Restaurant Service Training

Restaurant service training can include learning how to run the cash register.

Restaurants are always hiring workers because of the relatively high turnover in the industry. Consequently, restaurant service training is essentially continuous in all types of restaurants, including fast food, casual dining and mid-scale dining establishments. Managers must get up to speed so they can train hourly workers. Restaurant service training is particularly important for teaching employees how to prepare food, serve customers and maintaining proper sanitation and safety standards.

Significance

Restaurant service training includes teaching managers and hourly employees how to prepare food. Food preparation usually entails learning how to properly cook food until its completely done. Additionally, restaurant workers must learn how to cut and prepare various vegetables and dessert dishes. For example, green onions may need to be diced for use in a cheese and fries dish. Restaurant employees must also learn how to apportion the correct amount of various ingredients to menu items.

Function

Restaurant service training also involves teaching restaurant workers how to properly service customers. For example, restaurant employees need to learn how to run a cash register to complete a customer's transaction. These workers must also learn how to work as a team in getting the customer's meal as quickly as possible. Most restaurant service training also includes teaching employees how to wait on customers in the dining area, providing them with condiments and clearing their tables.

Types of Training

Most hourly restaurant employees train while on the job. For example, a fast food manager may have more experienced workers teach new employees how to run various restaurant stations, such as the drive-through or food service line. Managers and assistant managers may learn how to handle customer problems and complaints through classroom training, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Moreover, restaurant service training can also include watching videos or completing workbooks.

Considerations

All restaurant workers must learn certain sanitary practices like washing their hands or using a hand sanitizer before preparing food. Safe sanitation practices can better ensure the health of customers, preventing them from getting infections from workers, or even a food-borne illness. Restaurant workers must also learn the proper temperature in which to serve all foods, including meats, other hot dishes or salads.

Prevention/Solution

At least part of restaurant service training should be devoted to keeping customers safe. Restaurant workers should learn to use certain signs like "wet floor" when cleaning the dining area. These employees must also learn how to turn on exterior lights after dark. Additionally, restaurant employees need to familiarize themselves with certain robbery-prevention measures, such as watching for suspicious activity or locking dining room doors at the right time.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Food Service Managers
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Chefs, Head Cooks, and Food Preparation and Serving Supervisors
• Quantified Marketing Group: Restaurant Management Training
• Iowa State University: Impact of Employee Training on Mitigating Contamination
• What's Cooking America: How To Cook The Perfect Steak

Resources

• Federal Drug Administration: Measures To Address The Risk Of Contamination
• Work.com: Guide to Food and Beverage Education and Training Basics