Restaurant Simulation with SimPy: From Seating to Serving

Published on February 18, 2026

Restaurants are fascinating systems. Multiple resources. Parallel processes. Variable service times. Customer behaviour. All in one simulation. <h2 id="the-restaurant-model">The Restaurant Model</h2> Components: - Customers - Arrive in groups - Tables - Limited seating - Waiters - Take orders, serve food - Kitchen - Prepares meals - Bill - Payment process <h2 id="basic-restaurant">Basic Restaurant</h2> <div class="code-block"><pre><code>import simpy import random class Restaurant: def __init__(self, env, num_tables, num_waiters, num_cooks): self.env = env self.tables = simpy.Resource(env, capacity=num_tables) self.waiters = simpy.Resource(env, capacity=num_waiters) self.kitchen = simpy.Resource(env, capacity=num_cooks) self.stats = [] def customer_group(self, group_id, group_size): arrival = self.env.now # Wait for table with self.tables.request() as table: yield table seated = self.env.now # Waiter takes order with self.waiters.request() as waiter: yield waiter yield self.env.timeout(random.uniform(2, 5)) # Ordering # Kitchen prepares food with self.kitchen.request() as cook: yield cook yield self.env.timeout(random.uniform(10, 25)) # Cooking # Waiter serves food with self.waiters.request() as waiter: yield waiter yield self.env.timeout(1) # Serving # Eating yield self.env.timeout(random.uniform(20, 40)) # Waiter brings bill with self.waiters.request() as waiter: yield waiter yield self.env.timeout(random.uniform(3, 8)) # Bill and payment departure = self.env.now self.stats.append({ 'group': group_id, 'size': group_size, 'arrival': arrival, 'seated': seated, 'departure': departure, 'wait_for_table': seated - arrival, 'total_time': departure - arrival }) def arrivals(env, restaurant): group_id = 0 while True: yield env.timeout(random.expovariate(1/10)) # ~6 groups/hour group_size = random.choices([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6], weights=[10, 30, 25, 20, 10, 5])[0] env.process(restaurant.customer_group(group_id, group_size)) group_id += 1 env = simpy.Environment() restaurant = Restaurant(env, num_tables=10, num_waiters=3, num_cooks=2) env.process(arrivals(env, restaurant)) env.run(until=240) # 4 hours </code></pre></div> <h2 id="table-management">Table Management</h2> Different table sizes: <div class="code-block"><pre><code>class TableManager: def __init__(self, env, table_config): """ table_config = {2: 5, 4: 8, 6: 3} # 5 two-tops, 8 four-tops, 3 six-tops """ self.env = env self.tables = {} for size, count in table_config.items(): self.tables[size] = simpy.Resource(env, capacity=count) def get_table(self, group_size): """Find smallest table that fits the group.""" suitable = [s for s in sorted(self.tables.keys()) if s >= group_size] if not suitable: return None # No table big enough for size in suitable: if self.tables[size].count < self.tables[size].capacity: return self.tables[size], size # All suitable tables busy - wait for smallest that fits return self.tables[suitable[0]], suitable[0] def customer_group(env, table_manager, group_id, group_size): result = table_manager.get_table(group_size) if result is None: print(f"Group {group_id} (size {group_size}) left - no suitable table") return table_resource, table_size = result with table_resource.request() as req: yield req print(f"Group {group_id} seated at {table_size}-top") yield env.timeout(random.uniform(30, 60)) # Dining time </code></pre></div> <h2 id="kitchen-with-multiple-stations">Kitchen with Multiple Stations</h2> <div class="code-block"><pre><code>class Kitchen: def __init__(self, env, config): self.env = env self.stations = { 'grill': simpy.Resource(env, capacity=config.get('grill', 2)), 'fryer': simpy.Resource(env, capacity=config.get('fryer', 1)), 'salad': simpy.Resource(env, capacity=config.get('salad', 1)), 'dessert': simpy.Resource(env, capacity=config.get('dessert', 1)) } self.orders_completed = 0 def prepare_order(self, order): """Prepare all items in an order.""" # Group items by station station_items = {} for item in order['items']: station = item['station'] if station not in station_items: station_items[station] = [] station_items[station].append(item) # Prepare at each station (can be parallel across stations) processes = [] for station, items in station_items.items(): proc = self.env.process(self.prepare_at_station(station, items)) processes.append(proc) # Wait for all stations to complete for proc in processes: yield proc self.orders_completed += 1 def prepare_at_station(self, station_name, items): with self.stations[station_name].request() as req: yield req for item in items: yield self.env.timeout(item['prep_time']) </code></pre></div> <h2 id="order-queue">Order Queue</h2> <div class="code-block"><pre><code>class OrderSystem: def __init__(self, env, kitchen): self.env = env self.kitchen = kitchen self.order_queue = simpy.Store(env) self.ready_orders = simpy.FilterStore(env) env.process(self.kitchen_process()) def place_order(self, table_id, items): order = { 'id': f"{table_id}_{self.env.now:.0f}", 'table': table_id, 'items': items, 'placed_at': self.env.now } yield self.order_queue.put(order) return order['id'] def kitchen_process(self): while True: order = yield self.order_queue.get() yield from self.kitchen.prepare_order(order) order['ready_at'] = self.env.now yield self.ready_orders.put(order) def collect_order(self, order_id): order = yield self.ready_orders.get( lambda o: o['id'] == order_id ) return order </code></pre></div> <h2 id="complete-restaurant-simulation">Complete Restaurant Simulation</h2> <div class="code-block"><pre><code>import simpy import random import numpy as np class FullRestaurantSimulation: def __init__(self, env, config): self.env = env self.config = config # Resources self.tables = simpy.Resource(env, capacity=config['tables']) self.waiters = simpy.Resource(env, capacity=config['waiters']) self.kitchen = simpy.Resource(env, capacity=config['cooks']) # Stats self.stats = { 'groups': [], 'turnaways': 0 } def customer_group(self, group_id, group_size): arrival = self.env.now # Check if willing to wait if len(self.tables.queue) > self.config['max_wait_queue']: self.stats['turnaways'] += 1 return record = { 'id': group_id, 'size': group_size, 'arrival': arrival } # Get table with self.tables.request() as table: result = yield table | self.env.timeout(self.config['max_wait_time']) if table not in result: self.stats['turnaways'] += 1 return record['seated_at'] = self.env.now record['wait_for_table'] = self.env.now - arrival # Order with self.waiters.request() as waiter: yield waiter yield self.env.timeout(random.uniform(3, 6)) record['ordered_at'] = self.env.now # Cook with self.kitchen.request() as cook: yield cook cook_time = self.config['cook_time_base'] + group_size * 2 yield self.env.timeout(random.uniform(cook_time * 0.8, cook_time * 1.2)) record['food_ready'] = self.env.now # Serve with self.waiters.request() as waiter: yield waiter yield self.env.timeout(random.uniform(1, 2)) # Eat eat_time = random.uniform(20, 40) yield self.env.timeout(eat_time) # Bill with self.waiters.request() as waiter: yield waiter yield self.env.timeout(random.uniform(3, 8)) record['departure'] = self.env.now record['total_time'] = self.env.now - arrival self.stats['groups'].append(record) def arrivals(self): group_id = 0 while True: # Time-varying arrivals hour = (self.env.now / 60) % 24 if 12 <= hour <= 14 or 18 <= hour <= 21: rate = self.config['peak_rate'] else: rate = self.config['off_peak_rate'] yield self.env.timeout(random.expovariate(rate)) # Group size distribution sizes = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] probs = [0.10, 0.35, 0.25, 0.20, 0.07, 0.03] group_size = random.choices(sizes, weights=probs)[0] self.env.process(self.customer_group(group_id, group_size)) group_id += 1 def run(self, duration): self.env.process(self.arrivals()) self.env.run(until=duration) def report(self): groups = self.stats['groups'] print("\n=== Restaurant Report ===") print(f"Groups served: {len(groups)}") print(f"Groups turned away: {self.stats['turnaways']}") if groups: waits = [g['wait_for_table'] for g in groups] totals = [g['total_time'] for g in groups] print(f"\nWait for table:") print(f" Mean: {np.mean(waits):.1f} min") print(f" Max: {max(waits):.1f} min") print(f"\nTotal time in restaurant:") print(f" Mean: {np.mean(totals):.1f} min") # Table turnover turnover = len(groups) / (self.config['tables'] * (self.env.now / 60)) print(f"\nTable turnover: {turnover:.2f} per hour") # Config config = { 'tables': 15, 'waiters': 4, 'cooks': 3, 'peak_rate': 0.2, # Groups per minute 'off_peak_rate': 0.05, 'max_wait_queue': 5, 'max_wait_time': 15, 'cook_time_base': 12 } random.seed(42) env = simpy.Environment() sim = FullRestaurantSimulation(env, config) sim.run(duration=240) # 4 hours sim.report() </code></pre></div> <h2 id="summary">Summary</h2> Restaurant simulation teaches: - Multiple resource types - Sequential processes with parallel elements - Customer behaviour and patience - Time-varying demand - Table management optimisation Every restaurant is a system. Simulate yours. <h2 id="next-steps">Next Steps</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/blog_posts/simpy-bank-queue-simulation.html">Bank Queue Simulation</a></li> <li><a href="/blog_posts/simpy-hospital-simulation.html">Hospital Simulation</a></li> <li><a href="/blog_posts/simpy-call-center-simulation.html">Call Centre Simulation</a></li> </ul>

Build Professional Simulations

Break free from commercial software and learn how to build powerful, industry-standard simulations in Python. The Complete Simulation in Python with SimPy Bootcamp gives you everything you need.

Explore the Bootcamp