FINDSY | MAKING HOSPITALITY MEMORABLE The 15-minute pre-service check Restaurant: ____________________ Service / date: ____________________ Action owner: __________________ Next review: ______________________ A useful briefing gives the team three things: a picture of the service ahead, the details that need attention and a person responsible for each next action. Use this 15-minute structure as a starting point, then adapt it to your room and team. MINUTES 1–5: READ THE BOOKING PICTURE The total number of covers is only part of the picture. Four large parties arriving together can put more pressure on the room than the same number of guests arriving throughout the evening. [ ] Check expected covers and the busiest arrival windows. [ ] Look at the mix of party sizes, including larger groups. [ ] Review recent changes, cancellations and reservations needing clarification. [ ] Confirm which tables or areas are unavailable. [ ] Identify where you still have room for walk-ins. Notes / next action: _______________________________________________ MINUTES 6–10: PREPARE THE WELCOME A recorded dietary or accessibility request is information to review. It is not, by itself, confirmation that the restaurant can meet it. Confirm arrangements through your normal staff process. [ ] Review requests that are relevant to the upcoming visit. [ ] Confirm which details need a conversation with the guest. [ ] Check that the team knows where to find the current table plan. [ ] Agree how arrivals, delays and table changes will be communicated. [ ] Make sure outstanding guest concerns have an owner. Notes / next action: _______________________________________________ MINUTES 11–15: AGREE RESPONSIBILITY Finish by asking: “What is most likely to make tonight harder, and who is watching it?” Keep the answer specific enough to use during service. [ ] Name the person managing arrivals and the waiting list. [ ] Decide who can approve a significant table or service change. [ ] Assign any outstanding follow-up, with a time to check back. [ ] Note anything the next shift needs to know. Notes / next action: _______________________________________________ A BRIEFING YOU CAN READ IN FOUR LINES Give the team a short record they can repeat during a busy shift. Complete these lines using the current reservation and service picture. [ ] The room: expected covers, party mix and the busiest arrival window. [ ] The welcome: requests or arrangements that need checking before arrival. [ ] The owners: the people handling arrivals, waiting parties and outstanding follow-up. [ ] The review: what to check again, and at what time. Notes / next action: _______________________________________________ HOW THIS CONNECTS TO FINDSY Findsy brings reservations, table plans, arrivals, walk-ins and waiting parties into a shared service view. Use the briefing to agree how your team will work from it. Notes / next action: _______________________________________________ Source: https://www.findsy.ai/resources/blogs/pre-service-checklist Reviewed: 8 November 2026 Adapt to your restaurant and current procedures.