Restaurant FOH (Front of House) Checklists
Free restaurant front of house (FOH) checklists for daily, weekly and monthly tasks, from the pre-shift meeting to the final cash count, with a printable PDF.
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Before the shift 0/10
Every day, before doors open
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Arrive early and check your uniform
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Review the specials and menu changes
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Check reservations and table assignments
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Stock the server station and condiments
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Check your section is clean
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Join the pre-shift meeting
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Set the dining room lights, temperature and music
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Check the entrance and waiting area are clean
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Check tables are set with clean linens and glassware
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Check the POS works and menus are clean
During service 0/9
Throughout every shift
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Scan the dining room for issues
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Keep the restrooms clean and stocked
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Keep the host stand and waiting area tidy
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Keep up water and bread service
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Greet guests promptly after seating
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Offer drinks and explain the specials
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Check back soon after food arrives
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Clear plates and offer dessert
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Process payment and thank guests
Closing 0/9
Every day, after the last guests leave
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Clean all tables and chairs, then mop the floors
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Clean and organize the server stations
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Refill salt, pepper, sugar and condiments
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Empty and clean the trash bins
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Check and clean the restrooms
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Set tables for the next day
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Polish glassware and silverware
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Turn off the music and adjust lights and temperature
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Secure cash and valuables
Weekly and monthly 0/8
Once a week or once a month
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Deep clean dining room surfaces and upholstery
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Polish woodwork and decor
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Clean light fixtures, windows and mirrors
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Update signs and promotional materials
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Count all front of house supplies
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Check linens and uniforms and replace worn ones
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Check the outdoor seating area
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Note any equipment that needs repair
Manager opening and closing 0/9
Every day, by the manager on duty
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Plan table assignments from the reservations
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Check card machines, phones and till floats
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Check safety equipment is accessible
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Agree specials and sold-out items with the kitchen
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Check all closing tasks are done
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Count and balance the cash drawers
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Prepare the bank deposit
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Lock doors and windows and set the alarm
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Leave notes for the opening manager
In MaintainIQ a problem can become a follow-up task that stays open until it is fixed.
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Restaurant front of house (FOH) checklists tell your hosts, servers and managers exactly what to do before, during and after every service, so the dining room looks the same and guests get the same care whoever is on shift. This free set covers daily, weekly and monthly FOH tasks, from the pre-shift meeting to the final cash count.
A downloadable PDF version of these checklists is ready to print, with a column for each day of the week and space to add your own tasks.
Run these checklists on any phone or tablet with MaintainIQ, the checklist and maintenance app for single and multi-location operators.
Why Use FOH Checklists?
- Keep service quality high and consistent on every shift
- Help staff work faster, with less time spent asking what’s next
- Improve the guest experience from the first greeting to the goodbye
- Keep dining areas, restrooms and the host stand clean and organized
- Make opening and closing quicker and complete, pairing well with our restaurant opening and closing checklists
Checklist Categories
Daily Checklists
- Pre-Shift Checklist
- Opening FOH Checklist
- Hourly Service Checklist
- Table Service Checklist
- Closing FOH Checklist
- FOH Opening Manager Checklist
- FOH Closing Manager Checklist
| Checklist | When | Examples of what it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shift | Before each shift | Arrive at least 15 minutes early, check uniform, review specials, stock the server station, attend the pre-shift meeting |
| Opening FOH | Before the doors open | Lights, dining room temperature and music, entrance and waiting area, table settings, restrooms, high chairs, POS, menus |
| Hourly service | Every hour of service | Scan the dining room, check restrooms, keep the host stand and waiting area tidy, watch water and bread service |
| Table service | Every table | Greet within 2 minutes of seating, explain specials, check back within 2 minutes of food delivery, offer dessert, thank guests |
| Closing FOH | After the last guest | Clean tables, chairs and floors, restock stations and condiments, sanitize menus, empty trash, set tables for tomorrow |
| Opening manager | Start of the day | Reservations and table plan, staffing, pre-shift meeting, POS and card machines, cash floats, safety equipment, 86’d items |
| Closing manager | End of the day | Confirm closing tasks, count and reconcile cash drawers, prepare deposits, review complaints, secure doors and windows, notes for the opener |
Your servers and hosts can go deeper with our restaurant server checklist and host or hostess checklists.
Weekly Checklist
Covers deep cleaning tasks, staff meetings and service procedure reviews. Examples include deep cleaning dining room surfaces and upholstery, cleaning light fixtures, windows and mirrors, sorting the lost and found, and updating signage.
Monthly Checklist
Covers a full count of FOH supplies, equipment maintenance, staff training and menu updates. It also includes checking linens and uniforms, looking after outdoor seating, reviewing your customer feedback system, and deciding whether any equipment needs repair or replacement.
Key Areas Covered
- Dining Room Preparation and Maintenance
- Customer Service Procedures
- Cleanliness and Sanitation
- Staff Management and Training
- Inventory and Supply Management
- Safety and Emergency Preparedness, including keeping emergency equipment accessible (see our emergency action plan checklist) and keeping floors clean and dry, since slips, trips and falls are covered by OSHA’s walking-working surfaces rules
The front of house works best when the kitchen runs on the same standard, so pair these lists with our restaurant BOH (back of house) checklist.
Benefits of Using MaintainIQ’s FOH Checklists
- Customizable to fit your restaurant’s layout and service style
- Digital format for easy access and record-keeping
- Better staff accountability and performance, because each checklist shows who submitted it and when
- Consistent standards of service across shifts and locations
- Easier staff training and onboarding
MaintainIQ, an operations app for single and multi-location operators, runs these as digital checklists on iPhone, iPad and Android, with due times, hourly checks during service, and a record of who completed each one. Use one checklist at every location and see each location’s status on one screen, so nothing falls through the cracks.