A Big Thank You and Present the Check
Step 10 of 11
How the check gets printed, presented, and closed out: the last thing a guest experiences before deciding how the whole visit felt.
What This Step Covers
Check accuracy, timing, letting the guest set the pace, and how payment gets handled depending on where it’s processed.
The Benchmarks
- Check delivery after final courseWithin 5 minutes of plates being cleared, or immediately if guest signals readiness.
- Check accuracy pre-checkTicket is printed only after confirming the table needs nothing else, and reviewed by the server for accuracy before presenting. Discounts and comps applied correctly.
- Guest paceGuests are allowed to check out at their own pace, without pressuring or hovering.
- Payment processingIf payment is processed away from the table, return within 3 minutes of payment being collected.
Why It Matters
A guest expects the check to be right the first time, and to be allowed to close out at their own pace, not rushed or made to wait. This is genuinely the last impression of the visit. Everything else about the meal can have gone well, and a clumsy check-close is what the guest remembers walking out the door.
Where It Breaks
The guest expected the check to be accurate and ready when they were, and instead got an error to untangle or a wait that dragged on past the point the table was clearly done.