Restaurant Holiday Party Season Checklist

For many restaurants, December group bookings are the most profitable weeks of the year. Office parties, family gatherings, end-of-year team dinners. They are also the weeks when kitchens get slammed by a 40-cover party at 7:30 on top of a full dining room, and regulars get forgotten.

The restaurants that do party season well treat each booking as a small event with its own checklist.

When the Booking Comes In

Confirm date, time, guest count and the host's contact details in writing
Agree a set menu or pre-order, not à la carte, for groups over a set size
Collect dietary requirements and allergies in advance, with names
Take a deposit and explain the cancellation policy clearly
Note any extras: cake, decorations, speeches, AV, a tab limit
Confirm the final number deadline, usually 48 to 72 hours before

The Week Before

Confirm numbers and dietary needs with the host
Build the party into the kitchen prep list, not as an afterthought
Order extra stock for set menu items
Schedule enough front and back of house staff for the party and regular service
Plan the table layout and check it fits the room safely

The Day Of: Kitchen

Prep party courses early and label them clearly
Set up a separate allergy station or procedure for flagged guests
Agree course timings with the front of house lead
Brief the line on the order of the night: party courses and regular tickets
Have a backup for anything that could run out

Allergen handling is the area where a busy party is most likely to go wrong. In the US, the FDA's Food Code sets out allergen awareness expectations for person-in-charge staff, and many local health departments add their own rules. A named list of guests with allergies, checked at the pass, is the simplest protection.

The Day Of: Front of House

Set the party table or room early, including place cards if requested
Assign one server as the party lead and the host's single point of contact
Brief servers on the menu, dietary needs and timing
Agree how drinks are tracked and when the host wants updates on the tab
Keep a server dedicated to regular tables so they do not get neglected

During the Party

Check in with the host at arrival, between courses and before dessert
Pace courses to the kitchen, not to the loudest guest
Watch alcohol service and follow responsible service rules
Keep an eye on regular tables' wait times

After the Party

Settle the bill with the host and confirm any service charge
Reset the room for the next service
Note what went well and what did not for the next booking
Send the host a short thank-you and an invitation to book next year

Protect Your Team

December is long. Party nights run late, and the same staff often work the lunch shift the next day. Rotate closing shifts, protect breaks and keep an eye on burnout. See how to cover shifts without burning out your best staff and the holiday rush playbook for small teams.

How MyTeamTasks Helps

Each party booking can be its own checklist in MyTeamTasks, with tasks assigned to the kitchen lead, the party server and the manager, and due dates for numbers, deposits and stock orders. Text tasks capture allergy lists, photo tasks confirm the room is set, and the manager can see every booking's status for the week at a glance.