Busy periods test how well you organise yourself. Time management means preparing before the rush, prioritising urgent tasks and working efficiently. A useful rule is full hands in, full hands out: never cross the floor empty-handed.
Why it matters
Guests accept a busy venue, but not being ignored. Good organisation stops small delays becoming complaints.
Key ideas
Prepare ahead
Use quiet moments to stock your station and check menus, pens and change. Chefs call this mise en place, everything in its place.
Prioritise
Handle first what affects guests most or spoils fastest, such as hot food. Polishing can wait.
Combine trips
Plan each walk to do several jobs: deliver drinks, clear plates and take an order on the way back.
Step by step
- 1
Stock your station and check bookings before service.
- 2
Sort tasks into urgent, important and can wait.
- 3
Acknowledge new guests immediately, even if you are busy.
- 4
Deliver hot food first.
- 5
Restock quickly whenever there is a lull.
Do
- Write orders down rather than relying on memory.
- Tell guests honestly how long a wait will be.
- Scan your whole section whenever you return to it.
Common mistakes
- Don't start big cleaning jobs at peak time.
- Don't overload your tray just to save a trip.
- Don't rush into mistakes; getting it right first time is faster.
The situation
In a busy café, a plate is ready at the pass, a couple has just sat down and table 3 wants the bill.
What a professional does
Carrying the plate, you tell the couple, 'I'll be right with you.' After serving the food, you bring menus and table 3's bill in one trip. Nobody feels forgotten.
Useful phrases
“I'll be with you in two minutes. Can I start you with some water?”
“Food is taking about 20 minutes tonight. Is that all right?”
Pro tip
At the start of each shift, ask what you can prepare now to save time later.
Quick check
Hot food is ready, and the napkins need restocking. Which comes first?
Think about it, then show the answer
The hot food. It affects the guest directly and loses quality fast; restocking can wait.