PROCEDURES FOR TAKING TABLE BOOKINGS IN THE RESTAURANT

What is booking ?

Booking is first contact between any establishment  with  the  guest,so must be handled carefully and swiftly.

How are booking made:
Booking can be made by using:-

1. Letter
2. Telex
3. Telephone
4. Telefax
5. E-mail
6. Personal call

A book to record the bookings must be opened.What information must be recorded in this book which is known as booking diary.

1. Name of the guest
2. Day,date
3. Time
4. Number of patrons in the party
5. Any special request

Just be open the restaurant,the head waiter will reserve as per the booking a table.A special tag carrying the name of will be on the side table.

When the guest arrives waiting staff should do the following;-

1. Greeting and inviting the guest
2. Seating the guest
3. Presentation
4. Explaining of the Menu and order taking
5. Writing and the clearing of the order
6. Transmitting of the order
7. The service

PREJUDICE

DEFINITION

1. Simple put,prejudice is bias.Prejudice refer to the negative opinions,judgement,belief and feelings we hold about individuals because of their membership in certain groups or categories.When these negative views lead us to act in certain ways toward these individuals and groups,the result is Discrimination.
2. Prejudice also means that you judge someone before you really get to know him or her.It is an extreme and negative attitude which is generated toward a particular class or group of people.It is unfavorable and formed even before we know the person we are about to deal with.The word  ''prejudice'' is made up of two Latin words namely;-

                                    PRE       -                    BEFORE

                                  JUDICE       -             TO JUDGE

Prejudice occurs wherever there are differences between people,whether skin co lour

,language,culture,religion,nationality,family,sex,social status,material status age,etc.When such differences are exaggerated in the minds of those who belong to particular group the result is often fear and this fear can lead to resentment or hatred.

FORMS OF PREJUDICE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

1. Racism
2. Tribalism
3. Nepotism
4. Gender
5. Departmental
6. Religion bigotry

HOW TO ERADICATE PREJUDICE

• Workers in the service industry  in general and the hospitality industry in particular,leading by examples
• Ensuring that each person is treated equally and fairly irrespective of color,tribe,religion,gender etc.
• Ensuring that our-co workers and guest do not suffer prejudice of any kind
• Practicing professionalism in our own field of service
• Teaching the younger generation to be prejudice free
• Use official language at work
• Respect yourself,co-workers and other people
• Treat other the way you would like to treat yourself
• Be flexible,tolerant an agreeable to change suggested by others
• Recruit,appraise,promote and train people based on merit
• Give people a chance
• See to it that none of co-workers suffer from any kind of prejudice
• Treat other as brothers and sisters
• Be honest-recognize your own biases through open discussion with others
• Be secure-explore and find realistic pride in your own group identity
• Be a partner -work on project with members of groups different from your own
• Be an anti-racist parent-expose your children to diversity at a young age
• Be a role model -be vocal in opposing racist views and practices
• Be an ally-support victims of discrimination and prejudice,for example,offer yourself as a mentor for  someone in your field at work
• Be student- educate yourself and others
• Be a member-support anti-prejudice and anti-racist organization.

THE BAR INTRODUCTION

There are certain essentials necessary in the planning of every bar and it is as well to bear these in mind now.They are factors which should be given prime consideration when one has to plan a bar or set up a bar for a particular function.

they are as follow ;-

1. AREA; The barman must be given sufficient area or space in which to work and move about.There should be a minimum of 1 metre from the back of the bar counter to the shelf and display cabinets at the rear of the bar.
2. LAYOUT; Very careful consideration must be given,in the initial planning to the layout.Everything should be easily to hand so that the barman does not have to move about more,more than necessary to give a guide and efficient service.
3. PLUMBING AND POWER; It is essential to have a hot water and cold running water for glass washing.Power is necessary to provide effective working cooling trays refrigerators and ice making machines.
4. STORAGE ; Adequate storage must be provide in the form of shelves,cupboard and racks,for all the stock required and equipment listed.

DISPENSE BAR

The term "dispense bar " mean any bar situated within a food and beverages service area which dispense wine or other alcoholic drinks,soft drinks to be serviced to the guest consuming meals.

However,due to planning and layout of the establishment,drinks are sometimes served from bars situated outside the service area itself.

Anyhow,all drinks served must be checked for and controlled in some way or another normal,all drinks in the restaurant are served by that staff known as the wine waiter (Fr.sommalier).although nowadays,it is becoming custom for restaurant waiters to serve his own guest with the beverages they require 

BAR PAR

An established number of bottles of each types of beverages is available in the behind - bar inventory.At the end of service /shift the proper number of bottles (full or empty ) should be available.New issue should then be made up to the require BAR PAR level. 

WHY IS CUSTOMER CARE IMPORTANT ?

Customer are te single most important factors in our work.Without them,there would be no restaurant,bar,kitchen,hotel,bank,security firm,airline,supermarket,bus company,institutions of learning or hospital etc.Customers,in other words mean jobs for us.They provide business by patronising our establishment and more new business by returning to or recommending your establishment to others.
Customers care is continuous process.The way you deal with customers and with colleagues should change and develop,not just when you are training,but during your working life.This is because not only you and your colleagues but also your place of work,the customers and your environment is dynamic.

BENEFITS OF GOOD CUSTOMER CARE

1. Better quality of Goods and Service to the Customers.Understanding customer needs and moving  closer to them fosters the development of the better quality goods  and service.
2. Increasing business to the company
3. Building up confidence to yourself (staff) and the customers
4. It is profitable in most cases
5. Good Customers service should ensure that the customer gets maximum value from the purchase.
6. Developing teamwork-colleagues

Customer care needs your countinued attention.It is a of continually becoming better as it once you start,through many ways including;-

1. By learning news skills
2. By improving skills you already have
3. By developing skills you already have so they can be applied to new situations

APERITIFS

Hunger is the best  appetiser,but the sharp edge of appetite is not always available to those used to regular meals.So the need for a drink taken before meals to stimulate the appetite.

These drinks are divided into 5 groups:-

• Vermouth
• Bitter
• Aniseed
• Sherry
• Cocktails

1. VERMOUTH -Aromatized wine,which are fortified with spirits or brandy.The aromatizing can be done with herbs,roots,fruits,flowers peel,quinine etc

Example of Vermouths

• Martini dry 
• Martini bianco
• Martini rosso
• Cinzano dry
• Cinzano bianco
• Cinzano rosso
• Noilly prat 
• Carpano

SERVICE

It is common to serve vermouths,chilled,slice of lemon/lime on olive.The sweet ones may be served at ordinary temperature although many prefer them chilled and are usually served with cherry.