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Restaurant Ops Desk

CHECKLISTS

Restaurant Opening Checklist

A step-by-step opening checklist to get your restaurant ready for service — kitchen, front of house, bar, and manager walkthrough in one place.

Check items off as you go. Your progress is saved automatically on this device, and you can print or save this checklist as a PDF for your binder.

Customize this checklist for your restaurant’s equipment, policies, operating procedures, and applicable requirements.

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Before You Open the Doors

Arrive and disarm the alarm system
Turn on lights, music, and dining room signage
Unlock front and back entrances per house policy
Check voicemail and overnight messages
Review today’s reservations, large parties, and events
Review yesterday’s manager log and unresolved issues

HVAC / Facility Comfort

Set HVAC/thermostat to the restaurant’s approved opening/service setting
Confirm heating/cooling appears operational and dining-room comfort is reasonable before opening
Check thermostat for obvious alerts, unusual noise, or weak/unusual airflow
Confirm vents and registers are not obviously obstructed
Confirm exterior doors and windows are not unnecessarily left open while HVAC is operating
Record unresolved HVAC issues for the manager or maintenance

Kitchen & Back of House

Turn on kitchen equipment (ovens, fryers, grills, walk-ins)
Check walk-in and reach-in cooler temperatures
Complete opening food safety temperature log
Check prep list against par levels
Confirm overnight deliveries were received and stored correctly
Inspect kitchen for overnight cleanliness and pest issues
Sharpen knives and set up cutting stations
Brief kitchen team on 86’d items and specials

Front of House

Wipe down and reset all tables and chairs
Check floors for cleanliness, sweep and mop as needed
Restock host stand (menus, waitlist, to-go supplies)
Set up POS terminals and test card readers
Count and verify starting cash drawers
Restock service stations (napkins, straws, condiments)
Check restrooms for cleanliness and supplies
Test music system and adjust lighting and temperature

Bar (If Applicable)

Count and verify bar starting cash or register
Check liquor, beer, and wine stock against par
Prep garnishes, juices, and mixers
Check draft lines and CO2 levels
Verify all bar equipment is functioning

Digital Displays, Music & Guest-Facing Devices (If Applicable)

Power on the Yelp/waitlist/reservation iPad and confirm battery, Wi-Fi connection, and correct account before opening the host stand
Turn on TVs, digital displays, and digital menu boards; confirm correct content, picture, and volume
Turn on the approved restaurant music/audio system and set an appropriate opening volume
Power on and confirm connectivity for delivery-order tablets, kiosks, paging devices, or other guest-facing devices as applicable
Report any device, network, or app errors to the manager before opening

Guest Ordering Tablets / Table-Side Devices (If Applicable)

Power on all guest-ordering tablets
Confirm each tablet has sufficient battery for opening/service
Place low-battery devices on charge before service
Confirm charging docks/cables are functioning
Confirm tablets are connected to the correct Wi-Fi/network
Open the approved guest-ordering application
Confirm the correct restaurant/location is active
Confirm menu/order screen loads normally
Confirm tablets can communicate with the ordering/POS system where applicable
Check for obvious app errors, frozen screens, or connectivity issues
Confirm tablet date/time appears correct where relevant
Check tablets/screens for visible damage
Clean/sanitize tablets according to restaurant procedure
Return each tablet to its assigned table/location
Confirm the expected number of tablets is accounted for
Report missing, damaged, offline, or malfunctioning tablets before opening

Manager Final Walkthrough

Walk the full dining room for cleanliness and readiness
Confirm staffing matches the schedule for the shift
Hold pre-shift meeting: specials, 86’d items, goals
Confirm POS, printers, and online ordering systems are online
Unlock doors and flip sign to Open

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