top of page
Search
Writer's pictureEric Ruehlmann

10-Steps To Train Restaurant Service Staff

And Deliver Top-Notch Dining Experiences.

Training restaurant service staff effectively is crucial for delivering a top-notch dining experience. Here are 10 key things to do when training your restaurant service staff:


1. Customer Service Skills: Teach them the art of exceptional customer service, including greeting members & guests, active listening, and problem-solving.


2. Menu Knowledge: Ensure they have a deep understanding of the menu, including ingredients, preparation methods, and pairing suggestions. Daily tastings before service with the chef is critical for menu knowledge and fosters sincere recommendations and enthusiasm about items on the menu.


3. Food Safety: Train them in food handling and safety protocols to prevent foodborne illnesses.


4. Wine and Beverage Service: Provide training on wine pairing, cocktail making, and responsible alcohol service.


5. Table Setting and Presentation: Teach proper table setup, including utensil placement, and how to present dishes and beverages elegantly.


6. Communication: Improve their communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, for effective interactions with members, guests, and colleagues.


7. POS System Use: Familiarize them with the point-of-sale (POS) system for order entry and accurate member billing.


8. Teamwork: Encourage teamwork and coordination among staff to ensure smooth service flow.


9. Conflict Resolution: Equip them with conflict resolution skills to handle customer complaints or disputes diplomatically.


10. Upselling and Cross-selling: Train them to upsell and cross-sell menu items to enhance revenue.


Retraining frequency can vary, but ongoing training is essential. Consider the following:


- Initial Training: Conduct comprehensive training for new hires.


- Regular Refreshers: Hold monthly or quarterly refresher sessions to reinforce skills and update staff on menu changes or new procedures.


- Role-Specific Training: Provide specialized training for different roles (servers, bartenders, hosts, etc.) as needed.


- Continuous Feedback: Offer feedback and coaching regularly to address individual development needs.


As for how a travel reward program can assist, consider implementing an incentive system where staff can earn travel rewards based on their performance. This can motivate employees and boost morale.


Remember that investing in staff training and development can lead to higher member/customer satisfaction, increased sales, and a more efficient restaurant operation.


To learn more on how a travel reward program can assist with staff training regardless if restaurant staff, housekeeping, accounting department, sports department, etc., request a demo today!




---

About the Author: Eric Ruehlmann is a versatile business executive with over 25 years of service in the club management industry. Eric's knowledge and experience is broad having held advisory positions and worked on projects in a variety of fields such as; consumer research, loyalty & rewards, travel & leisure, and lifestyle products & services. Eric is currently focused on sharing his knowledge about travel clubs, and travel loyalty & reward programs. Eric Ruehlmann is the founder of Build A Better Club and a managing partner of Privat-VIP- Travel & Rewards.

15 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page