From setting tables and cleaning silverware to restocking napkin dispensers, a detailed server side work checklist helps streamline restaurant operations.
In this article, we’ll share exactly what a server side work checklist should include. Plus, we’ll explain how to simplify your daily checklist by doing digital.
A server side work checklist includes tasks such as:
- Cleaning trash or debris from both the inside and outside of the restaurant
- Setting tables
- Organizing silverware
- Refilling water pitchers
- Restocking ice
Table of Contents
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What Is A Server Side Work Checklist?
A server side work checklist is a document that contains a list of tasks that your servers must complete at the start and end of their day, including restocking, organizing and cleaning.
Once a task is completed, servers place a checkmark or write their initials next to the task.
Server side work checklists are typically divided into restaurant stations and work shifts. (Speaking of restaurants, here’s our full restaurant operations checklist!)
A server side work checklist includes tasks such as setting tables and cleaning glassware
What Should Your Daily Server Side Work Checklist Include?
Here’s what your daily server side work checklist should include:
Start Of Shift Tasks
Front Of House Station
- Switch on lights
- Turn off the restaurant’s security alarm
- Turn on background music
- Clean trash or debris from the restaurant’s exterior
- Remove chairs from tabletops
- Organize chairs around tables
- Clean and wipe down windows
- Wipe down tables, chairs and highchairs
- Clean glassware and silverware
- Set tables
- Check table arrangements
- Fold napkins
- Restock napkin dispensers
- Restock tabletop items such as cutlery, glasses, salt and paper shakers, ketchup, mustard and napkins
- Replace water and refill pitches
- Sanitize menus, wine lists and bill folders
- Organize wine lists and menus
- Prepare bar garnishes such as orange peels, lemon twists, dehydrated fruit, edible flowers, cocktail onions and umbrellas
- Ensure trash bins are empty
- Replace trash bags
- Ensure bathrooms are clean and stocked with toiletries such as hand soap, sanitizer, toilet paper and air fresheners
- Ensure the Point of System (POS) area is clean
- Change the restaurant’s door sign from “Closed” to “Open”
Salad Bar Station
- Equip the salad bar station with clean silverware and plates
- Prepare salad bar items such as salad dressing, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, carrots, croutons, cheese and sliced vegetables
- Ensure the salad bar station is clean
Drink Station
- Equip the drink station with clean glassware
- Prepare ice
- Replenish canned drinks, liquor bottles and bottled mixers
- Replenish beer kegs
- Ensure the soda machine is working properly and fully stocked
Dessert Station
- Equip the dessert station with clean silverware and plates
- Prepare fresh desserts and pastries
Alfresco Station
- Set tables and chairs
- Place table settings
- Set up outdoor umbrellas
- Restock tabletop items such as cutlery, glasses, salt and paper shakers, ketchup, mustard and napkins
Ongoing Tasks
Front Of House Station
- Bring glasses and tableware from the back of house to the front of house
- Wipe down tables after each customer
- Wipe down booths and chairs after each customer
- Wipe countertops to remove spills and stains
- Tuck chairs in under tables
- Clean and stack boosters and highchairs after use
- Ensure tables are ready for the next customer
- Disinfect menus and bill folders after use
- Replenish tabletop necessities
- Restock bar garnishes
- Clean and polish silverware and glassware
- Notify the restaurant manager when inventory is running low
Salad Bar Station
- Restock silverware and plates
- Restock salad bar items
- Ensure salad bar station is clean
Drink Station
- Restock silverware and glassware
- Restock coffee necessities such as coffee beans, creamer, sugar, napkins, cups and spoons
- Restock ice
- Ensure the coffee and drink station is clean
Dessert Station
- Restock silverware and plates
- Restock cakes and pastries
- Ensure the dessert station is clean
End Of Shift Tasks
Front Of House
- Change the door sign from “Open” to “Closed”
- Turn off background music
- Turn off ovens, gas stoves and heaters
- Wipe down tables, booths and chairs
- Close and lock windows
- Sweep and mop the floors
- Place chairs on top of tables
- Empty crumb catchers
- Roll flatware in napkins
- Empty trash bins
- Put out table candles
- Ensure that no food is left out
- Label and refrigerate remaining prep ingredients
- Clean and sanitize bathrooms
- Restock bathrooms with toiletries such as hand soap, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and air fresheners
- Unload clean dishes and place them back in their proper stations
- Place dirty cloth napkins, aprons and tablecloths in laundry bins
- Load dishwasher with dirty dishes
- Clean the Point of System (POS) area
- Ask your restaurant manager or shift leader to approve your station’s cleanliness
- Turn on the restaurant’s security alarm
- Switch off lights
- Lock up the restaurant
Salad Bar Station
- Clean and sanitize silverware and glassware
- Clean the salad bar station
- Ensure that no food is left out
Drink Station
- Clean and sanitize silverware and glassware
- Ensure wine bottles are corked
- Empty and wash iced tea and coffee carafes
- Empty, clean and switch off the soda machine
Dessert Station
- Clean and sanitize silverware and glassware
- Clean the dessert case
- Ensure that desserts and pastries are not left out
Alfresco Station
- Clean and sanitize silverware and glassware
- Bring outdoor tables and chairs back into the restaurant
- Close outdoor umbrellas
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Key Benefits Of A Server Side Work Checklist
From preventing theft to saving money on hefty fines, a server side work checklist ensures that your restaurant is safe to dine in and your staff is ready for the day.
A server side work checklist allows you to:
1. Boost Safety
Unfortunately, restaurant break-ins are on the rise. One solution? Utilizing server side work checklists to prevent potential burglaries.
When you seal windows shut, lock up the restaurant and turn on the security alarm, you ensure that your employees, inventory and restaurant are secure.
2. Save Money
From messy kitchen countertops to improper garbage disposal, restaurant violations can lead to costly fines.
In fact, dirty restaurant sidewalks can result in a $300 fine in New York City.
A server side work checklist helps you ensure that your restaurant is clean and safe for customers, allowing you to maintain a positive brand reputation.
3. Improve Customer Service
A server side work checklist allows your staff to provide excellent customer service.
From cleaning silverware and mopping up spills to restocking condiments and napkin dispensers, customers can expect a positive and exceptional dining experience whenever they visit your restaurant.
A server side work checklist is an important part of any restaurant operation and should not be overlooked
Simplify Your Server Side Work Checklist With doForms
Paper server side work checklists are a thing of the past.
A paper-based approach is inefficient, messy and costly. In fact, the average business spends as much as $8,000 per year on paper. Yikes!
So, how can doForms help?
- Mobile Forms: Build custom mobile forms tailored to your restaurant operations from your iOS or Android device. Modify, save and store information quickly and securely in the cloud. Don’t have time to create custom forms? Choose from our extensive library of templated forms instead.
- Management: Benefit from additional features such as employee scheduling to set up work shifts and inventory management to keep a close eye on your stock real-time.
- Reports: Manage tasks and submit work orders to your restaurant staff and inventory delivery partners.
- Workflow: Create detailed reports in real-time, no matter where you are.
The best part? You don’t need WiFi to use doForms’ mobile forms solutions!
Whether you’re closely managing your staff in your restaurant or overseeing operations on the go, you can fill out your forms even without internet connection.
Along with server side work checklists, going the paperless route allows you to:
- Create restaurant operations and food storage checklists
- Build restaurant sales, inventory, CRM and staff performance reports
- Communicate operational issues such as near misses, inventory waste and shrinkage, poor customer service and kitchen equipment repairs in real-time
- Modify and export employee payroll forms
- Manage your restaurant staff no matter where you are
- Access employee schedules and time sheets from any device
- Eliminate the risk of leaking sensitive information with strong security features such as
Say goodbye to traditional checklists.
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Wrapping Up
A server side work checklist outlines the tasks a server needs to perform on a daily basis, to keep your restaurant clean, safe and running smoothly.
Server side work tasks include restocking condiments, organizing silverware, setting up tables and refilling drinks, to name a few.
By following a server side work checklist, you can improve customer satisfaction, prevent hefty fines and ensure that your restaurant operations run smoothly from open to close each day.
Ditch paper-based checklists when you switch to doForms. Improve your productivity, save money on paper costs and streamline internal restaurant operations.
