Just find a great chef, and then he’ll figure it out himself… Unfortunately, that’s what many aspiring entrepreneurs think. However, to fully launch a catering establishment, you need to create a menu from scratch, to think through every stage of preparation. And only after that do they proceed to the organization of the workplace. As a rule, these questions are dealt with by the chef in tandem with the technologist.
Speaking of the chef. If you are planning to open a large restaurant, you definitely cannot do without this specialist. It is he who will monitor the kitchen, supervise the actions of ordinary chefs, and distribute the load between them. But hiring a chef for a small cafe is certainly not worth it. Firstly, it is not profitable. Secondly, there is no urgent need. Most likely, such a specialist is needed at the opening stage. In the future, it is involved once a season, if necessary to update the menu, add or remove dishes, make a flow chart, etc. And also to hold a master class for ordinary cooks.
What other staff is necessary for the full work of the cafe? It all depends on the scale of your project. A large restaurant needs waiters, a manager, a manager. It is he who will be responsible for solving disputes, oversee the work of the hall, bear personal responsibility for the calculations, the cash register, etc.
But let’s imagine that the scale of your establishment is small. Working in the mode of fast food cafe does not need waiters. The main task – quickly prepare food and give it to a hungry customer. Such food can be eaten on the go or sitting on the spot. And so, at the beginning will be enough for only 2-3 people. But remember that all employees need shifts. For example, for a coffee kiosk, you need at least 2 baristas who work on a standard “two through two” schedule.
It does not matter whether your cafe employs a whole staff or the functions of the waiter, manager is performed by one person. It is necessary to pay maximum attention to the competent organization of comfortable workplaces. Only in this way can you guarantee a quick reception of orders, sending them to the cooks, and receiving payment. The cafe automation system iiko mentioned above is suitable for these tasks. It combines the working areas into a single system:
Hall: placement of tables, separate checks.
Kitchen: order dispensing schedule, displaying the recipe on the big screen.
Bar counter: quick transfer of an order, operative preparation of a drink.
Personnel: a convenient page with personal bonuses, the number of hours worked in this month.
Loyalty system: access to current promotions.