Closing Duties Checklist for Restaurant
The Closing Duties Checklist for Restaurant is a practical end-of-day guide that standardizes how teams shut down the operation safely, cleanly, and audit-ready. It walks staff through the entire close-out sequence—from resolving open checks and cash/credit settlement to FOH reset, bar breakdown, kitchen line sanitation, safe cooling and labeling of leftovers, dish area clean-down, waste and recycling, restroom hygiene, and final security steps. Managers capture key controls along the way: temperature and sanitizer logs, waste and 86’d items, low-stock notes and order suggestions, maintenance issues, pest checks, and a final walk-through so nothing is missed before the alarm is armed.
Designed for real workflows, the checklist reduces next-day delays and improves compliance by creating a single, repeatable routine that documents who completed each task and when. It helps extend equipment life, minimize odors and pests, and hand off a clean, organized restaurant to the opening team—improving readiness and guest experience from the first seating.
Use it as a free printable PDF for binders and host stands, or run it in the TARGPatrol mobile app to assign duties by role, attach photo proof, timestamp completion, trigger alerts for missed items, and export clean close-out reports for managers and auditors.
Date, location, closing manager on duty
Notable events/issues today
All guest checks closed, open tabs resolved
Cash drawer counted, over/short recorded
Safe deposit prepared and verified
Voids, comps, discounts reviewed and approved
Tables, chairs, booths cleaned and sanitized
Floors swept and mopped (under/around furniture)
Condiment caddies cleaned, items dated/covered
Menus/QRs wiped or replaced, host stand organized
Highchairs/boosters sanitized and stored
Final FOH presentation photo
Bar top and speed rails cleaned/sanitized
Glassware washed and stored, polish towels hung to dry
Soda gun, nozzles, drip trays cleaned
Beer faucets wiped, liners/mats washed
Liquor/wine/beer pars checked, shortages noted
Bar fridges temps logged (°C/°F)
Liquor cage/cabinets locked
Cookline surfaces scraped, degreased, sanitized
Fryers filtered or oil changed per schedule
Grills/flat tops cleaned and seasoned as required
Ovens/combi units wiped, drip pans cleaned
Hoods left on cool-down then switched off per SOP
Smallwares and utensils washed, air-dried, stored
Final BOH line photo
All food labeled with item/date/time and covered
Walk-in/reach-in organized, no items on floor
Walk-in/reach-in temps logged (°C/°F)
Thawing set in refrigeration with labels (if needed)
Dish machine cleaned, screens/arms removed and rinsed
Three-compartment sink drained, cleaned, stored dry
Squeegees, mops, buckets washed and hung to dry
Trash removed, interior bins washed and relined
Recycling/cardboard broken down and staged
Grease containers closed, no spills on ground
Dumpster area cleaned, lids shut, surrounding area clear
Pest check (traps, droppings, entry points) completed
Toilets, urinals, sinks cleaned and disinfected
Mirrors, counters polished, floors mopped
Soap, paper, and other supplies restocked for morning
Odor check passed
Bread/dairy/produce/protein reviewed for freshness
Dry goods/disposables counts spot-checked
New maintenance issues documented with priority
Critical equipment status (HVAC, refrigeration, dish) verified
Photos of issues attached
Small appliances off/unplugged where required
Gas valves/equipment power off per SOP
Lights set (security/night mode)
Back door, windows, liquor cage locked
Alarm armed, alarm code entry confirmed
Temperature/sanitizer logs updated
Notes for opening team/manager (priorities, shortages)
Final facility walkthrough photos (FOH/BOH/restrooms)









