About Us

The Serving Cafe is a locally owned and operated cafe and bakery. All our bakery items are locally sourced and made fresh every morning. Our nourishing lunch items include sandwiches, salads, and smoothie options.

Our newly renovated location includes indoor and outdoor seating designed for easy gatherings with friends and family, and also as a workspace for individuals. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a lunch item on the go with our drive-through and online ordering options.

Come visit our coffee shop located in the heart of the historic downtown West Branch just 10 minutes outside of Iowa City. We can’t wait to see you!

Join Our Team

We are always looking for hardworking and caring individuals to join The Serving Cafe team!

We look forward to meeting you!

Waitstaff

Our waitstaff are the heart of The Serving Café. Servers create a warm, welcoming experience for every guest by providing friendly, attentive service and ensuring food and drinks are delivered accurately and promptly. This role is perfect for someone who loves people, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and believes great service can brighten someone’s day.

Key Responsibilities

  • Greet guests warmly and make them feel welcomed and valued

  • Take accurate food and beverage orders and enter them into the POS system

  • Deliver food and drinks promptly, ensuring accuracy and presentation

  • Check in with guests throughout their visit and respond to needs or concerns

  • Maintain cleanliness of dining areas, including tables, floors, and service stations

  • Follow food safety, sanitation, and health guidelines at all times

  • Communicate clearly with kitchen and barista staff to ensure smooth service

  • Process payments accurately and efficiently

  • Support team members during busy periods and assist where needed

Qualifications

  • Friendly, positive attitude with strong customer service skills

  • Ability to multitask and stay organized in a fast-paced environment

  • Strong communication and teamwork skills

  • Reliable, punctual, and professional in appearance and behavior

  • Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 25 lbs

  • Previous restaurant or café experience preferred, but not required

  • Must be able to work mornings, weekends, and holidays as needed

What We Offer

  • Supportive, team-oriented work environment

  • Flexible scheduling

  • Opportunities for growth and skill development

  • Employee discounts

  • The chance to be part of a mission-driven café that serves the community

Our Culture

At The Serving Café, we believe in kindness, teamwork, and serving others with excellence. We value people who take pride in their work, care about their teammates, and enjoy creating meaningful connections with guests.

Store Supervisor

Position Summary

The Store Supervisor at The Serving Café plays a key leadership role in creating an exceptional guest experience while supporting and guiding our team. This position bridges front-line service and management by leading shifts, coaching staff, and ensuring daily operations run smoothly, efficiently, and with heart.

The ideal candidate is a calm, capable leader who thrives in a fast-paced café environment, values teamwork, and models kindness, accountability, and excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Support

  • Lead by example, modeling excellent service and positive communication

  • Supervise and support waitstaff, baristas, and kitchen team during shifts

  • Provide on-the-spot coaching, feedback, and encouragement

  • Assist with training new team members and reinforcing standards

  • Foster a respectful, welcoming, and team-oriented culture

Operations & Guest Experience

  • Ensure consistent food quality, speed of service, and cleanliness

  • Address guest concerns professionally and promptly

  • Monitor service flow and adjust staffing or task priorities as needed

  • Ensure café standards are met for hospitality, presentation, and safety

Shift Management & Accountability

  • Open and close the café as scheduled

  • Handle cash management, drawer counts, and basic reports

  • Ensure policies, procedures, and food safety standards are followed

  • Communicate issues, wins, and needs to the management team

Facility & Organization

  • Maintain clean, organized workspaces and dining areas

  • Identify maintenance or supply needs and communicate them promptly

  • Support inventory checks and restocking as needed

Qualifications

  • Previous restaurant or café supervisory experience preferred

  • Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills

  • Ability to remain calm, positive, and solution-oriented under pressure

  • High level of personal accountability and reliability

  • Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 30 lbs

  • Flexible availability including mornings, weekends, and holidays

What We Offer

  • Supportive, purpose-driven workplace

  • Leadership development and growth opportunities

  • Flexible scheduling

  • Employee discounts

  • The opportunity to lead in a café that exists to serve people and community

Our Culture

The Serving Café is built on hospitality, teamwork, and heart. We believe leaders set the tone — with humility, encouragement, and consistency. Our supervisors don’t just manage tasks; they care for people and help the café run with excellence and grace.

Kitchen Staff

Kitchen Staff at The Serving Café play a vital role in preparing high-quality, made-with-care food while supporting a positive, efficient kitchen environment. This position focuses on food preparation, cooking, cleanliness, and teamwork to ensure every guest receives a great meal, served with excellence and heart.

The ideal candidate takes pride in their work, values consistency, and enjoys being part of a supportive, mission-driven team.

Key Responsibilities

  • Prepare and cook menu items according to café recipes and standards

  • Assist with food prep including chopping, portioning, and assembling items

  • Maintain cleanliness and organization of kitchen workstations

  • Follow food safety, sanitation, and health department guidelines

  • Communicate clearly with front-of-house staff to support smooth service

  • Assist with stocking, labeling, and rotating ingredients (FIFO)

  • Wash dishes and maintain a clean dish area as needed

  • Support team members during busy service periods

Qualifications

  • Previous kitchen or food service experience preferred, but not required

  • Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment

  • Strong attention to detail and consistency

  • Reliable, punctual, and team-oriented

  • Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 40 lbs

  • Availability to work mornings, weekends, and holidays as needed

What We Offer

  • Supportive, respectful team culture

  • Flexible scheduling

  • Opportunities to learn and grow in the kitchen

  • Employee discounts

  • The chance to be part of a café that exists to serve others and the community

Our Culture

At The Serving Café, we believe great food starts with great people. Our kitchen team works hard, supports one another, and takes pride in serving food that’s made with care, consistency, and purpose.