A strong busser cover letter helps you stand out when hiring managers review entry level restaurant applicants. This guide gives clear examples and templates you can adapt to show reliability, teamwork, and a willingness to learn.
View and download this professional resume template
Loading resume example...
💡 Pro tip: Use this template as a starting point. Customize it with your own experience, skills, and achievements.
Key Elements of a Strong Cover Letter
Start with a brief sentence that states the job you are applying for and how you heard about it. This helps the reader place your application quickly and signals that you followed the job posting instructions.
Summarize duties or hours from past restaurant, cleaning, or customer service roles that match busser tasks. Focus on practical skills like clearing tables, restocking, and supporting servers rather than unrelated details.
Show that you care about the dining experience by mentioning fast, polite service and attention to cleanliness. Concrete examples of times you helped maintain a smooth shift make your claims believable.
State the shifts you can work and your readiness to learn new tasks or follow direction from the floor manager. Employers hire bussers who are dependable and flexible, so make that clear.
Cover Letter Structure
1. Header
Header: Include your name, phone, email, and optionally city. Use a simple readable format so managers can contact you quickly and match your application to their shift needs.
2. Greeting
Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name when possible, or use a respectful phrase like "Hiring Manager" if the name is unavailable. A direct greeting shows you made an effort to personalize the letter.
3. Opening Paragraph
Opening: Begin with a short sentence stating the position you want and where you saw the job posting. Then add one line that highlights a relevant strength, such as strong work ethic or prior restaurant hours.
4. Body Paragraph(s)
Body: Use one or two short paragraphs to describe your most relevant experience and a specific example of dependability, teamwork, or speed. Keep sentences focused on tasks you can do on shift and how you help servers and guests.
5. Closing Paragraph
Closing: Reaffirm your interest and state your availability for interviews or shifts, and thank the reader for their time. Offer to provide references or to come in for a short trial if that helps demonstrate your fit.
6. Signature
Signature: End with a friendly sign off like "Sincerely" or "Thank you," then type your full name and contact information again. This makes it easy for the hiring manager to follow up.
Dos and Don'ts
Do keep the letter to one short page and use 2 to 3 brief paragraphs for the main points.
Do use action words like cleared, stocked, supported, and maintained to describe your tasks clearly.
Do mention specific availability such as nights, weekends, or holidays if you can work them.
Do tailor one or two lines to the restaurant style, noting if you have experience in fast casual, fine dining, or high volume environments.
Do proofread for typos and ask someone to read it aloud so you catch awkward phrasing.
Don't repeat your entire resume; use the letter to highlight the most relevant details and attitude. Keep it focused and practical so managers see your fit quickly.
Don't use vague claims like hardworking without showing a short example such as supporting a busy dinner rush. Concrete items are more convincing.
Don't mention unrelated or negative details, such as why you left a prior job, unless asked in an interview. Save explanations for the conversation.
Don't use informal slang or emojis in a professional cover letter, even if the restaurant seems casual. Keep the tone polite and direct.
Don't forget to include contact information and availability, since managers often hire based on who can cover needed shifts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Listing duties without results makes the letter vague, so add a quick example of how you helped the team during a busy service. That small detail shows impact.
Sending a generic letter to every restaurant wastes an opportunity, so customize one or two lines to match the venue and role. Hiring managers notice when you reference their place.
Overusing long sentences can make your letter hard to scan, so keep sentences short and focused on busser tasks. Clear structure helps your application stand out.
Forgetting to state availability leaves a gap in your application, so include days and times you can regularly work. Schedules matter more than you might expect for hourly roles.
Practical Writing Tips & Customization Guide
If you have no restaurant experience, highlight reliable roles like retail or volunteer work and explain how those skills transfer to bussing. Emphasize punctuality and teamwork.
Bring a printed copy of your cover letter and resume to the interview or a walk in, since many restaurants prefer in person hiring. This shows initiative and readiness.
If you have a short personal reference from a manager or supervisor, mention you can provide a reference and note their role. A quick name and title helps managers verify your claims.
Match the tone of the restaurant in your letter while staying professional, using a slightly more formal tone for upscale venues and a friendly tone for casual spots.
Cover Letter Examples
Example 1 — Recent Graduate (Hospital Bistro)
Dear Hiring Manager,
I recently completed the Hospitality Certificate program at City College and worked two summers as a food runner at The Harbor Café, where I supported a team that seated and turned over 60+ covers per shift. As a busser-in-training I cleared 10–12 tables per hour during peak service and helped reduce table wait times by 15% through improved tray staging and coordinated clearing with servers.
I know POS basics (Toast) and follow strict sanitation procedures, including color-coded cleaning and a daily checklist that improved health-inspection readiness.
I want to bring my fast pace, attention to safety, and teamwork to Shoreline Bistro. I’m available for evening and weekend shifts and can start within two weeks.
Sincerely, Alex Moreno
Why this works:
- •Specific numbers (60+ covers, 10–12 tables/hour, 15% improvement) show impact.
- •Mentions tools (Toast) and safety practices, matching employer concerns.
–-
Example 2 — Career Changer (Retail to Restaurant)
Dear Ms.
After three years as a retail floor lead managing a 12-person team and weekend rushes of 300+ customers, I’m transitioning to foodservice to apply my customer-focus and fast-paced teamwork. In retail I scheduled staff to cover 100% of peak hours, coached new hires to reach performance goals in two weeks, and handled inventory cycles that cut stockouts by 25%.
As a busser I bring stamina, clear communication, and a reliable attendance record (zero unplanned absences last year). I quickly learn procedures and am confident I can support your front-of-house team to keep turnover under 6 minutes per table during dinner service.
I’d welcome the chance to train with your team and demonstrate my work ethic.
Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely, Jordan Lee
Why this works:
- •Transfers measurable retail achievements (25% fewer stockouts, zero absences) into relevant restaurant strengths.
- •Sets a specific operational goal (under 6-minute turnover) to show ambition and fit.
–-
Example 3 — Experienced Professional (Lead Busser)
Hello Hiring Team,
I’ve worked five years in busy, full-service restaurants, including two years as lead busser at The Oak Room where I managed a team of 5 bussers and coordinated bussing patterns for parties up to 12. On busy weekend nights we turned 85–100 covers in a four-hour dinner service; I implemented a zone-clearing system that improved table turnover by 20% and raised guest satisfaction scores from 4.
4 to 4. 7 out of 5.
I train new staff on safe lifting, glass handling, and timing with servers to avoid bottlenecks. I’m certified in ServSafe and comfortable adjusting staffing on short notice to meet demand.
I’d like to bring this operational experience to Maple & Vine and help streamline your service flow.
Best regards, Riley Carter
Why this works:
- •Leadership, training, and certifications are clear and quantified.
- •Shows direct operational improvements (20% turnover, satisfaction jump) that hiring managers value.
Practical Writing Tips
1. Open with a specific achievement, not a generic sentence.
Start with one line like “I helped cut table turnover time by 20% at River Grill” to grab attention and establish value immediately.
2. Match language from the job posting.
If the ad mentions “fast-paced shifts” or “team player,” echo those words—hiring software and managers scan for them.
3. Quantify results whenever possible.
Use numbers: covers per shift, % improvement, team size, or years of experience to make claims believable.
4. Keep paragraphs short and scannable.
Aim for 3–4 short paragraphs (opening, fit, accomplishments, close) so busy managers can skim quickly.
5. Show, don’t just list traits.
Instead of saying “hard worker,” describe a specific shift where you stayed late to clear 20 tables in 30 minutes and why that mattered.
6. Use active verbs and concrete nouns.
Write “cleared 12 tables per hour” instead of “responsible for clearing tables” to sound direct and reliable.
7. Address scheduling and availability clearly.
For service roles, state if you can work nights, weekends, or holidays; this eliminates a common hiring objection.
8. End with a call to action.
Close with a specific next step: “I’m available for a trial shift next week” or “I can meet after 3 PM on weekdays.
9. Proofread for tone and errors.
Read aloud or use a checklist (spelling, tense, name of restaurant) to avoid small mistakes that cost interviews.
10. Keep it under 300 words.
Short letters are easier to read; if you can’t cut content, move detailed examples to a resume or interview.
Takeaway: apply one tip at a time—start by adding one metric and one specific availability note to your current draft.
How to Customize for Industry, Company Size, and Job Level
Strategy 1 — Emphasize the right skills by industry
- •Tech-adjacent dining (cafés in co-working spaces): highlight familiarity with tablet POS, mobile orders, and speed—e.g., “balanced 40 app orders per shift via Square.”
- •Finance/corporate cafeterias: stress punctuality, security checks, and consistent etiquette for executives—e.g., “maintained 99% on-time shift start across 6 months.”
- •Healthcare/clinic cafeterias: emphasize sanitation, allergy awareness, and privacy—e.g., “followed patient-area sanitation protocols and logged cleanings daily.”
Strategy 2 — Tailor tone to company size
- •Startups/small restaurants: use a conversational, flexible tone and stress multi-role willingness: “I’m happy to bus, prep, and cover host shifts as needed.”
- •Large chains/corporations: adopt a professional, policy-aware tone and cite compliance or training: “ServSafe certified; trained 8 hires in chain procedures.”
Strategy 3 — Adjust emphasis by job level
- •Entry-level: emphasize reliability, availability, quick learning, and eagerness. Mention specific availability (nights/weekends) and 1–2 soft skills.
- •Senior/lead roles: highlight supervision, process improvements, headcount managed, and training outcomes—e.g., “supervised 5 bussers, cut turnover time by 18%.”
Strategy 4 — Use concrete customization tactics
- •Mirror 2–3 keywords from the posting in your first paragraph.
- •Swap one industry-specific metric into your examples (covers/hour for restaurants, orders/hour for cafés, compliance logs for healthcare).
- •Add a short sentence on cultural fit using the company’s mission line or reviews: “I admire how BrightSide focuses on farm-to-table sourcing and I value clear, local communication.”
Example adaptation:
Original line: “I clear tables quickly.
- •Tech café: “I cleared 12 tables per hour while managing 30 mobile orders via Square.”
- •Hospital cafeteria: “I cleared and sanitized tables between patients within a 5-minute window following hygiene protocols.”
Takeaway: choose 1–2 industry-focused metrics, mirror the job post language, and state availability to create a tailored, high-impact cover letter.