Daily Operations & Compliance

🔄 Quick Recall: In the previous lesson, you built a review and reputation management system that turns online feedback into a competitive advantage. Now you’ll focus on the operational backbone that makes everything else work — consistent daily procedures, staff training, and compliance systems.

The best menu, marketing, and reviews in the world don’t matter if the kitchen is disorganized, training is inconsistent, or you fail a health inspection. Operations are the foundation — and AI can standardize, document, and improve every process in your restaurant.

Opening and Closing Checklists

Consistent opening and closing procedures prevent the daily chaos that derails service and frustrates staff.

AI prompt for comprehensive checklists:

Create detailed opening and closing checklists for a [RESTAURANT TYPE] with [NUMBER] seats, [NUMBER] kitchen stations, and a [FULL BAR / BEER & WINE / NO BAR]. Break each checklist into stations: (1) Kitchen — each cooking station plus prep area, (2) Front of house — dining room, host stand, restrooms, (3) Bar — if applicable, (4) Management — office tasks, cash handling, system checks. For each task, include: estimated time, who’s responsible (role, not name), and a brief note on WHY the task matters. Order tasks logically so they can be done efficiently. Estimated total time: opening [TARGET] minutes, closing [TARGET] minutes.

Sample kitchen opening checklist structure:

✅ Quick Check: Why is the “line check” — where the kitchen manager tastes every component before service — one of the most important tasks? (Answer: A line check catches quality issues before they reach guests: over-seasoned sauce, stale bread, discolored produce, or improperly cooled items. It takes 10 minutes and prevents dozens of potential complaints. AI generates a line check template with every item that should be tasted and what to look for — flavor, temperature, freshness, and visual presentation.)

Staff Training Materials

Training is the most under-documented area in most restaurants. When training lives in one person’s head, consistency is impossible.

AI prompt for station training guide:

Create a complete training guide for a [STATION NAME — e.g., grill, sauté, pantry, expo] at my [RESTAURANT TYPE]. Include: (1) station layout with every item location, (2) mise en place checklist — everything needed before service, (3) recipe cards for each dish this station handles [LIST DISHES], (4) timing expectations for each dish, (5) plating standards with descriptions, (6) common mistakes and how to avoid them, (7) cleaning and breakdown procedures, and (8) a 5-day training progression from observer to independent. Write for someone with basic cooking skills but no experience at this specific station.

30-day new hire progression:

AI prompt for menu knowledge training:

Create a menu knowledge training guide for servers at my restaurant. For each item on the menu [LIST ITEMS], provide: (1) brief description in 1-2 sentences (how to describe it to a guest), (2) key ingredients and allergens, (3) preparation method (grilled, braised, raw, etc.), (4) recommended pairings (wines, sides, starters), (5) dietary information (gluten-free, vegetarian, can-be-modified), and (6) common guest questions with answers. Format as flashcard-style entries servers can study.

Health Inspection Preparation

Health inspections shouldn’t be stressful if you’re prepared. AI creates the systems that make compliance automatic.

Critical control points for restaurants:

Safe cooking temperatures:

AI prompt for inspection readiness:

Create a monthly health inspection simulation checklist for my restaurant. Include every item a health inspector would check in my [STATE/CITY]: food temperatures, storage practices, handwashing compliance, equipment cleanliness, pest control evidence, employee hygiene, chemical storage, allergen protocols, and documentation. For each item, include: what the inspector looks for, what constitutes a violation, and how to correct it before the real inspection. Also create a “day before inspection” rapid checklist for when we get notified.

✅ Quick Check: What’s the single most common health inspection violation? (Answer: Improper food storage temperatures — foods in the “danger zone” between 41°F and 135°F where bacteria multiply rapidly. AI creates temperature logging systems that make compliance habitual: specific times, specific coolers, specific target ranges. When checking temperatures is as routine as clocking in, violations disappear.)

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

SOPs ensure consistency when you’re not there. AI creates clear, actionable procedures for every recurring situation.

Essential restaurant SOPs:

AI prompt for SOP creation:

Create a standard operating procedure for [SITUATION — e.g., handling a guest with a severe food allergy] at my restaurant. Include: step-by-step process, who is responsible at each step, communication requirements (who needs to be informed), documentation needed, and what to do if something goes wrong. Write in clear, action-oriented language that any trained staff member can follow. Include a quick-reference version (under 10 steps) for posting in the kitchen.

Key Takeaways

• Standardized opening and closing checklists prevent daily chaos and cut closing time by 20-30 minutes — AI creates station-specific procedures with logical task ordering and time estimates
• Training materials must live in documentation, not in people’s heads — AI generates station guides, recipe cards, menu knowledge quizzes, and 30-day progression plans that ensure consistent onboarding regardless of who’s training
• Health inspection readiness is a daily habit, not a scramble — AI creates temperature logging systems, sanitation schedules, and monthly simulation checklists that make compliance automatic
• SOPs for guest complaints, allergens, cash handling, and emergencies protect your business and ensure consistent responses — AI drafts clear, actionable procedures that any trained staff member can follow
• The 10-minute line check before every service is the highest-ROI daily task — catching quality issues before they reach guests prevents complaints and protects your reputation

Up Next

In the final lesson, you’ll build your complete Restaurant AI Action Plan — integrating menu engineering, food cost control, scheduling, marketing, reviews, and operations into a 30-day implementation roadmap.