With the current situation of the world, people have been deprived of human connection and relaxed experiences, one of which was dining out. Dining out is more than eating; it is a means of bonding with your family, catching up with your friends, and treating yourself. So it is important to serve “experience” to your customers. And the “experience” will include food, decor, music, standards of cleanliness, and overall ambiance of the place.
As a restaurateur, your job is to enact the promise of Restaurant 101, which according to restaurant gurus, are bare-minimum hospitality applications. These applications set the ball rolling for diners to have a pleasant meal and time at eateries. It will also allow you and your restaurant to differentiate from others; at the same time, building a unique dining experience.
Become thick-skinned, learn to love the hustle, and keep reading to crack the code of creativity and uniqueness and inspire yourself to create an exceptional dining concept.
1. Give Your Guests A Warm Welcome
What if you walked into a restaurant and there was no one to welcome you and to get your table started? You’ll start off on the wrong foot!
First and foremost a warm greeting with a genuine smile from the host sets the entire mood of the experience. Diners want sincerity and positivity from the host. Withering looks and unenthusiastic nature gives a bad impression of the eatery.
2. Connection with Diners
Turn your attention to the WOW customer service that will give your eatery uniqueness. Make sure you or your servers are consistently servicing by refilling the drinks and introducing themselves. This is to make the dining experience memorable. There needs to be a connection, so instead of just introducing like “hi, I am your name, and I will be your server today”, focus on connecting with diners by bonding conversation like perhaps asking about their bag brand, etc. After that connection, introduce yourself. Giving your customers the space and letting them eat in peace instead of having them shoo away the bussers after every few minutes also contributes toward a positive experience.
3. Hire Attentive Staff
Having a well-informed staff that knows menu details gives the impression to the diners that they are in for something good. Also, good staff is the one that fixes problems quickly instead of giving a long explanation in case any issue arises which helps in establishing good relationships between diners and the eatery.
4. Attention To Detail
Making sure that the tables are sparkling clean, keeping the music at an appropriate volume and quick service are some of the defining factors of the dining experience of your customers.
Serving some pre-dinner nibbles such as artisan bread with olive oil, fries, dips, or nachos creates a dining room zen for the diners. Because these nibbles are not just food, they are ice-breakers, conversation- pieces, and sets the whole mood of the dining.
5. Decor That Delights
The restaurant decor speaks for your brand. Crafting a unique eatery requires making good choices that match the character of your eatery. The ambiance that will be created from all these selections will act as mise en scène to your eatery’s experience.
First comes a unique restaurant front door that draws your clientele towards your eatery. For a unique front, going for neon signs or murals is a good idea. On the other hand, all-glass doors and windows give a sneak peek of your interior. Choosing color according to your restaurant style is also important. A fast-food space will look more tempting in fierce red rather than earthy tones while a fine dining place will benefit from deep shades and earthy colors.
6. Playing The Menu Card
Designing stunning menus to focus on the design of your logo also plays a part in crafting a good experience. Seating arrangements also play a huge part in the ambiance you are trying to create. Like, whether you want to create a cozy environment with tables close together or want to go with sophisticated seating for private or if it is going to be communal and bustling with energy.
Whether you want a place that will host parties or if there is going to be outdoor seating.
Do not forget the lights! Because it sets the mood in a way no other factor can. Romantic atmosphere? Consider adding candles. Small cozy restaurant? Low light would be best for a relaxed and intimate environment. Like this, experiment with lights and choose the one that fits your style best.
7. Restrooms Are The Best Rooms
Having a neat and good-smelling restroom is a very important and big fat YES. And make sure those restrooms are fully equipped with rolls and hand-wash and also have proper running water because having tidy restrooms at a fine establishment feels, according to Monte Carlo; the restaurant gurus, So Fresh And So Clean Clean
With so many already present restaurants and new ones popping up, the competition becomes tougher and tougher. The key to making your restaurant stand out and get the diners excited comes back to one factor and that is- ideas that will capture diner’s attention and make them come again and again. And when you master the art of anticipating a diner’s needs and meeting them beforehand, this allows diners to remember your restaurant because they had the best and memorable time dining in your eatery.