🍸 How Top Restaurants Build 5-Star Servers

It’s not shadowing. It’s not testing. It’s this simple habit.

June 18, 2025

Happy Wednesday, Hospitality Heroes!

This week, Brandon’s breaking down something we see missing from 95% of restaurant training programs:

👉 How to actually structure a server’s first 5–10 days.

It’s easy to hand them a manual and shadow shifts.

But that doesn’t build a confident, guest-ready server.

✅ Better retention

✅ Stronger habits

✅ More revenue-ready staff — faster

Watch the full video here 👇

🎥 How To Create Your Server Training Program

You can watch the full video training on YouTube, or keep scrolling for a breakdown of Brandon’s lessons below.

🍸 Brandon’s No-BS Service Lesson:
How To Create Your Server Training Program

The 5–10 Day Sequence That Actually Works

Most restaurants start strong in week 1… and then stop coaching.

That’s when “okay” servers stay okay — and when guest experience starts slipping.

Here’s how Brandon runs it — and how you can tighten up your program:

🍸 Start With This:

✅ 1 - Ask them constant questions — day one.

Not after training. Not week three. Day one. All shift.

“What do we do next?” “What’s missing at table 14?”

“Where are all your tables at right now — without looking?”

✅ 2 - Reverse shadowing.

By day 4–5, your new hire should be doing 80–100% of the server role…while the trainer observes and coaches.

It’s the fastest way to build real-world readiness.

✅ 3 - Don’t let them “pass” too easily.

Use this checkpoint:

Would the guest experience suffer if I wasn’t here watching you right now?

If the answer is yes — they’re not ready.

🍸 3 Quick Wins You Can Try Tonight:

1️⃣ Let them repeat days.

It should be normal for servers to repeat Day 3 or Day 5 — until they’re exceptional.

Not everyone gets “graduated” on the first try. That’s okay.

2️⃣ Train your trainers.

The “best server” is not automatically the best trainer.

Ask them: What do you like about coaching?

Then teach them how to coach — and what to watch for.

3️⃣ Force question-asking.

Have trainees ask 5 questions when they arrive, and 5 before they leave — to a trainer, manager, or chef.

This builds coaching culture — and breaks the fear of looking “dumb.”

Strong servers don’t happen by accident.

They happen through:

✅ Reps
✅ Coaching
✅ Real accountability

Free TRL June Masterclass:
From Order Takers To Rainmakers 🍽️🥷

On Monday, June 30th, we will be hosting a free LIVE masterclass breaking down:

  • Why your team isn’t selling — and how to shift their mindset in one conversation

  • Why most upsells fall flat (and what great servers do instead)

  • The difference between menu knowledge and sales confidence

  • Why training isn't enough — and what real coaching looks like

🚀 Tactical Reminders:

Our Last Three Lessons:

You can read the rest of the past lessons here.

Mike Romaine

Chief Email Ninja at The Restaurant Launch (TRL)

When you’re ready, here are 2 ways we can help:

1) Free Masterclass: On June 30th Jess and Brandon are hosting a free masterclass on how to coach your staff to go from order takers to rainmakers! Click here to sign up.
2) Owners - FOH Service Training: We Guarantee We Can Raise Your Sales By 10-20% in 56 Days