Questions to Ask a Restaurant Manager in an Interview
Strategic questions to ask restaurant managers during interviews that demonstrate your understanding of the industry, gather important information about the role, and help you evaluate if the position and restaurant are right for you.
1What is the typical day-to-day experience for a restaurant manager, and what can I expect from the work environment?
Click to see why this works
What is the typical day-to-day experience for a restaurant manager, and what can I expect from the work environment?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Provides clarity on the daily experience while helping you understand the work environment and what to expect in the role.
2What are the biggest challenges restaurant managers face, and how do you support them?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest challenges restaurant managers face, and how do you support them?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals the challenges while showing how the restaurant supports managers and what resources are available for difficult situations.
3What opportunities exist for professional development and advancement, and how do you support career growth?
Click to see why this works
What opportunities exist for professional development and advancement, and how do you support career growth?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the career development focus while revealing what growth opportunities exist and how the restaurant supports professional advancement.
4How do you handle different customer service situations and complaints, and what training is provided?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different customer service situations and complaints, and what training is provided?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals the customer service approach while showing how they handle different situations and what training is provided for customer management.
5What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve, and how are you working to enhance operations?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve, and how are you working to enhance operations?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the improvement focus while revealing what areas they're working on and how they plan to enhance restaurant operations.
6How do you handle different staff management and team building, and what support is available?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different staff management and team building, and what support is available?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the staff management approach while revealing how they work with different teams and what support is available for team building.
7What are the most important skills and qualities for success as a restaurant manager, and how do you identify and develop these?
Click to see why this works
What are the most important skills and qualities for success as a restaurant manager, and how do you identify and develop these?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals the key competencies while showing what skills are most important and how the restaurant develops and supports managers.
8How do you handle different inventory and cost management, and what systems are used?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different inventory and cost management, and what systems are used?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the operational approach while revealing what systems are used and how they manage inventory and costs.
9What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve customer satisfaction, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve customer satisfaction, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the customer focus while revealing what strategies they use to improve satisfaction and enhance the customer experience.
10How do you handle different scheduling and staffing challenges, and what flexibility is available?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different scheduling and staffing challenges, and what flexibility is available?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals the scheduling approach while showing what flexibility is available and how they manage staffing challenges.
11What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve efficiency and productivity, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve efficiency and productivity, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the efficiency focus while revealing what strategies they use to improve productivity and streamline operations.
12How do you handle different food safety and hygiene requirements, and what training is provided?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different food safety and hygiene requirements, and what training is provided?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the safety approach while revealing what protocols are followed and how they ensure food safety and hygiene.
13What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve staff retention, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve staff retention, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the retention focus while revealing what strategies they use to improve staff retention and reduce turnover.
14How do you handle different marketing and promotion strategies, and what support is available?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different marketing and promotion strategies, and what support is available?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the marketing approach while revealing what strategies they use and what support is available for promotion.
15What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve financial performance, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve financial performance, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the financial focus while revealing what strategies they use to improve profitability and financial performance.
16How do you handle different technology and point-of-sale systems, and what training is provided?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different technology and point-of-sale systems, and what training is provided?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the technology approach while revealing what systems are used and how staff are trained to use different technology.
17What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve community relations, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve community relations, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the community focus while revealing what strategies they use to build community relationships and local connections.
18How do you handle different feedback and performance evaluation, and what is the feedback process?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different feedback and performance evaluation, and what is the feedback process?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the feedback approach while revealing how performance is evaluated and what support is available for improvement.
19What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve innovation and menu development, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest opportunities for the restaurant to improve innovation and menu development, and how do you support this?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows the innovation focus while revealing what strategies they use to improve menu development and restaurant innovation.
20What questions should I ask at my next interview, and how can I prepare for it?
Click to see why this works
What questions should I ask at my next interview, and how can I prepare for it?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Provides guidance for future interviews while helping you understand what to ask next and how to prepare for ongoing conversations.
Mastering Restaurant Manager Interview Conversations
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Show Understanding of the Industry
Demonstrate your knowledge of restaurant operations while asking about specific challenges, customer service, and management approaches.
Understand the Work Environment
Ask about the daily experience, challenges, and support systems to assess if the restaurant is right for you.
Ask About Development Opportunities
Inquire about professional development, advancement, and skill building to show your interest in growth.
Question Sequences
The Experience Explorer
The Development Focus
Common Pitfalls
Don't Focus Only on Compensation
While pay matters, also ask about professional development, work environment, and growth opportunities to show you're interested in the full experience.
Don't Ignore the Work Environment
Ask about the daily experience, challenges, and support systems to ensure the restaurant is right for you.
Don't Skip the Development Questions
Ask about professional development, advancement, and skill building to show your interest in growth and long-term success.