RESTAURANT TRAINING MANUAL – WELCOMING GUESTS IN THE RESTAURANT
29 APRIL 2019
Restaurant Training Manual – Welcoming Guests in the Restaurant
The Restaurant Hostess should be well groomed and be present at all times during working hours at the entrance of the restaurant.
She should acknowledge guests arrival with a bright smile on her face and pleasant eye contact, while stepping forward towards the guest. Hostess must greet guests by their names (if available) with a courtesy bow. Children should be acknowledged and greeted individually by name (if available). If guest’s name is not known, hostess should confirm name by asking politely “You are Mr. or Mrs….?” Once the name is known, she should say: “Welcome to (name of outlet), Mr./s (name of guest)”. Hostess will escort guests to the table, showing the way to guests with open palm hand, while walking side by side or at a slight distance in front, by saying: “This way please, Mr./s (name of guest)”.
Hostess must suggest aperitif by saying: “Would you like to sit at the bar for an aperitif first or would you prefer to go straight to your table, Mr./s (name of guest)?” She should follow the guest’s response and acknowledge by saying: “With pleasure Mr./s (name of guest), this way please” Hostess should enquire about guest’ preferred section of the restaurant, by saying: “Would you prefer a smoking or a non-smoking section of the restaurant, Mr./s (name of guest)?” Hostess must engage in a light conversation tone with the guests while escorting them. It should be natural and conversational way (not overburdening with excessive conversation – conversation could be on guests stay, which activities guests have enjoyed so far, etc.)
Hostess must pull out the chair lightly from the table, and offer them to sit. Disabled persons should be approached first, women and then men. Hostess should assist the guests such that they are comfortable and should push the chair gently forward and ask: “Please Mr./s (name of guest), are you comfortably seated?” For first time guests, in case a child is present, hostess must propose a high chair as appropriate, and ask: “Would you like me to bring a high chair Mr./s (name of guest)?”
Hostess should unfold napkin on the guest’s lap, from the right hand side, ladies first then gentlemen, with a smile and eye contact. For subsequent visits to the restaurant, high chair is automatically offered to guests without asking. Hostess must ensure that guests are promptly seated and that the correct number of place settings are in place. Hostess should inform guests that their order will be taken right away by saying: “Waiter would take your order right away, Mr./s (name of guest)”.
Hostess should also wish guests a pleasant meal experience and retire with a courtesy bow along with a smile saying: “Please enjoy your (meal) Mr./s (name of guest)”. Hostess should advise headwaiter/waiter whether guests have already had an aperitif at the bar, in order for the headwaiter/waiter to propose aperitif to guests as appropriate. Hostess should present herself well to the guests, should be calm, polite and appealing to the guests.
Dining for Dollars – Nonprofit Fundraising With Dining-Out Nights at Restaurants
Dining for Dollars – Nonprofit Fundraising With Dining-Out Nights at Restaurants
Is your school looking for an easy nonprofit fundraising idea that will appeal to most of the students, parents and teachers? Then, try holding a dining-out fundraiser at a local restaurant. This when your school asks everyone to eat out at a restaurant on a designated night and the restaurant then donates a portion of the earnings to your school.
Holding a fundraiser at a restaurant in your community is a great way to earn money for schools, clubs and other nonprofit organizations. This type of fundraiser is popular because people get to eat out and socialize while helping raise money for your cause. The restaurants appreciate the extra business and the potential for repeat customers. And your organization can earn several hundred dollars in one evening.
There are a couple of ways to hold restaurant, or dining-out fundraisers. Most of the major restaurant and food franchises such as Applebee’s, McDonald’s, and Ben and Jerry’s already have programs and policies in place for their restaurant fundraisers. Due to the popularity of these fundraisers, you should contact the restaurant about two months before you want to hold the fundraiser to make sure the restaurant has the date available.
Most of the restaurants require that the diners present a flyer from your organization in order for you to receive the credit for the diner. The restaurant management usually has promotional flyers and other material you can use to help publicize your fundraiser. It is your organization’s job to get as many people to eat at the restaurant as you can. The more customers you bring in, the more money you will make.
Some restaurants ask that members from your organization help out during the night of the fundraiser. This can be anything from helping to seat, serve, or clean up. Some restaurants prefer to handle everything themselves. In any case, volunteers from your organization should be present during the fundraiser just to make sure that things run according to your agreement with the restaurant. Most restaurants require that the diners present a flyer from your organization in order for you to receive the credit for the diner. The restaurant management usually has promotional flyers and other material you can use to help publicize your fundraiser
Dining out fundraisers are usually held on week nights because those are the slower nights for restaurants. The restaurant usually donates a percentage of the pre-tax sales generated by your organization. Twenty percent of sales is a common amount that is donated. So, the more customers your organization provides the restaurant the more money you will raise.
I recommend trying a restaurant fundraiser. You may want to have one a couple of times a year at different restaurants in your community. In the fall you could have a back-to-school dining out night. In the summer you could have an ice cream shop fundraiser. There are all sorts of options and the really can be a lot of fun when you get everyone to participate.
Dining for Dollars – Nonprofit Fundraising With Dining-Out Nights at Restaurants