Restaurant Manager Daily Checklist
The Restaurant Manager Duties Checklist is a practical, day-to-day guide that standardizes how general and shift managers run the operation from open to close. It consolidates the essentials—team scheduling and pre-shift briefs, food-safety controls (temperatures, sanitizer), inventory and par checks, vendor receiving, POS/cash handling, guest-experience monitoring, facilities and maintenance, incident reporting, and end-of-day reconciliation—so nothing critical is missed during busy service.
Organized by time blocks (opening, mid-shift, close) and by area (FOH, bar, kitchen, dish, restrooms), the checklist includes prompts to log temps and sanitizer ppm, verify allergen and HACCP steps, document deliveries and variances, record waste and 86’d items, and note corrective actions with owners and due dates. It doubles as a training aid for new managers, creates consistent handovers between shifts, and produces comparable data across locations for operational reviews.
Use it as a free printable PDF or run it in the TARGPatrol mobile app to assign tasks by role, capture photo proof, timestamp completion, receive alerts for missed items, and export manager reports with KPIs (sales vs. forecast, labor %, ticket times). This turns daily duties into a transparent, auditable workflow that improves readiness, compliance, and guest satisfaction.
Date, location, manager on duty
Special events, reservations, large parties
Alarm disarmed, doors and emergency exits functional
First-aid kit stocked, incident log available
Exterior/entry clean, signage and lighting working
Schedule verified, absences/backfills resolved
Sections/roles assigned (FOH/BOH, breaks planned)
Pre-shift briefing delivered (goals, specials)
Staff appearance and hygiene check
Handwashing sinks stocked (soap, towels)
Cold-holding temps logged (°C/°F)
Hot-holding temps logged (°C/°F)
Probe thermometers sanitized and calibrated
Corrective actions for out-of-range temps
Dining room set (tables, chairs, highchairs sanitized)
Menus/QR codes updated and clean
Condiment stations stocked, date/label verified
Music/lighting/HVAC at opening settings
Final FOH presentation photo
Hoods on, filters in place, make-up air functional
Grills/fryers/ovens at temp, oil quality acceptable
Prep tables sanitized, color-coded boards set
Smallwares and utensils clean and par-stocked
Final BOH line photo
Key items to par (proteins, produce, dairy, bread)
Dry goods/disposables to par (to-go, cups, napkins)
Low-stock/out-of-stock recorded, substitutions approved
Thawing plan verified and logged
Waste/trim from prior day reviewed
Delivery windows confirmed
Received items checked (quality, temp, quantity)
Invoices matched to PO, discrepancies noted
Date/label/rotation completed (FIFO)
Starting bank counted, safe verified
POS online, test receipt/payment run
Promotions/prices updated in POS
Gift cards/discounts tested if applicable
Guest wait times and seating flow reviewed
Random plate checks for spec/temperature
Mystery-guest/QA observations (if used)
New maintenance issues logged with priority
Critical equipment status (HVAC, dish, refrigeration)
Photo of issue attached (if any)
Incidents/near-misses recorded
Injury documentation complete, return-to-work steps
Pest check completed, findings logged
Daily specials/promotions posted (boards/social if used)
Online reviews monitored, responses queued
Local events/partnership notes
Cash drawers counted, deposits prepared
Voids/discounts/comps reviewed and approved
Sales, covers, labor snapshot recorded
Temperature logs completed, sanitizer ppm final check
Waste, transfers, and returns documented
Final facility walkthrough photos
Notes for next manager/chef (issues, pars, priorities)
Maintenance tickets summarized with status
Incident/guest complaint summary and follow-up
KPI snapshot submitted (sales, labor %, key variances)









