FOH Weekly Update 5.15 – 5.21
Gangbusters,
BU Commencement is upon us. Huge lunches. BEOs for days.
Two quick thoughts, and a longer one:
1. If you drop a check… BE THERE when they put the payment up. Wait for it from an appropriate distance and then swoop in at the exact right moment. DO NOT drop a check and then disappear to do butters. I am watching you! 
2. RUN THE FOOD. If you want to impress your peers and managers, RUN FOOD. Know when a big pick is coming up in the window. When you hear “Runners to the kitchen,” drop what you’re doing. Push yourselves! You’re on the AC Patio? How about running a charcuterie and five-cheese to T69?! DO IT! I know you can!
3. We need to make an institutional change, one that I hope will help maximize the use of everyone’s time. This is in regards to the long-debated role of the “til 5” server and of the other servers that have not been cut from lunch (or brunch) when the PM crew rolls in.
L(D)s, please do half an hour of sidework with everyone else and then – instead of going to briefing – stay on the floor, greet tables, and make it your goal to help relieve the “til 5” and any other AM servers still on the floormap. An L(D) has always owned the responsibility for carrying the success of the shift. Now we need to own the transition!
Maybe only one of three or one of two L(D)s needs to stay out. Let’s communicate. (Everyone take good double notes!)
AM crew: you are responsible for making sure no single guest notices a “shift change” or feels neglected in any way. There are no lulls at Eastern Standard! We are FAMOUS for our Mid-Day! Don’t let anyone fall through the cracks! Get out of Barista and roam the floor like caged jungle cats hungry for action! Instant greets! These people are sneaking away from work early to have cocktails, oysters, and Orange-is-the-New-Cheese boards at their favorite restaurant! This is your time to shine! Put all those hours of studying to use! Recommend a half bottle! Bus a table! Show us what you can do!
If you can forgive all those exclamation points… AM, PM, we’re all on the same team. We’re all working toward the same wild idea:
“What if there were a restaurant that was always open, and always awesome?”
I want to see overcommunication. Have respectful conversations. Put your teammates’ needs before your own. “Have you had a chance to eat anything?” “Do you want to chug a glass of water with me?” Make me proud: Work together to make this not only the coolest place in Boston to eat and drink, but the coolest place to work!
Please remember that all transfers (at any time of day) need a manager’s approval. If you transfer a table without manager approval, you could be in serious trouble.
That’s all for now, thank you as always for your hard work and diligence.
Happy to answer any questions.
CRM
PS: Ask Matt Peterson and Mike Gleason what they learned about the Freehand Old Fashioned and the La Louisiane!