Restaurant Opening Procedures Checklist
The Restaurant Opening Checklist is a step-by-step guide that brings your front and back of house online smoothly and consistently before service. It standardizes critical start-up tasks for managers and servers — exterior and entry presentation, dining room setup, bar readiness, restroom hygiene, kitchen line and food-safety controls (temperatures, sanitizer), dish area preparation, inventory and par verification, POS/cash procedures, and a concise pre-shift briefing. By following a single, repeatable routine, teams avoid last-minute scramble, start on time, and present a clean, stocked, and audit-ready restaurant from the first guest.
Built for real operations, the checklist captures what was done, by whom, and when, with prompts for logging temperatures, sanitizer concentration, low-stock items, maintenance carry-overs, and any corrective actions. Use it as a free printable PDF for binders and host stands — or run it in the TARGPatrol mobile app to assign opening duties by role, attach photo proof, timestamp completion, get alerts for missed items, and export clean reports for managers and auditors.
The template also doubles as a training tool for onboarding new staff, creates consistent handovers between morning and mid-shift managers, and provides comparable data across multiple locations — improving readiness, compliance, and guest experience day after day.
Main doors unlocked, alarm disarmed
Gas, water, and electrical systems checked
Emergency exits clear and unlocked
Sidewalk/entrance swept, no trash or hazards
Signage clean and visible, hours posted
Lighting operational (exterior and entry)
Outdoor seating cleaned and arranged (if applicable)
Door glass and handles cleaned
Floors clean, no debris under tables/booths
Tables, chairs, highchairs sanitized and set
Menus/QR codes clean, updated, and available
Ambient lighting/music at opening settings
HVAC/temperature set for service
POS terminals powered on, test transaction
Printer paper and spare rolls stocked
Reservation/waitlist devices ready
Silverware rolled/stocked to par
Napkins, straws, stirrers stocked to par
Server side towels clean and counted
Bar top sanitized, mats clean and placed
Glassware polished
Ice bins filled with fresh ice, scoop clean
Draft lines purged, soda gun cleaned
Liquor/wine/beer pars checked, shortages noted
Toilets, urinals, sinks cleaned and disinfected
Soap, paper towels, toilet paper stocked
Trash emptied, bins lined
Mirrors and fixtures polished
Odor check, air freshener replaced if needed
Handwashing sinks stocked (soap, towels)
Cold-holding unit temperatures logged (°C/°F)
Hot-holding unit temperatures logged (°C/°F)
Hoods and make-up air on, filters in place
Cooking equipment powered and preheated as needed
Fryers at temp, oil quality checked
Prep tables and cutting boards sanitized
Smallwares clean, organized, and accessible
Dish machine on, final-rinse temp or chemical ppm logged
Three-compartment sink set (wash/rinse/sanitize)
Racks, spray arms, drains clean and clear
Bread/bakery, dairy, produce checked to par
Dry goods and disposables (to-go, cups, lids) to par
Low-stock or out-of-stock items recorded
Opening food-safety log completed
Temperature and sanitizer logs updated
Corrective actions assigned with deadlines
Dining room presentation approved
Bathrooms rechecked and ready
Bar and service stations fully stocked
Kitchen line set and clean
Entrances clear, music/lights set
Notes for mid-shift manager/next handover
Photos attached (FOH overview, kitchen line, restrooms)









