Introduction
In the fast-paced world of restaurant management, effective communication and organization are key. One tool that can greatly assist in this regard is the use of restaurant shift notes. These are detailed logs of important updates, details, and data from every shift, serving as a crucial resource for your management team. In this guide, we will explore what restaurant shift notes are, why they are important, how to write a daily shift report, what to include in your shift notes, and provide a template for creating your own shift notes.
In the hustle and bustle of running a restaurant, keeping track of daily operations can be challenging. Restaurant shift notes serve as a valuable tool for managers to stay informed about what happened during each shift, enabling them to make informed decisions and better prepare for future shifts.
What are restaurant shift notes?
Restaurant shift notes are detailed logs that contain important updates, details, and data from every shift in a restaurant. These notes are typically written by the opening and closing managers and serve as a way to communicate important information to the rest of the management team. Shift notes can include a variety of information, such as sales figures, labor costs, employee performance, incidents that occurred during the shift, menu insights, weather patterns, and holiday details. The purpose of restaurant shift notes is to facilitate communication among the management team and provide a source of documentation for tracking trends, identifying areas for improvement, and making informed decisions.
Why are restaurant shift notes important?
Restaurant shift notes are important for several reasons:
Communication: Shift notes facilitate communication among the management team by providing a log of important updates and information from previous shifts. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and aware of any issues or developments that may impact operations.
Documentation: Shift notes serve as a valuable source of documentation, helping managers track trends, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions. By documenting key information from each shift, managers can create a record of past events that can be used for reference in the future.
Planning: Shift notes can help managers better plan for future shifts by providing insights into past performance and trends. For example, if a certain menu item consistently sells out during a specific time period, managers can use this information to adjust inventory levels and staffing accordingly.
Accountability: Shift notes can help hold employees accountable for their actions and performance. By documenting incidents such as tardiness or misconduct, managers can address issues promptly and ensure that employees are meeting expectations.
How do you write a daily shift report?
Writing a daily shift report involves documenting key information from the shift in a clear and concise manner. Here are some steps to follow when writing a daily shift report:
Start with the Basics: Include the date of the shift and the names of the opening and closing managers.
Provide Sales Information: Include important sales figures, such as food sales, liquor sales, beer sales, wine sales, total gross sales, total discounts/compensations, net sales, total tips, and total cash in the bank. This information provides a snapshot of the shift's financial performance.
Document Staff Notes: Include any notable events involving staff members, such as commendations, write-ups, tardiness, or absences. This information helps track employee performance and behavior.
Include Kitchen Notes: Document any issues or events related to the kitchen, such as equipment malfunctions, inventory shortages, or special menu items. This information is important for tracking kitchen performance and inventory management.
Note 86s (Items Sold Out): Record any menu items that were sold out during the shift. This information helps track menu popularity and can inform future inventory and menu planning.
Add Specialty Notes: Include any other relevant information about the shift, such as customer feedback, special events, or unusual circumstances. This information provides context for the shift's performance and can help identify areas for improvement.
Miscellaneous: Include any other information that may be relevant to the shift, such as weather conditions, holiday details, or any other factors that may have affected business.
Manager Sign-off: Finally, have the closing manager sign off on the report to indicate that it has been reviewed and approved.
What should you include in your shift notes?
In your shift notes, you should include a variety of information to provide a comprehensive overview of the shift. Here are some key elements to include:
Reporting: Include important data such as sales figures, labor costs, and any other relevant financial information. This information provides insights into the shift's financial performance.
Employee Trends: Document any trends or patterns in employee behavior, such as tardiness, exceptional performance, or misconduct. This information helps track employee performance and behavior over time.
Menu Insights: Note any insights regarding menu items, such as popular dishes, items that are not selling well, or feedback from customers. This information helps track menu performance and can inform future menu planning.
Weather Patterns: Document any notable weather patterns that may have affected business, such as storms or extreme temperatures. This information provides context for the shift's performance and can help identify external factors that may impact business.
Holiday Details: Include information about any holidays or special events that occurred during the shift. This information helps track the impact of holidays on business and can inform future holiday planning.
Restaurant shift notes template
Date:
Opening Manager:
Closing Manager:
Sales:
Food Sales:
Liquor Sales:
Beer Sales:
Wine Sales:
Total Gross Sales:
Total Discounts/Compensations:
Net Sales:
Total Tips:
Total Cash in Bank:
Staff Notes:
Employee Performance:
Attendance:
Incidents:
Kitchen Notes:
Inventory:
Equipment:
Menu Items:
86s:
Specialty notes:
Misc:
Manager sign-off:
Conclusion
In conclusion, restaurant shift notes are a vital tool for effective communication, documentation, and planning in the restaurant industry. By implementing a system for writing and utilizing shift notes, managers can improve communication among the management team, track trends, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions to enhance overall operations.
A well-organized shift notes template, like the one provided, can help ensure that all necessary information is captured consistently across shifts. By including key details such as sales figures, employee performance, kitchen notes, and miscellaneous information, managers can create a comprehensive record of each shift that can be used for reference in the future.
Overall, restaurant shift notes play a crucial role in helping restaurants run smoothly and efficiently. By taking the time to create and maintain detailed shift notes, restaurant managers can stay informed, address issues promptly, and make strategic decisions that contribute to the success of the business.
