Restaurant SOP Template

Dreaming of a restaurant that runs as smooth as butter? Think it sounds too good to be true? With the right standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place, you can get pretty darn close to that reality. You just need a solid restaurant SOP template to keep you and your team organized.

Restaurant SOP Meaning

A restaurant SOP is a step-by-step process you’ve put down on paper that outlines a standardized method for completing a specific task. It acts as a guideline that all staff can use to ensure restaurant duties are carried out with consistency – and to a high level of quality.

Common restaurant SOP examples include processes for opening and closing, food safety, inventory management, and financial operations. Another restaurant SOP example could even touch on how to deal with food delivery partners.

What is a Restaurant SOP Template?

Now that you’re clear on the meaning of a restaurant SOP and you’ve got a restaurant SOP example in mind, let’s walk through the details this document should include. (Don’t worry about remembering everything, since our restaurant SOP template contains sections that’ll guide you through filling out the information!)

A standard operating procedure template is a customizable document that you can reuse every time you need to document a process and create a new SOP. It should include:

• The name of the procedure
• The purpose of the procedure
• When the procedure needs to be carried out
• A rough length of time it should take
• Who on the team is responsible
• Step-by-step instructions
• Any items – physical or digital – required (i.e., anything from a food scale to a scheduling app)
• Safety and compliance measures to follow
• Quality control, review, and approval phases
• Fields to capture who created the SOP and when, plus edits and updates made to the SOP

How to Use a Restaurant SOP Template

SOPs should be living documents – not forgotten files collecting dust. Luckily, incorporating them into your day-to-day routine is simple. Here’s exactly what you need to do:

1. Identify priority procedures to standardize. Consider the front and back of house separately and make shortlists for both.
2. Customize the template for each procedure. Our built-in fields will guide you through every step!
3. Set a schedule for reviewing and updating each SOP. This way, you can capture changes in operations, equipment, or regulations.
4. Train specific team members on relevant SOPs. Ensuring everyone understands what’s expected will increase consistency and quality.
5. Incorporate SOPs into your onboarding process. Reference them during performance reviews, too, to keep them top of mind.

Benefits of a Restaurant SOP

So, why should you invest the time in creating SOPs for your restaurant? Beyond just keeping things organized, several powerful advantages can directly impact your team, your guests, and your bottom line.

Create Consistency

Ensuring all of your staff complete tasks the same way, every time is a key recipe for customer satisfaction. Using restaurant SOPs can help you achieve this gold standard level of service that’ll keep guests coming back.

Train Staff 

Using SOPs as part of your restaurant training manual is a smart move to start new team members off on the right foot. For instance, you might want to create a new hire checklist for restaurant employees to ensure everyone receives thorough onboarding.

Increase Efficiency

Restaurant SOPs can help you combat tight margins by increasing efficiency and in turn, reducing food waste and other costs. They can also decrease instances of miscommunication between staff – another time-saver!

Improve Safety and Compliance 

Maintaining high health and safety standards becomes easier, with strong SOPs to back you up. These documents ensure food handling and sanitization processes are followed to the letter, eliminating any guesswork for your staff.

Ready to reap the multiple benefits of streamlining your operations with SOPs? Download our free restaurant SOP template today.