Used to dread the lunch rush every single day... then I figured out a system that actually works

I work the counter at a sandwich shop in Austin. For two years I'd just show up and try to handle whatever came at me, no plan. Orders would stack up, tickets everywhere, cold sandwiches sitting on the counter. Then about six months ago I started prepping my station the exact same way every morning before we open. Breads in order, meats sliced, veggies portioned into little cups. Now when we hit that 12:30 wall I feel like I'm in control. Shaved off like 5 minutes per ticket. Anyone else found a little routine that turned their shift around?

2 comments

2 Comments

nelson.nancy27d ago

Prep my tray table the same way every shift. Total game changer.

hayden46627d ago

Man, that's smart. My buddy Sean who works at a deli in Philly started doing the same thing after he got yelled at by three customers in a row during a rush. He told me he lines up his bread on the cutting board left to right by type now and keeps a little squeeze bottle of oil handy so he doesn't have to grab the big bottle every time. Says he hasn't mixed up an order since.