Yay! 'Tis almost time for the end-of-year holidays, and that means more business for your restaurant. Whether it's a company's annual party or just a celebration among family and friends, your restaurant will certainly be experiencing an uptick in clients during the upcoming holidays.
It may be the most wonderful time of the year for your clients, but for you and your staff, the holidays might be the busiest and most stressful time making it extremely important for you to prep early.
We have come up with a list of helpful suggestions, and tips that will keep you and your staff prepared ahead of the holiday rush: so when the crazy comes, you will stay sane.
1. Make Your Staff Schedule and Countercheck It
Santa's probably busy making his schedule- you should too. You need to plan ahead in terms of staffing and scheduling your employees for the holidays. You should expect that most of your staff will be requesting off for travel or asking for earlier hours to be with their loved ones. So be sure to check that you're ready to roll throughout the season efficiently.
Besides, it's not a crime to overstaff during this period when the sales volume, large parties, and catering will be at an all-time high. Chances are this year's guests will be your next year's return clients, but on a condition that you will exceed their expectations.
There is no such thing as too much excellent customer service!
2. Stock Your Cupboards, But Don't Overload
Imagine the disappointment on the kids' faces during Christmas if Santa forgets to load his sleigh with toys. Same case with your hungry clients if you fail to stock your kitchen with the necessary ingredients fully.
It is critical for you to make sure that your inventory is ready for an influx of customers. Glasses, trays, silverware, linens, plate ware, etc. Do you have enough to capture and satisfy your clients during this peak in business?
There are a few more things terrible than slowing down table turns because your server cannot find a glass, or the cook is waiting on a clean plate from the dish station. Arrange to update your inventory before the rush so that you have adequate time to make purchases and stock.
3. Perform a Complete Maintenance and Tune-up on All Your Equipment
Thoughtful planning yields better results and increases overall customer satisfaction. In the hassle of everyday restaurant management, it is easy for you to forget to address the minor issues that do not look pressing. But during the holidays, equipment maintenance is a must.
Despite how well you serve your customers, and how delicious your menu is, some equipment such as the HVAC unit will significantly impact the customers' reactions. If the heating needs are not effectively met, your clients will be unsatisfied.
The best thing to do is to have your essential equipment maintained beforehand instead of waiting for a major breakdown. Besides, using well-maintained restaurant equipment will not only boost your reputation but will also impact you and your employees positively.
Here are some of the tips to ensure that your equipment is in good condition:
Refrigeration Units
Regular maintenance on your refrigerator, cooler, or freezer before the holidays is essential. Don't forget to include the following on your checklist to ensure your freezer is in top-notch condition:
- Check the gaskets- Worn out and cracked gaskets cause cold air to escape from your fridge. This makes it inefficient during operation and, if left unaddressed, could bring about significant losses during the holidays.
- Clean all coils- Both the evaporator and condenser are vital for your important. Ensure that before the festivities begin, you clean these parts thoroughly with a brush and a shop vacuum.
- Keep the air filters clean- This not only goes for your refrigerator but also for your cooler and HVAC. Too much accumulated dust and grease prevents you're your equipment from ventilating correctly. Remove the dust with a shop vacuum and use the recommended degreasing solutions to get rid of the grease.
Fryers
Below are some of the critical checks you need to carry on your commercial fryer to ensure it performs optimally during the peak season:
- Monitor your fryer for possible gas leaks- There are a few more terrible and riskier things and inefficient than a leaking fryer, especially when you need it most. Check for any possible leaks in your fryer to ensure there are no gas leaks. The simplest way to perform this check is by spraying the hoses with soapy water and checking for bubbles.
- Clean your combustion fans- Prior proper cleaning of your combustion fans prevents the chances of a major breakdown during the festivity.
- Boil out your fryer- Fat and carbon deposits tend to build on your fryer regularly. Boil out your fryer before the holidays to eliminate the carbon and fat build-up.
Ranges, Griddles, &Grills
Follow this maintenance for your grills to make sure they are in tip-top condition during the holidays:
- Clean your flattops, grates, and burners.
- Check your grease filters on the overhead exhaust units since they restrict airflow when blocked.
4. Replace Any Old Kitchen Equipment
Having the right equipment is key for the smooth running of your kitchen. What's even more important is ensuring your equipment is up to date and running. You should make a list of your equipment and decide whether to replace or have minor repairs before the holidays kick in. If you have been planning to replace your equipment all year, now is the time to do so.
As we re-open post COVID and once the holidays begin, your kitchen will start experiencing more strain. As a result, one of your critical equipment might breakdown unexpectedly during working hours. When choosing your equipment replacements, shop around before making a decision. Our sales team has decades of experience and can help ensure you pick just the right piece for your business application. There are countless manufacturers and brands to choose from. Think about durability, energy-efficiency, warrant, and possible duration during the peak days. Also, check the newest features for your equipment while strictly sticking to what your restaurant needs.
5. Check Your Restaurant Equipment Regularly
You should plan on having a routine inspection on your kitchen and restaurant equipment. It's not uncommon for kitchen equipment and customer's seats and tables to go unrepaired for long periods. While repairs might seem inconveniencing, you don't have to wait till the holidays just to be forced to make the repairs when clients are at an all-time high or you may have to pay overtime costs.
Sometimes, the damage is not even detected until the equipment suddenly stops working or a client raises a concern. You should check on your chairs, tables, counter, and kitchen equipment regularly, or engage a technician to do it on your behalf. If you notice any irregularities, address them the soonest and have them repaired. If you did not make those repairs during the shutdowns, now is the time. Don’t wait, while your competition prepares for future growth.
6. Make Your Staff Merry and Bright
Trust us— having disgruntled Grinches as employees won't yield you a happy feedback from your guests.
The season is all about enjoyment and making merry, so you need to ensure your staff are doing their level best in all their shifts to match up the energy. Consider having greeters at the doorstep to welcome guests, enthusiastic waiters, ready to serve your clients, and a great work system to deliver food fast.
Creating a great company culture could also go a long way in ensuring that your staff's services are at the top of the line. Also, the new team should be well-trained to ensure a smooth transitioning. Call frequent short meetings to confirm that you all are on the same page, and everyone is updated on the seasonal menu.
You can also show your workforce you care by hosting a pre-holiday party to motivate their morale and increase their positivity.
7. Give the Gifts that Keep on Giving
People will always appreciate value for their money more than anything. Giving them offers and discounts will encourage them to often dine at your restaurant, especially during the holidays.
You definitely want to fill your restaurant with clients during the festive season, but what happens when the festivity's hype dies down at the beginning of the year? The succeeding months have quite dismal sales, but you should try as much as possible to keep your business running even at these times.
Come up with ways you can make your holiday guests loyal. For instance, you could try giving out gift cards to your clients. This is because people are always looking for present ideas to gift their friends, family, and colleagues. Gifting them a card to their favorite restaurant (yours, of course) is a better and personal gift than any other gift that does not resonate with them. Plus, there is a great ROI on gift cards as many are never fully utilized.
You could also ask them to subscribe to your email listing to receive exclusive discounts and coupons throughout the year. If guests hear that they can get free dishes, they will be more than willing to provide their contact details.
Key Take-Away
The festive season is almost here-- are you well-prepared? These are some of the ways you can set up yourself for seasonal success and ride on it for the rest of the incoming year. From checking your inventory and carrying out routine maintenance on your equipment, to aesthetically pleasing decors, make sure your restaurant is ready for the holidays.
