We have a few tips to help trip leaders make the student group dining process as smooth as possible.
Tip #1: Call the Restaurant about an hour out to make sure they are ready for your group.
Restaurants receive group reservations year-round so they can get overwhelmed by the volume of students they see in a given time frame. By calling the restaurant a day in advance and a few hours before the reservation, you can help the restaurant prepare for your group and make the transition a bit smoother when your group arrives.
Tip #2: Send one Chaperone into the restaurant (leave everyone else on the bus) and ask the restaurant manager if they have any specific bus unloading or group procedures.
Some restaurants have very specific procedures for groups, and because they have experience serving groups, it is best to ask them about those procedures. For example, some restaurant managers prefer to have the students remain seated on the bus so that they can board the bus and explain how they would like the group to serve themselves. It also doesn’t hurt to reiterate to your students to be on their best behaviors when dining as a group because they are not the only ones in the restaurant.
Tip #3: Remind the manager of any student allergies on the night of the reservation.
This may be the most important tip that we can offer when dining with student groups. While your travel coordinator conveys all documented allergies to the restaurant, always make sure that this info is reiterated in person. Allergies can be extremely dangerous if they are neglected or left untreated. Trip leaders should have allergies written down and notify restaurants of these multiple times prior to the night of the reservation. Most restaurants can accommodate to peanut allergies, gluten allergies, and many more, but they must be notified in advance in order to best prepare for the students. Again, restaurants may have a hard time keeping track of special accommodation for the multiple school groups they see throughout the year, so it is very important to keep them in the loop when your group is on its way. Make sure to have an epi-pen or proper allergic reaction medicine on hand, because even with the most diligent attention to allergies and meals, accidents can happen. It is always best to be over prepared for these kinds of things.
Tip #4: Serve the adults and quiet student tables first.
Students tend to eat faster than adults and we’ve seen this serving order usually means our group finishes their meals around the same time. Serving quiet tables first incentivizes students to keep their voices down and respect other restaurant patrons.
Tip #5:
In a buffet style restaurant, encourage students to take small amounts of food before committing to large servings. This practice will reduce the amount of wasted food.