What Are the Busiest Periods in the Restaurant Business?

There is no doubt that the kitchen is one of the busiest sections of any restaurant or hotel, and chefs and other kitchen staff work very long hours, sometimes between 12 and 16 hours a day. This is one reason why they have comfortable uniforms that include chef shirts made from breathable fabrics and comfortable and durable chef shoes that allow them to work on their feet for long hours.

What Are the Busiest Periods in the Restaurant Business?

However, there are certain times of the year and certainly certain times of the day that are busier for kitchen workers than others. Of course, this depends on where you are and what type of restaurant you have, but in general, there are specific periods when most restaurants and hotels are really busy with a large number of customers. Generally in the hospitality industry, and in the catering business, in particular, the periods from April to August and from November to January 1 are the busiest periods of the year.

The months of April to August are usually busy as this is when the weather is spectacular and everyone wants to be outside. Additionally, these months also attract many tourists, so the crowds can be numerous, keeping restaurants busy throughout the day. For those establishments located in other areas, the busiest months may be different, for example, those located near the ski resorts will be busy during the winter months and not so much during other months of the year. The fact is, high season or not, a restaurant can't close just because it doesn't have busy days. As a solution, many restaurants create seasonal menus, which are very different and adapt to different types of food for each season, and also try to generate income by taking out or delivering in slow periods.

Some of the slowest days in the restaurant business are Thanksgiving and Christmas, as most people's holidays are centered around family and home. Although we can normally think that Christmas is a busy time of year, it is not, as people prepare festive parties at home to invite their family and friends.

If you consider a restaurant's weekly routine, some of the slowest days are Mondays and Tuesdays, and this is one of the reasons why most restaurants that open during the weekend are usually closed on Mondays. Some of the busiest days of the week are Friday through Sunday when people go out after a hard week of work or study to enjoy and relax. These are the days when kitchen workers roll up their chef shirts, put on chef shoes, and prepare for long days and nights.

Of course, all over the world, there are some days that are too busy for restaurants and hotels, as these holidays require a night of celebration with family or friends. These are the days when it is almost impossible to get last-minute restaurant reservations, and reservations are made well in advance. Restaurants typically develop special menus during this time to cater for the specific celebration and attract customers to their establishment. Of course, the competition is very high during this time, everyone is trying to give their best to each other in terms of their offerings, atmosphere, food options, etc. These are:

• Mother's Day and Father's Day: Many people bring their parents on Mother's Day and Father's Day, which makes these days relatively busy compared to the normal restaurant business day.
• Valentine's Day: Valentine's Day is one of those holidays where you won't be able to grab a table at a restaurant if you decide to do something at the last minute. With so many people making special arrangements for their loved ones and associates, restaurants are bombarded with special requests. The businesses themselves go out of their way to organize something very special for their customers, like roses and chocolates for the ladies and even offer special and expensive wines and canvas on this day.
• Easter: Easter brunch is a very popular meal for families and can be considered a busy time for most restaurants and hotels.
• New Year's Eve: This should be the busiest day of the year for any restaurant or hotel, and people reserve tables weeks before the date. Many establishments have special parties, for which they sell tickets at higher than normal rates, and kitchen workers can expect to work all day and night during these holidays.

Whether it's a holiday, you can bet that no one from the kitchen department will celebrate it with their loved ones, because they understand their responsibilities towards their work, it means making such sacrifices. Unlike other companies, during this busy vacation, chefs and kitchen staff need to be on hand to make your day and be more enjoyable and better. They'll just put on the chef shirts and shoes, free web content, jackets, and chef hats and get on with their work.