20 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Interview Questions and Answers

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is a full-service restaurant based in Irving, Texas. The company was founded in 1979 and has since grown to over 160 locations across the United States. Cheddar’s is known for their made-from-scratch dishes, including their signature hand-battered chicken tenders and made-from-scratch soups.

If you’re interviewing for a position at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience in the restaurant industry, your customer service skills, and your ability to handle fast-paced environments. You may also be asked questions specific to the position you’re applying for, such as questions about your cooking skills or your knowledge of food safety procedures.

To help you prepare for your interview at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, we’ve compiled a list of sample interview questions and answers.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Interview Process

The interview process at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is relatively quick and easy. Most applicants report being hired on the spot after a brief conversation with the owner or manager. The overall experience is generally positive, with many employees finding the staff to be friendly and respectful.

1. How well do you handle stress and pressure?

Working in the food service industry can be stressful. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the ability to handle stress and pressure well. In your answer, explain how you manage stress and give an example of a time when you did so successfully.

Example: “I am able to handle stress quite well. I think it’s important to remain calm and focused during high-pressure situations. When working as a server at my previous job, there were many times where we had large groups come into the restaurant. During these busy times, I would take deep breaths and focus on one task at a time. This helped me stay calm and provide excellent customer service.”

2. Tell me about your experience with serving customers.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. They want to know how you interact with customers and whether you have experience serving a large group of people at once. In your answer, share an example of a time when you helped customers in the past.

Example: “I’ve worked as a server for five years now, so I’m used to interacting with all kinds of customers. At my last job, I had a table of 12 that came in every Friday night. The family was always very nice, but they were also quite loud. I learned how to balance their needs while still being attentive to other tables.”

3. What is your favorite meal on the menu?

This question is a great way to see if you have experience with the menu and can relate it back to your previous experiences. It also shows that you are passionate about the food, which is important for any server. When answering this question, try to pick something unique or seasonal.

Example: “My favorite meal on the Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen menu is the Chicken Fried Steak. I love how hearty and filling it is, but it still has a lot of flavor. The mashed potatoes are always perfectly seasoned and the steak itself is juicy and tender. I’ve had it many times before and never get tired of it.”

4. Do you have any experience handling difficult customers? How would you deal with them?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you handle stressful situations. They want to know that you can remain calm and professional when faced with challenging customers. In your answer, try to show that you have the ability to diffuse a situation and keep it from escalating.

Example: “I’ve had experience handling difficult customers in my previous role as a server at a steakhouse. One time, I had a customer who was upset because they didn’t like their meal. I listened to them calmly and explained our policy of offering free meals if we mess up an order or don’t cook something properly. The customer accepted this and left happy.”

5. Are you familiar with our restaurant concept?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience working in a similar environment. If you haven’t worked at a restaurant before, it’s important to do some research on the company and its culture beforehand so that you can answer confidently.

Example: “I’ve been to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen once before for dinner with my family. I really enjoyed the casual atmosphere and the food was delicious. I noticed that there were several servers who attended to our table, which made me feel like we were getting excellent service. I think I would enjoy working here because of the friendly staff.”

6. Can you work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays?

Working a flexible schedule is often necessary in the restaurant industry. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re willing to work any shift they need you to. In your answer, explain that you are comfortable working weekends and holidays. Explain that you understand these shifts can be busy for servers.

Example: “I am happy to work any shift at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. I know how important it is to have servers who are available on weekends and holidays. I’m excited to learn more about what days and times you would like me to work.”

7. As a server, what qualities are important to you in a kitchen staff?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with a kitchen staff. Use your answer to highlight any skills or personality traits that helped you work well with other employees in the past.

Example: “I find it important to work with a kitchen staff that is friendly and helpful. In my last position, I worked with a team of chefs who were always willing to lend a hand when needed. They also had great suggestions for how we could improve our service and make sure customers received their food quickly. This made them an invaluable part of our team.”

8. Tell me about a time where you worked hard but still fell short of the goals.

This question is a great way to learn more about how you respond to failure. It can also help employers understand your thought process and what you learned from the experience.

Example: “When I first started working in food service, I was so excited to get my hands on new recipes and ingredients. One day, I decided to make a special dish for our customers that included some exotic spices. The dish turned out well, but it wasn’t as popular with our regulars as I had hoped. After talking with my manager, we agreed that I would take the dish off the menu until I could find a way to make it more appealing to our regular customers.”

9. What do you think it means to be hospitable?

This question is a great way to show your understanding of the company’s values. When you answer, make sure you use examples from your previous experience that demonstrate how you can be hospitable in your role as a server at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.

Example: “Hospitality means being friendly and welcoming to all guests. I think it’s important to treat everyone who comes into the restaurant with respect and kindness. For example, when I was working at my last job, we had a family come in for dinner one night. The father was celebrating his birthday, so I brought him out some free dessert and sang happy birthday to him.”

10. How does your personality contribute to being a good waiter/hostess?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your personality and how it fits with the company culture. They want to know that you can work well with others, communicate effectively and be a team player. When answering this question, try to highlight your interpersonal skills and emphasize any transferable skills you have that will help you succeed in this role.

Example: “I think my outgoing personality is one of my greatest strengths as a waiter or hostess. I enjoy talking to people and making them feel comfortable. I also find that I am quite good at reading people’s emotions and responding appropriately. For example, if someone seems upset, I make sure to give them some space and offer to get them anything they need. If they are having a great time, I like to join in on their fun.”

11. In what ways do you ensure that every customer has a great dining experience?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. They want to know how you can help their restaurant succeed and provide excellent service to customers. In your answer, try to highlight some of the ways you’ve helped customers in the past.

Example: “I believe that every customer deserves a great experience when they come to our restaurant. I always make sure to greet them with a smile and offer assistance if they need anything. If they have any questions or concerns, I am happy to address them right away. I also take care to ensure that they receive their food quickly and correctly so they don’t have to wait long for it.”

12. Why do you want to work at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and company. When you answer, make sure to highlight what attracted you to this job in the first place. Consider mentioning a specific aspect of the restaurant that interests you or something about the culture that excites you.

Example: “I want to work at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen because I love the family-friendly atmosphere. The servers are always so friendly and welcoming, which makes customers feel comfortable. I also really enjoy the scratch kitchen concept. It’s great knowing that everything on the menu is made from scratch with fresh ingredients.”

13. Describe a time when you had to provide excellent customer service while also dealing with a challenging situation.

Customer service is an important part of any restaurant job, and employers ask this question to make sure you have the skills necessary to provide excellent customer service. Use your answer to show that you can handle difficult situations while still providing great service.

Example: “I once had a customer who was upset because they didn’t get their food quickly enough. I apologized for the wait and explained that we were short-staffed that day. The customer seemed satisfied with my explanation and said they would give us another chance. When they got their meal, they were happy with it and left us a good tip.”

14. We can get pretty busy during peak times. Do you feel comfortable working under pressure?

When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you worked under pressure and how you handled the situation. This can help employers understand your ability to work in high-pressure situations and perform well.

Example: “I feel comfortable working under pressure because I know that it’s part of my job as a server. In my last position, we would get pretty busy during peak times. One time, there was a large group of people who came in right before closing. We had two servers on duty at the time, so we split up the tables between us. I took care of one side of the restaurant while my coworker took care of the other. It got pretty hectic, but we were able to handle it.”

15. Give an example of a time you were able to help someone out who was struggling.

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you helped the person out and what their reaction was.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, there was an older gentleman who came in every day for lunch. He would always order the same thing, but one day he ordered something different. I asked him if everything was okay, and he said that his wife had recently passed away and he wasn’t sure what to do without her. I told him about some of our other menu items and offered to bring him a sample of anything he wanted.”

16. What are your long-term career goals?

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s career goals and how they plan to achieve them. It also helps employers determine if you’re likely to stay with their company for an extended period of time. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention your short-term goals as well.

Example: “My long-term goal is to become a general manager at a restaurant like Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. I know that in order to get there, I need to work hard and prove myself as a valuable employee. In my current role as a server, I’m always looking for ways to improve my customer service skills and efficiency.”

17. What steps would you take if a customer got up and left without paying for their food?

This question is a behavioral one that tests your customer service skills. It’s important to show the interviewer you can handle difficult situations with grace and professionalism.

Example: “I would first apologize to my manager for the inconvenience, then I’d go find the customer and ask them if they forgot their bill. If they still refuse to pay, I would call security and let them handle it.”

18. How did you manage to remain calm in a high-pressure environment?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to handle stress and remain calm in a fast-paced environment. To answer, you can describe an experience where you had to manage high pressure or stressful situations and how you overcame them.

Example: “In my previous role as a server at a busy restaurant, I often found myself working with little time to prepare for large parties of customers. In these situations, I would take deep breaths to help me stay calm and focused on the task at hand. I also learned that it was important to delegate tasks to other servers so we could all work together to ensure our guests received excellent service.”

19. When working as a team, how do you keep everyone motivated to achieve your shared goal?

Teamwork is an important skill to have in the restaurant industry. Your answer should show that you can work well with others and help your team members succeed.

Example: “I believe that teamwork is all about communication. If I notice a teammate struggling, I’ll ask them how they’re doing and if there’s anything I can do to help. In my last position, I noticed one of my coworkers was having trouble keeping up with the orders. I offered to take on some of their tables so they could focus on the ones they were more comfortable with.”

20. If you could change one thing about this industry, what would it be?

This question is a way for the interviewer to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their team. Your answer should show that you are passionate about this industry, but also realistic about its challenges.

Example: “I wish there was a better way to communicate with customers who have questions or concerns. I think it would be great if restaurants could implement an app where customers can submit feedback and we can respond to them directly. This would help us solve problems before they become bigger issues.”