What is a commis?
A commis is the entry-level assistant in hotels and restaurants. The word comes from the French *commis*, meaning someone appointed or a deputy. It sits near the bottom of the kitchen brigade, and it is where the job is actually learned.
The same title is used in two places: in the kitchen and in the dining room.
Commis chef vs commis waiter
| Point | Commis chef (commis de cuisine) | Commis waiter (commis de rang) |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Kitchen | Dining room |
| Reports to | Chef de partie | Waiter or captain |
| Main work | Prep, knife work, station set-up | Table set-up, carrying and clearing plates |
| Next step | Demi chef de partie, cook | Waiter, captain |
What does a commis do?
A commis chef:
- Prepares vegetables and ingredients, doing basic knife work
- Sets up the station's mise en place
- Puts away deliveries and keeps FIFO rotation
- Follows cleaning and hygiene rules
- Follows the chef's recipes exactly
A commis waiter:
- Sets the place settings and the table
- Carries plates from the kitchen and clears empties
- Handles water, bread and small service needs
- Supports the server with the order and service flow
Commis vs waiter and cook
- A waiter owns the table: taking orders and looking after guests. A commis waiter supports them.
- A cook can prepare a dish from start to finish. A commis chef is still learning that skill.
What qualifications does a commis need?
In most kitchens employers look for discipline and willingness to learn more than experience. Food hygiene training is the usual baseline, and requirements vary by country: in Türkiye it is the hygiene training certificate. The basics of preventing cross-contamination are worth learning before the first shift.
Career path after commis
In the kitchen: commis → demi chef de partie → chef de partie → sous chef → head chef → executive chef.
In the dining room: commis → waiter → captain → maître d'.
How fast this happens depends on the person and the business. What stops new starters from getting lost is a clear training plan; our 90-day kitchen team training plan is a framework for exactly that. Businesses that want this built for their team can look at our kitchen team training service.
For training and certificate routes, see how to become a chef. For what each level earns, see our chef salary data.
