On this page
Questions to practise
Tell me about a really busy service. How did you run the team?
They want to see if you stay calm and lead well when the restaurant is full.
Choose one real night. Say how many covers you had. Say what you checked first and who you moved. Use 'I', not only 'we'. Finish with the result, for example: food went out on time.
How do you handle a no-show on a busy night?
Staff are sometimes missing. They want to see how you solve problems quickly.
Say what you do first, like calling a backup or changing sections. Explain how you share the work fairly. Say if you help on the floor yourself. Give one real example and the result.
A guest is unhappy with their meal on a full night. What do you do?
They want to see how you protect the guest experience when the team is busy.
Use four steps. Listen first, then say sorry. Fix what you can, for example replace the meal. Then check back later. If you can, give a real example and say how the guest felt at the end.
How do you respond to a bad online review?
Reviews affect the restaurant's name. They want a calm, professional reply.
Say you reply politely and quickly. Thank the guest, say sorry and offer to talk. Then explain how you check what went wrong with the team, so it does not happen again.
How do you plan a staff roster?
Rosters affect service quality and wage costs. They want to see that you can plan staff hours well.
Explain what you use: bookings, last month's numbers, events or the weather. Say how you match staff to busy and quiet times. Mention how you avoid being overstaffed or understaffed.
Wage costs are a worry for us. How do you keep them on target?
The money side is a big part of this job. They want real cost control.
Give one real example with your own real number. Say what you changed, for example planning the roster from bookings, and what happened to costs. Say how you did it without hurting service.
How have you reduced waste or other costs?
They want to see that you watch costs beyond wages, like food and stock.
Talk about one action, like better stock counts, smaller orders or using specials. Give a clear result or number if you can. Say how you got the kitchen team to support the change.
Tell me about a target you met.
They want a manager who understands targets and works towards them.
Name the target, for example sales, wage percentage or guest scores. Say what you did to reach it and give the result. If you missed a target once, say what you learned.
How do you keep your team calm and motivated?
Good managers treat staff well. Happy staff give better service.
Give real actions: a short briefing before service, clear jobs for each person, helping on the floor yourself, and saying thank you. Share one example of supporting a staff member on a hard night.
How do you train new staff?
New staff need good support. They want to see that you build a strong team.
Explain your steps: a clear first-day plan, working next to an experienced person, and short check-ins. Say how you know when someone is ready to work alone. Give one example.
Let me think of a busy night that shows this.
Clara
AI coach
Leo
AI coach
Lines to try
Let me think of a busy night that shows this.
We did around two hundred covers that night.
First I spoke to the guest, then I fixed the problem.
I plan the roster from bookings, so we are not overstaffed.
As a result, our wage costs went down by [your real number].
I moved one server to the bar and ran food myself.
Common questions
What if I don't remember exact numbers?
That's okay. Use a careful number, like 'about' or 'around'. For example: 'We cut waste by around ten per cent.' Be honest. A clear, real example with an approximate number is better than no number at all.
Should I say 'I' or 'we' in my answers?
Use both, but make your own actions clear. You can say 'the team was busy' and then 'I moved one server to the bar.' The interviewer wants to know what you did yourself.
How long should my answers be?
Aim for about one minute. Describe the situation, say what you did, and finish with the result. If the interviewer wants more detail, she will ask a follow-up question.