Sending Orders to Kitchen
Learn how to submit orders, track progress, and coordinate with the kitchen.
Sending an Order
Basic Send
- Complete your order (all items added)
- Verify table/customer is assigned
- Tap "Send to Kitchen" (green button)
- Confirmation appears with order number
What Happens Next
- Order appears on Kitchen Display System (KDS)
- Kitchen staff see items by station
- You can track progress in real-time
- Get notified when order is ready
Order Confirmation
After sending, you'll see:
| Information | Description |
|---|---|
| Order # | Unique identifier (e.g., #142) |
| Est. Time | Approximate completion time |
| Status | Current state (Sent, In Progress, Ready) |
| Print Option | Print customer copy if needed |
Multi-Course Ordering
For fine dining or courses:
Setting Up Courses
- Add first course items
- Tap "Add Course Divider"
- Add second course items
- Repeat for additional courses
Firing Courses
Kitchen waits for your signal:
- Open the order from your orders list
- Tap "Fire Course 2" when guests are ready
- Kitchen receives notification and begins prep
Course dividers clearly separate items on kitchen tickets.
Order Priorities
Setting Priority
For rush orders or VIPs:
- Before sending, tap "Priority" toggle
- Select priority level:
- Normal - Standard queue position
- Priority - Moved up in queue
- Rush - Immediate attention
When to Use Priority
| Situation | Priority Level |
|---|---|
| Regular order | Normal |
| Guest in a hurry | Priority |
| VIP guest | Priority |
| Food runner waiting | Rush |
| Complaint remake | Rush |
Tracking Order Status
Status Indicators
| Status | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sent | Blue | Order received by kitchen |
| In Progress | Yellow | Kitchen is preparing |
| Ready | Green | Ready for pickup/delivery |
| Completed | Gray | Delivered to guest |
Checking Order Status
Option 1: Orders Tab
- Tap "Orders" in navigation
- Find your order by number or table
- View current status
Option 2: Voice Say: "Hey Maximus, what's the status of table 5's order?"
Option 3: Notifications
- You'll receive a push notification when order is ready
Modifying Sent Orders
Adding Items
- Open the existing order
- Tap "Add Items"
- Add new items
- Tap "Send to Kitchen"
- New items are added to the ticket
Removing Items
Before kitchen starts:
- Open the order
- Tap the item to remove
- Tap "Void Item"
- Select reason
- Item is removed and kitchen notified
After kitchen starts:
- You'll need manager approval
- A void request is sent
- Manager approves/denies
- Kitchen is notified if approved
Changing Modifiers
- Open the order
- Tap the item
- Tap "Modify"
- Make changes
- Send update to kitchen
Station Routing
Orders are automatically routed to the correct stations:
| Station | Items |
|---|---|
| Grill | Steaks, burgers, grilled items |
| Fry | Fried items, fries |
| Sauté | Pasta, sautéed dishes |
| Salad | Salads, cold appetizers |
| Dessert | Desserts, pastries |
| Bar | Drinks, cocktails |
| Expo | Final assembly, quality check |
Ticket Timing
Understanding Ticket Colors
Kitchen displays use colors to show timing:
| Time | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0-5 min | Green | On track |
| 5-10 min | Yellow | Getting long |
| 10-15 min | Orange | Attention needed |
| 15+ min | Red | Urgent |
Checking on Late Orders
If a ticket is red:
- Check with expo/kitchen lead
- Update guest on timing
- Consider comping or offering drink
Offline Mode
If you lose network connection, orders save locally on your device and sync automatically when the connection restores. Continue taking orders normally -- you will not lose any data.
How It Works
- Orders save locally on your device
- A "Pending" indicator appears
- When connection restores, orders sync automatically
- You'll see confirmation when sent
What to Do
- Continue taking orders normally
- Monitor the connection indicator
- Orders queue and send in order taken
- Alert manager if connection doesn't restore
Common Issues
"Order not sending"
| Cause | Solution |
|---|---|
| Missing required info | Check table/customer assigned |
| Missing modifiers | Complete required selections |
| Network issue | Wait for sync (offline mode) |
| Item 86'd | Remove unavailable item |
"Kitchen didn't receive order"
- Check your order status (should say "Sent")
- Verify kitchen display is working
- Reprint ticket if needed
- Physically notify kitchen as backup
"Wrong items on ticket"
- Void incorrect items immediately
- Re-add correct items
- Send update to kitchen
- Verbally confirm with kitchen
Voice Commands
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Send order | "Send to kitchen" |
| Check status | "Status of order 42" |
| Fire course | "Fire course 2 for table 5" |
| Check time | "How long for table 3's order?" |
Tips for Smooth Service
Always double-check modifiers and allergy notes before hitting "Send to Kitchen." Catching mistakes before the kitchen starts is much faster than voiding and remaking.
- Don't send partial orders - Add all items first when possible
- Communicate special requests - Call out allergies to kitchen
- Track your orders - Know which are pending
- Coordinate with expo - Check timing for large parties