Important daily tasks include:

• Review the day's bookings
• Check the temperature of your fridges and freezers
• Make a to-do list for the next day
• Communicate with the next day's management team

By enhancing efficiency, fostering accountability, and enabling clear communication, the checklist helps reduce errors and establishes a professional standard. Overall, it's integral in preventing potential crises and ensuring a well-prepared workplace at the start of each day.

Our guide will show how to create a: 

• Restaurant opening checklist
• Restaurant closing checklist
• ​​Benefits of an opening and closing restaurant checklist 
• Benefits of a digital vs paper checklist 
• How do I make a restaurant checklist?
• Considerations for implementing a restaurant checklist

Why should I break up my opening and closing checklist?

In a busy restaurant, breaking up checklists into front of house (FOH) and back of house (BOH) is a good strategic move. Front of house checklists primarily focus on guest interactions, dining ambiance, and customer satisfaction—key elements that can make or break a diner's experience. 

On the other hand, back of house checklists streamline kitchen operations, ensuring food safety, precise preparation, and efficient resource management. This division allows each area to concentrate on specific needs, promoting specialised attention, organisation, and a harmonious flow of work. 

By tailoring checklists to each domain, establishments can enhance overall service quality, maintain high standards, and provide a memorable dining experience from the kitchen to the table.

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Restaurant opening checklist 

Front of house (FOH) tasks

• Clean and sanitise all surfaces. This includes tables, chairs, menus, countertops, and restrooms.
• Set tables with place settings. Make sure each table has napkins (or serviettes), cutlery, plate, and glass.
• Restock table items. This includes salt and pepper shakers, sugar packets, sauce bottles.
• Check that all menus are in place and clean. This includes food menus, drink menus, and any daily specials.
• Turn on the point-of-sale (POS) system. Make sure that the system is working properly and that all of your menu items are programmed in.
• Review the booking list for the day. Make sure that you have enough staff to accommodate all of your reservations
• Check the temperature of your fridges and freezers. Make sure that they are at the correct temperature to keep food safe.

Back of house (BOH) tasks 

• Check all food supplies. Make sure that you have enough food on hand to last for the day.
• Prep all food items. This includes chopping vegetables, cooking meat, and making sauces.
• Sanitise all cooking equipment and surfaces.

Management tasks

• Review the day's bookings. This will help you anticipate the number of guests and ensure that you have enough staff to accommodate them.
• Check the food and drink inventory. Make sure that you have enough food and drinks on hand to last for the day.
• Assign restaurant positions to staff for the day. This will help to ensure that everyone knows what they need to be doing and that all of the necessary tasks are completed.
• Brief your team ahead of the day. This is a good time to discuss any special instructions or requests, as well as to reiterate any important safety or customer service procedures.
• Walk around the restaurant to ensure everything is in order. This includes checking the toilets, the kitchen, and the dining area.

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Restaurant closing checklist 

A restaurant closing checklist is a structured list of tasks aimed at efficiently concluding the day's operations. It plays a key role in ensuring operational efficiency, cleanliness, security, and compliance with regulations. 

Front of house (FOH) tasks

• Clean and sanitise all surfaces. This includes tables, chairs, menus, worktops, and toilets.
• Empty all bins and recycling bins.
• Sweep and mop the floors.
• Turn off all lights and music.
• Lock all doors and windows.

Back of house (BOH) tasks 

• Check all food supplies. Make sure that you have enough food on hand to last for the day.
• Prep all food items. This includes chopping vegetables, cooking meat, and making sauces.
• Sanitise all cooking equipment and surfaces.
• Cash up the day’s funds. 

Management tasks

• Review the day's sales and bookings. This will help you identify any areas for improvement, such as menu items that are not selling well or times of day when the restaurant is particularly busy.
• Make a to-do list for the next day. This will ensure that all of the necessary tasks are completed, such as ordering food and supplies, scheduling employees, and preparing for any special events.
• Communicate with the next day's management team. This includes discussing any important issues that arose during the day, as well as any special instructions or requests.
• Close out the POS system. This includes balancing the cash register and printing out any necessary reports.
• Review the security system. Make sure that the system is turned on and that all of the doors and windows are locked.

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Benefits of an opening and closing restaurant checklist 

Make cost and paper savings

Switching to digital means cutting printing, paper and stationery costs. It might not sound like a lot, but all that paper and ink adds up—there’s an environmental cost too.

Digital checklists can also help you make savings on maintenance callouts and insurance premiums.

Discover where you could make savings with our calculator. 

Boost productivity

Too much time is taken up on site with repetitive admin. Digital tasks automate repetitive processes and help teams focus.

Improve compliance

Safety checklists are woven into your team's working day. Teams are prompted to do the right task at the right time, so safety checks become a habit.

Gain total visibility and control

​​Real-time insights and dashboards give head office visibility over multiple sites. Understand where standards are slipping and focus attention where it’s needed most.

Enforce accountability

Checklists can help to hold staff accountable for their tasks, thereby reducing mistakes, improving overall performance and allowing you to offer support if needed.

Training 

Give your workforce confidence in your restaurant's opening and closing procedures. This can help to ensure that all employees are familiar with the process and that nothing is missed.

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Benefits of a digital vs paper checklist 

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How do I make a restaurant checklist?

Choosing your tasks for your restaurant can be daunting. Not to worry! Your checklist for your restaurant, bar or cafe should involve breaking down the complex operations of a restaurant into manageable, achievable and actionable tasks. 

1. Identify the tasks that need to be completed

This will vary depending on the size and type of your restaurant, but some common tasks include:

• Opening and closing the restaurant
• Preparing food and drinks
• Cleaning and sanitising surfaces
• Serving customers
• Taking payments

2. Organise the tasks into a logical order.

This will help to ensure that the checklist is efficient and easy to follow. For example, you might group the tasks into sections such as "front of house," "back of house," and "opening/closing."

3. Write the tasks in clear and concise language. 

Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your staff may not understand.

4. Include a space for staff members to check off each task as it is completed (and who completed it, if necessary). 

This will help to ensure that all of the tasks are completed and that nothing is missed.

5. Review your checklist with your staff members. 

This will help to ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities and that the checklist is working effectively.

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Considerations for implementing a restaurant checklist

Your tasks should adhere to:

Comply with health and hygiene regulations. 

The requirements found in the Food Standards Agency - include checks, reviews and record keeping, and food storage.

Set realistic expectations

Don't overload your checklist with tasks that can't be completed in a reasonable amount of time. This also takes the pressure off your team so they aren’t burnt out and overwhelmed.

Be flexible 

Things don't always go according to plan, so be prepared to adjust your checklist as needed.

Review and update your checklist regularly.

As your restaurant grows and changes, it’s important that you amend tasks from your checklist.

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Empower your team with Trail

Unleash efficiency, consistency, and growth in your restaurant

Discover how Trail's digital checklist and task management platform can revolutionise your restaurant operations. 

Streamline processes, improve task accuracy, and drive productivity with real-time updates and analytics. Say goodbye to paperwork and embrace a sustainable, technology-driven approach.

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