We’ve all seen it.
A new restaurant opens and you can’t get a table. The wait times are long. Parking isn’t easy.
And then a few months later, the restaurant has plenty of tables open for a dinner reservation at 7 p.m. and parking is no problem.
What happened?
These restaurants may still have tasty food. However, they aren’t doing enough to keep their customer base.
3 Tips for All Types of Eateries
Staying fresh is hard. Here are three tips that you can implement today to stay top-of-mind with customers and create a dining experience with staying power.
1. New menu items are always exciting!
Your patrons dine with you consistently because they love your food. But they also crave new options.
Take a look at your food and beverage menu and spice it up. Need some inspiration? Play to the seasons. When the temperatures drop, add something warm and hearty to the menu for a limited time.
Consider partnering your chef and your bartender together to create a series of paired menu options featuring an entrée and a specialty cocktail.
Diners and sandwich shops can vary the menu with new side choices or changing weekly specials.
Promote these new additions on social media to engage your followers and build excitement.
2. Your atmosphere matters just as much as the food you’re serving.
Remember that time on your last vacation and you went to that really awesome restaurant? What made it memorable? You likely enjoyed more than just the food.
The lighting, the artwork on the walls, the sound level, the look and feel probably all played into the positive experience you had. How can you give customers a delightful surprise when they visit your restaurant?
Consider creating a focal wall that draws the attention of your patrons and gives your space a new “vibe.”
Don’t have the creative flair for decorating? That’s okay. Partner with a local interior design expert to showcase their talents.
Bonus: Your wall just might become the perfect spot for selfies or group pictures that end up showcasing your business when customers share their photos.
3. Introduce your patrons to your staff.
People do business with people, not businesses. Your customers often only engage with two or three members of your team each visit. Rarely do they meet the person who prepared their food, the management team, or the owner.
For many customers, it is impressive if the chef or manager comes to their table to say hello and ask about their meal. For others, they enjoy engaging with the person who created their favorite dining out spot. These interactions foster unique and memorable experiences.
The best part? It costs little to no money to implement.
Your Mission: Excite and Delight
Revamping your restaurant doesn’t have to be expensive nor happen all at once. Evolve your offering over time and keep finding ways to surprise your guests. They will get excited to come visit because they know they will experience something fresh each time.