If a kitchen ticket arrives with missing items, what is the proper course of action?

• A. Notify the kitchen immediately, inform the guest, and remake or adjust the order as needed.
• B. Complete the ticket as-is and hope issues are resolved.
• C. Ignore the missing items and proceed.
• D. Ask the guest to wait without informing anyone.

Answer: (A)

Missing items on a kitchen ticket point to an order that isn’t complete, and the best move is to act quickly to fix it. Notify the kitchen immediately so they can stop and verify what’s missing, then tell the guest what’s happening and how you’ll make it right. Remake or adjust the order as needed so the guest receives a full, correct plate. This keeps the service accurate, prevents sending an incomplete dish, and ensures everyone on the front and back of house stays in sync. It also builds trust with the guest by being transparent about the issue and the steps being taken to resolve it. If there’s a delay, offer a clear update and apologize, but always prioritize completing the order correctly.