critical part of any commercial kitchen team.
What Is a Banquet Server?
A banquet server serves food and beverages to guests at events, weddings, conferences, and catered functions. Banquet servers work in hotels, event venues, and catering companies, handling setup, service, and breakdown.
What Is a Sous Chef?
A sous chef is the second-in-command in a professional kitchen, reporting directly to the executive chef. The sous chef manages day-to-day kitchen operations, oversees line cooks and prep cooks, and controls food quality during service.
What Is an Expeditor in a Restaurant?
A restaurant expeditor (expo) coordinates food flow between the kitchen and front of house. The expeditor reads tickets, calls orders to kitchen stations, checks plates for accuracy, and sends dishes to the correct table at the right time.
Back of House Roles Explained: Every Kitchen Position
Back of house (BOH) roles are the kitchen positions responsible for food production. Key BOH roles include executive chef, sous chef, line cook, prep cook, dishwasher, kitchen porter, and expeditor — each with specific duties in the kitchen brigade.
Seasonal Restaurant Staffing: Your Complete Event Guide
Learn how to plan seasonal restaurant staffing for peak periods, events, and holiday rushes — without overhiring or burning out your core team.
World Cup 2026 Event Staffing: How Restaurants & Venues Prepare
FIFA World Cup 2026 comes to 16 US and Canadian cities. Here's how restaurants and venues near stadiums can staff up with on-demand BOH workers — fast.
Line Cook Meaning: What They Do, Their Role & How to Hire One
A line cook is a kitchen station cook responsible for preparing and plating dishes to order. Learn what they do, their duties, pay, and how to hire one fast.
What Is a Prep Cook? Roles, Skills & How to Staff One
Learn what prep cooks do, their responsibilities, and how to find reliable prep cooks for your restaurant fast.
How to Handle a No-Call No-Show Dishwasher (And Never Get Stuck Again)
A dishwasher no-show can derail your whole service. Here's how to handle it fast — and how on-demand kitchen staffing can be your backup plan.
The Complete Guide to Staffing Your Catering Event (Without the Stress)
Planning a catering event? Here's how to get the right kitchen staff lined up — from prep cooks to dishwashers — without an agency contract.
Instant Solutions for Your Unpredictable Hospitality Staffing Needs
Get vetted kitchen staff same-day. DishwasherHero+ connects you with reliable BOH professionals for last-minute shifts—taking the stress out of urgent staffing needs.
5 Ways to Reduce Kitchen Turnover in Peak Season
Learn proven strategies to keep your kitchen staff motivated and reduce costly turnover during your busiest months.
Best Practices for Training Temporary Kitchen Staff
Make the most of on-demand workers with these quick onboarding and training strategies.
Building a Resilient Kitchen Team in 2024
Strategies for creating a kitchen workforce that can adapt to challenges, from staffing shortages to economic uncertainty.
The Complete Guide to Kitchen Staffing Ratios
Learn the optimal staff-to-cover ratios for different restaurant types and how to adjust for peak periods.
Creating an Inclusive Kitchen: Staffing Best Practices
Building a diverse kitchen team that drives innovation, improves culture, and attracts top talent.
Sustainable Kitchen Operations: Staffing for the Eco-Conscious Restaurant
Environmental responsibility starts in the back of house. Explore how forward-thinking restaurants are training staff in sustainable practices while reducing waste and energy costs.
Gala Dinner Staffing Guide: How to Staff a Large-Format Formal Dinner
Staffing a gala dinner requires precise planning, experienced banquet servers, and a BOH team that can plate 200+ covers simultaneously. Here's how to get it right.
Convention Center Kitchen Staffing: How to Staff High-Volume Event Catering
Convention center catering operates at a scale most kitchens never see — 1,000-person dinners, simultaneous breakout rooms, and 48-hour turnaround windows. Here's how to staff it.
Large-Format Catering Staffing: BOH Teams for 500+ Person Events
Staffing BOH for a 500-person catering event requires a different approach than restaurant staffing. Prep timelines, off-site logistics, and surge staffing all need a plan.
Banquet Staffing Checklist: Everything You Need Before Event Day
Use this banquet staffing checklist to confirm BOH coverage, banquet server count, setup timeline, and compliance requirements before your next event.
Same-Day Pay Kitchen Jobs: How to Find Instant Pay Restaurant Work in 2026
Looking for same-day pay kitchen jobs? W-2 restaurant jobs with weekly or instant pay are available through DishwasherHero+ for dishwashers, line cooks, and prep cooks across 30+ cities.
Line Cook Salary Guide 2026: Hourly Rate, Annual Pay & How to Earn More
How much do line cooks make? Line cook hourly rates range from $16 to $28/hr depending on city, restaurant type, and experience. Full salary breakdown for 2026.
Prep Cook Salary Guide 2026: Hourly Rate, Annual Pay & City Breakdown
How much do prep cooks make? Prep cook hourly rates range from $15 to $22/hr in the US. Full salary breakdown by city, experience, and kitchen type for 2026.
Dishwasher Salary Guide 2026: How Much Do Dishwashers Make Per Hour?
How much does a dishwasher make? Dishwasher hourly rates range from $14 to $20/hr in the US depending on city and kitchen type. Full 2026 salary breakdown.
Barback Salary Guide 2026: How Much Do Barbacks Make Per Hour?
How much do barbacks make? Barback hourly rates range from $13 to $16/hr plus tip-out from bartenders, totaling $18 to $26/hr at busy bars. Full 2026 breakdown.
Busser Salary Guide 2026: How Much Do Bussers Make Per Hour?
How much do bussers make? Busser hourly rates range from $13 to $16/hr plus tip-out from servers. At busy restaurants total busser pay reaches $16 to $22/hr.
Food Runner Salary Guide 2026: How Much Do Food Runners Make Per Hour?
How much do food runners make? Food runner hourly rates range from $13 to $17/hr plus tip-out from servers. At high-volume restaurants total pay reaches $18 to $25/hr.
What Is a Food Runner? Role, Duties & Pay in 2026
A food runner is the bridge between the kitchen and the dining room. Learn what food runners do, how much they earn, and how to hire reliable food runners fast.
What Is a Busser? Duties, Pay & How to Hire in 2026
A busser clears and resets tables so servers can turn covers faster. Learn what bussers do, what they earn, and how to staff your busser team on demand.
What Is a Barback? Duties, Pay & How to Hire in 2026
A barback keeps the bar stocked and running so bartenders can focus on guests. Learn what barbacks do, what they earn, and how to hire one fast.
What Is a Banquet Captain? Role, Duties & Pay in 2026
A banquet captain leads the front-of-house team at events and functions. Learn what banquet captains do, how much they earn, and how to staff events fast.
What Is a Prep Station Lead? Duties, Pay & How to Hire
A prep station lead oversees the prep kitchen and ensures mise en place is ready before service. Learn what prep leads do, what they earn, and how to hire one.