Rush (dinner rush)

Rush usually means the dinner rush: the time when the phone rings fast, the kitchen is slammed, and the front counter is moving nonstop. In many restaurants, this is when simple phone orders get missed because staff are helping in-house guests, packing bags, or checking tickets.

For example, at 6:15 p.m. on a Friday, you might get calls for a large pie, wings, and a couple of pasta orders while the expo line is already full. A phone host can take the order, confirm the name, and give a ready time without slowing the team down.

Phone ordering matters most during rush because missed calls can turn into missed sales. See Rush-hour phone orders for the situations owners deal with most.