The Nook — General Manager Operations Playbook
Brand: The Nook (Celina, TX) Document Type: General Manager Operations Playbook Version: 1.0 Date: 2026-03-15 Prepared by: Optimus / ACM Creative Concepts Operations Status: APPROVED — Anthony, 2026-03-15
Table of Contents
- Uniforms
- Service Standards
- Guest Experience
- Reservations, Private Events & In-House Promotions
- Large Parties & Events
- Operational Responsibilities
- What Not to Touch
- Bonus Structure
- Living Document
1. Uniforms
Your job is to make sure every FOH employee shows up ready to work — and that starts with how they look.
- All FOH staff must arrive in clean, proper uniform every shift
- Nook branded shirts ONLY — no exceptions
- Nook branded hats ONLY — no exceptions
- Long pants only — no shorts, no exceptions
- Leggings and yoga pants are not acceptable — dress pants, chinos, or jeans only
- If an employee shows up out of uniform, provide them with a replacement shirt at a cost of $10 to the employee
Why: The floor and bar are high-risk environments — hot liquids, broken glass, and tight quarters are constant hazards. Long pants provide a basic layer of protection for staff. Leggings and yoga pants are not appropriate for a professional dining environment and do not meet our appearance standard.
How to enforce it: This is addressed at lineup before every shift. If someone shows up out of uniform, handle it quietly and immediately — shirt swap before they hit the floor. Consistency here sets the tone for every other standard.
2. Service Standards
These are the non-negotiables. Every server and bartender is held to these standards, every shift.
Menu Knowledge
- All servers and bartenders must have solid knowledge of both food and cocktails
- A menu test will be administered to each employee in early May to assess individual knowledge levels across food and cocktails
- Results will inform coaching, retraining, or additional testing as needed
6. Operational Responsibilities
Day-to-day ownership of FOH operations and the business fundamentals behind it.
- Oversee day-to-day FOH team operations, including running daily lineups and issuing service notes
- Ensure all invoices are tracked, logged, and submitted properly to accounting — nothing sits in a pile
- Monitor cost of goods (COGS) and ensure all food and cocktails are priced accurately
- Maintain vendor and liquor rep relationships — schedule tastings, stay current on new products and promotions, and keep those relationships strong
- Maintain building upkeep — both front of house and back of house conditions are your responsibility to flag and address
7. What Not to Touch
These are hard boundaries. Do not cross them.
These exist to protect the kitchen operation and ensure clear accountability. When in doubt — don't touch it, and notify the Kitchen Manager instead.
- ❌ Do not handle or modify food ordering
- ❌ Do not make changes to any food orders already submitted
- ❌ Do not interfere with the kitchen schedule — other than to notify the Kitchen Manager of upcoming events that require kitchen prep or labor
- ❌ Any kitchen schedule involvement requires approval from Carlos, Anthony, or Sara
Kitchen Schedule Rule
The kitchen schedule must be printed and posted by Saturday each week for the following week, with all updated events, catering, and large parties reflected. This is the Kitchen Manager's responsibility — your job is to make sure the Kitchen Manager has what they need from you (event details, party sizes) with enough lead time.
8. Bonus Structure
[Contact Anthony directly for compensation details.]
Living Document
This playbook is a living document. It starts here and will grow as Anthony adds new standards, procedures, and expectations. Every update will be versioned and logged.
Changelog:
| Version | Date | What Changed |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2026-03-15 | Initial draft — all core GM responsibility sections |
| 1.0 | 2026-03-15 | APPROVED by Anthony — ready to distribute |
| 1.1 | 2026-03-15 | Uniforms section: added "Nook branded hats ONLY — no exceptions" — per Anthony |
| 1.2 | 2026-03-15 | Added Section 5: Large Parties & Events (FOH/BOH communication + staffing) — APPROVED by Anthony |
| 1.3 | 2026-03-16 | Uniforms section: added long pants only policy + leggings/yoga pants prohibition with rationale — APPROVED by Anthony |
The Nook — General Manager Operations Playbook | v1.3 | 2026-03-16 ACM Creative Concepts | Prepared by Optimus | APPROVED by Anthony — 2026-03-15