How should you prepare for peak dining times?

• A. Skip seating until the rush passes.
• B. Pre-bus tables.
• C. Pre-bus tables, prioritize seating, and maintain clear communication with the team.
• D. Ignore guest flow.

Answer: (C)

When things get busy, the key is to keep the dining flow smooth through teamwork and proactive prep. Pre-bussing tables clears away used dishes so a table can be reset quickly for the next guests, which speeds up seating and reduces wait times. Prioritizing seating means guiding guests to the best available tables to maximize turnover and balance party sizes, so nothing sits empty and guests aren’t left waiting longer than needed. Maintaining clear communication with the team ensures everyone knows which tables are ready, which guests are waiting, and any kitchen or timing delays, so front-of-house staff and the kitchen stay in sync.

Together, these habits create efficient flow during peak times. Skipping seating until the rush passes slows everything down, pre-bussing alone misses the broader flow and coordination, and ignoring guest flow leads to bottlenecks and unhappy guests.