Reports To: General Manager,Manager on Duty / Managing Operator
FLSA Status: Non-exempt (hourly, tipped)
Employment Type: Part-time or full-time; hourly; at-will
Schedule: Variable — evenings, weekends, and holidays required; hours fluctuate with season and Alpine Lake community events
The Server is the primary point of contact between La Tavola and our guests. Servers greet and seat guests, present menus, take and enter food and beverage orders, deliver food and drinks, verify guest age before serving alcohol, handle payment, and maintain a clean, welcoming dining room. This is a tipped position in a full-service restaurant that holds a West Virginia liquor license, so accuracy, hospitality, and strict compliance with alcohol and food safety laws are essential.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Guest Service
- Greet guests promptly and warmly; present menus and answer questions about ingredients, preparation, allergens, and specials.
- Take accurate orders and enter them into the POS system completely and correctly.
- Deliver food and beverages promptly; check back on tables and anticipate guest needs.
- Handle guest concerns with courtesy; never argue with a guest — escalate to a manager.
- Process payments accurately (cash, card, and comps/voids with required manager approval).
Alcohol Service & Compliance
- Verify the age of every guest who appears under 30 using La Tavola's transaction scan device, per company procedure, before serving any alcoholic beverage.
- Physically inspect the ID in addition to scanning it; refuse service and notify a manager if an ID is expired, altered, borrowed, or otherwise suspicious.
- Refuse service to visibly intoxicated guests and notify a manager.
- Never bypass the scanner; report device outages to a manager before completing any transaction requiring ID verification.
- Comply at all times with West Virginia Code Chapter 60 and WVABCA regulations.
Food Safety & Sanitation
- Follow all personal hygiene and handwashing standards.
- Report any illness (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, sore throat with fever) to management before reporting to work.
- Maintain sanitation standards in the dining room, server stations, and service areas at all times.
Side Work & Teamwork
- Complete opening, running, and closing side work: rolling silverware, stocking, cleaning, resetting tables, and restaurant closing duties.
- Support bussers, bartenders, kitchen, and fellow servers; assist with running food and clearing tables as needed.
- Attend required meetings and training sessions.
Timekeeping & Reporting
- Clock in and out accurately for all time worked, including side work, training, and required meetings. Off-the-clock work is strictly prohibited.
- Declare all tip income through the POS at the end of each shift, as required by IRS rules.
- Report any suspected pay error — missing hours, incorrect rate, missing overtime, or tip credit shortfall — to a manager immediately.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old. Employees under 18 may not sell, serve, dispense, or deliver alcoholic beverages or work in or behind the bar area, and therefore cannot fill this position.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States; must complete Form I-9 on or before the first day of work.
- Ability to obtain a food handler permit/card within 30 days of hire (WV Code §16-2-16), where required, through the Preston County Health Department or an approved provider.
- Reliable transportation to Terra Alta, WV. Applicants commuting from Maryland or elsewhere must be able to reach the restaurant reliably in all seasons, including winter weather.
- Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Ability to read menus, communicate clearly with guests and staff, and perform basic arithmetic for order and payment accuracy.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior serving experience in a full-service restaurant.
- Familiarity with POS systems and cash handling.
- Completion of a Responsible Beverage Service Training course (strongly encouraged; may be required for certain roles).
- Wine, beer, and cocktail knowledge.
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions
The following reflect the physical demands of the role. Reasonable accommodations will be made as required by the ADA, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Title VII, and the West Virginia Human Rights Act.
- Stand and walk for extended periods, typically 4–8 hours per shift.
- Frequently lift and carry up to 30 lbs (trays, bus tubs, cases of product); occasionally more with assistance.
- Bend, reach, stoop, and carry trays at shoulder height.
- Work in a fast-paced environment with variable noise levels, temperature changes, and wet or slippery floors.
- Exposure to cleaning chemicals, hot surfaces, and kitchen equipment.
Compensation
- Tipped cash wage: $2.62 per hour, plus tips. La Tavola applies the West Virginia tip credit and provides every tipped employee with a written Tip Credit Notice before the tip credit is applied.
- Earnings guarantee: If cash wage plus tips does not equal at least $8.75 per hour (the applicable West Virginia minimum wage) in any workweek, La Tavola pays the difference.
- Non-tipped duties: If a server spends more than 20% of a shift on non-tipped duties, La Tavola pays the full $8.75/hour for that time.
- Overtime: Time over 40 hours in a workweek is paid at $13.13/hour less the $6.13 tip credit — a cash wage of $7.00/hour. Overtime requires advance manager approval.
- Pay schedule: Bi-weekly, 26 pay periods per year. Direct deposit available.
- Tips belong to the employee who earned them, except in a valid tip pool. No manager or owner receives any portion of tips.
Benefits
- Complimentary shift/family meal (Handbook §3.7)
- Workers' Compensation coverage
- Unpaid leave protections as described in Handbook Section 10
La Tavola does not offer employer-sponsored health, dental, vision, life, or disability insurance, paid time off, or retirement benefits at this time. Every employee receives a Health Insurance Marketplace Notice within 14 days of hire.
Training & Introductory Period
New servers complete an orientation before working independently, covering the Employee Handbook, food safety, allergen awareness, responsible beverage service and WV ABC compliance, POS and cash handling, fire safety and evacuation, and Alpine Lake HOA community standards. All orientation and training hours are paid working time at no less than the applicable minimum or tipped rate.
New employees serve a 30-day introductory period. The introductory period does not alter the at-will nature of employment.
Equal Opportunity Statement
La Tavola is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under federal, West Virginia state, or local law. This policy applies to all phases of employment including hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, and termination.
Pay: $8.75 - $29.00 per hour
Benefits:
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person
