Front of house is every area guests see, from the entrance and bar to the dining room and event spaces. Service flow is how guests, orders, food and information move through those areas. It works when every role hands over clearly to the next.
Why it matters
One slow link, like a missed ticket, delays everyone after it. When the flow works, the team stays calm even when busy.
Key ideas
Roles and handovers
The host seats, the server takes orders, the runner delivers and the bar makes drinks, each passing information on.
Restaurant and banquet flow
À la carte tables order at their own pace; at a banquet, the whole room is usually served together.
Mise en place
French for 'everything in its place': preparing your area and equipment before service starts.
Step by step
- 1
Attend the pre-shift briefing for covers and events.
- 2
Complete your mise en place.
- 3
Focus on your role and hand over information clearly.
- 4
Help colleagues once your own tasks are under control.
- 5
After service, reset your area and report any problems.
Do
- Learn what every role does, not just your own.
- Use short, clear calls like 'table 4 seated'.
- At events, read the function sheet (the event plan) for timings.
Common mistakes
- Don't leave your area without telling someone.
- Don't assume an allergy message has been passed on.
- Don't block walkways, doors or the pass.
The situation
At a wedding for 120 guests, the speeches run 20 minutes late just as the mains are due.
What a professional does
Your supervisor tells the kitchen to hold. You wait at your station until the head waiter signals, then every server collects plates for their own table and the room is served together.
Useful phrases
“Table 4 seated, four guests, one nut allergy.”
“Can you watch my section for two minutes?”
Pro tip
Before service, walk the route from the kitchen to your furthest table.
Quick check
What does mise en place mean for front-of-house staff?
Think about it, then show the answer
Preparing your stations, tables and equipment before service starts, so service runs smoothly.