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What does FOH Mean?
FOH stands for front of house and means all the staff that work in the customer facing areas of the restaurant. This includes servers, bartenders, hosts/hostesses and busboys/bussers. A Restaurants FOH staff are responsible for delivering great customer service and creating a warm welcome for the guests.
FOH Staff
Here are a few of the FOH staff:
1. Host/Hostess
2. Waitstaff
3. Bussers
4. Runners
5. Bar staff
Each FOH staff member has their own role to play in the guest experience.
FOH Staff Responsibilities
The front-of-house staff in a restaurant has many responsibilities. For example, servers take orders, bring food and drink to the table and generally help guests. Bartenders mix and serve drinks hosts/hostesses greet guests and seat them. Busboys/bussers clear away used dishes and silverware and generally keep the dining area clean.
FOH Tasks:
1. Greet guests and seat them
2. Take orders and serve food and drink
3. Clear plates and reset tables
4. Answer menu questions
5. Handle payments
6. Keep the dining room clean and tidy
7. Assist with opening and closing duties
8. Help with events or catering orders
9. Do basic housekeeping (sweep floors, reset silverware)
10. Be awesome to the guests at all times
Customer Service
FOH staff need to work under pressure and deliver great customer service. They need to be able to multitask and do many things at once. Good communication and interpersonal skills are key as is being able to remain calm under pressure.
To measure customer service a restaurant owner may ask guests to fill out a survey to rate their service.
How to be Awesome to the Guests
1. Great customer service starts with a warm welcome as soon as the guest walks in the door, this sets the tone for the whole experience.
2. Be attentive and responsive to guests needs, whether seating them quickly or getting them their drink orders.
3. Go the extra mile to make every guest feel special – little things count.
4. Be positive always, no matter how busy or stressful the service is.
5. Work with your fellow FOH staff to make sure everyone is on the same page and delivering the best guest experience.
How to Welcome the Guests
Welcoming guests in a restaurant is key to the business. There are many ways to create a warm and fuzzy atmosphere but you need to consider the overall vibe you want for your restaurant.
One way to create a welcoming atmosphere is to make sure your front of house staff are trained in customer service. That means greeting guests as they arrive, serving them quickly and with a smile and making sure they are comfortable during their meal.
Another way to create a welcoming atmosphere is to make sure your restaurant is clean and tidy. That will make guests feel like you care about their experience and want them to have a good one.
And remember, your guests are the reason you are in business so treat them with the respect and professionalism they deserve.
By doing these things you’ll create a warm welcome that will bring them back.
FOH vs BOH
The front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house (BOH) are the two types of staff in a restaurant. FOH staff are responsible for all customer service, from greeting guests and taking orders to serving food and drink.
BOH staff are responsible for all food preparation, from cooking and cleaning to stocking supplies. Both are crucial to the restaurant.
While FOH and BOH staff are important, they are very different. One of the biggest differences is that FOH staff interact with the guests, BOH staff don’t.
This means FOH staff need to be outgoing and friendly and be able to handle complaints professionally. BOH staff need to be focused on the task at hand and not worry about interacting with guests.
Another difference between FOH and BOH staff is that FOH staff are responsible for sales, BOH staff are not.
This means FOH staff need to know the menu and the daily specials and be able to upsell guests on items that will add to their bill. BOH staff need to focus on cooking the food to the best of their ability.
Teamwork between FOH and BOH
Teamwork is important for any business but it’s crucial in the hospitality industry. FOH and BOH staff need to be in constant communication to make sure the kitchen is running smoothly and the guests are happy.
There are a few things FOH staff can do to make life easier for their BOH colleagues. For example, they can make sure all orders are put into the restaurant POS system correctly and any special requests are relayed to the kitchen asap. They can also keep an eye on the dining room to see if any guests are getting impatient or if any dirty plates need to be cleared.
In return the BOH staff can help by making sure all food is cooked correctly and on time. They can also keep the kitchen clean and tidy so FOH staff can put orders in and find what they need.
Ultimately teamwork between FOH and BOH staff is key to any restaurant running smoothly. By working together and communicating they can ensure the guest has a good experience from start to finish.
Summary
FOH is a restaurant term that means “front of the house”. The front of house staff are the face of the restaurant and are responsible for the guest experience from the moment they walk in until they leave. This includes greeting guests, taking orders, serving food and drink and handling complaints. The front of house staff must be professional and friendly to provide great customer service and bring guests back.
The back of house staff makes sure the food is top notch. This includes the cooks, dishwashers and anyone else in the kitchen. The back of house team works hard to make sure every dish is perfect.
The front of house and back of house staff are the lifeblood of a restaurant. Without them the business wouldn’t function. Each team is crucial to the guest experience.
