Hit 500 covers on a Friday night for the first time and almost cried in the walk-in

I've been running expo at this spot in Portland for about 8 months now, and last Friday we hit 500 covers. That number shocked me because our kitchen only has 4 burners and a tiny flat top. We had to call in a favor from a buddy at another restaurant to borrow some hotel pans. Has anyone else celebrated a weird milestone like hitting a cover count that seemed impossible?

2 comments

2 Comments

wright.lisa11d ago

Damn, 500 covers on 4 burners? That's like a mic drop in a closet.

jessica_ross3811d ago

Man, you nailed it. I've worked in kitchens that felt like a closet with four burners trying to do a full house. Best tip I can give is to really lean on your prep and mise en place. If you can have your sauces, proteins, and veggies all ready to go before service starts, you can move way faster. It's still gonna be tight, but good planning makes a huge difference in my experience.