First time as restaurant manager what should I look out for?

Question

What shoud I expect?

Answer 1

I've been in the restaurant biz for 20 yrs so lets see.

1) people wanting free food
2) servers not finishing their side work
3) The phone ringing when you are busy
4) cooks that will test you
5) food orders not right
6) servers that complain that they are not getting tables, tips , or getting too many tables
7) drugs run thru restaurants via employees
8) drawer short or over at the end of the night
9) employees that show up late or call off
10) a corporation that expects you to jump through hoops in order to get your bonus chick.

On the happy side

1) get to met different people
2) gain respect from employees
3) fast pace and changing environment

good luck!!!!

Answer 2

Little Me's answer was Awesome!

I too have been in the business for 20 years and she hit it on the head. The only thing I would add is this...

Not only are you a manager "to" the employees but you are also a coworker "with" the employees. If they need a hand help them. Out of the 125+ managers I've worked for/with, the ones I've respected, therefore worked harder for, were they ones that weren't afraid to get a little dirty. Just, please, don't take the attitude that now that you're a manager you don't have to lift a finger for anyone. Management doesn't equal royalty. You're still an employee of the restaurant just like the servers/cooks, you just have a different function than they do.

Answer 3

Theft. The help doing nasty things to the food. Th help either screwing up or just not showing up. Servers b*tching to you about trivial things. Customers trying to get free meals (which is OK sometimes if things were really screwed up). Did I mention employee theft? It's not just cash, it could be food or booze too.

Answer 4

lots of complaints