Interview Questions for Restaurants: How to Find the Right Candidates

Restaurants demand attention to detail alongside efficiency. Start with questions that reveal how candidates have handled real situations in the past:

• Tell me about a time you worked during a busy shift. How did you manage the pressure?
• What experience do you have with food safety or handling?
• How do you prioritize tasks when multiple demands come at once?

These questions move beyond a resume-repeating answer. They show whether someone has faced the realities of kitchen or front-of-house work and how they responded.

Unexpected challenges are part of practically every service shift. Strong candidates can think on their feet and stay calm under pressure. To uncover this, you can ask:

• A guest sends back their meal. How do you handle it?
• What would you do if a team member didn’t show up during peak hours?
• Tell me about a mistake you made at work and how you fixed it.

These interview questions for restaurant roles reveal how someone handles setbacks, conflict and problem-solving in the moment.

Restaurants thrive on collaboration between servers, cooks, hosts and managers. So it’s not just about whether someone can do the job — it’s about whether they can do it alongside others. Useful questions include:

• How do you communicate with team members during a rush?
• What does good teamwork look like to you?
• Have you ever helped a colleague when they were struggling during a shift?

Answers to these questions give insight into cultural fit and how the candidate contributes to the overall work environment.

For guest-facing roles, quality customer service is critical. Even when things go wrong, a strong employee can turn a negative into a positive. Try questions like:

• Can you describe a time you went out of your way to make a guest feel valued?
• How do you respond when a guest complains about something outside your control?
• What makes a great dining experience from the guest’s perspective?

These questions highlight empathy, communication and awareness of what drives repeat business.

High turnover is common in restaurants, so it’s important to confirm whether a candidate’s availability matches your needs. Ask:

• What shifts are you open to working?
• Are you comfortable working evenings, weekends and holidays?
• What are your career goals in hospitality?

This ensures both you and the candidate have clear expectations before hiring decisions are made.