If you really want to make your restaurant stand out, there are a few items to pay attention to specifically. A great restaurant is so much more than just good food. Read on to see how to make your restaurant a grand success.
1. Restaurant Furniture: If you really want to provide a unique ambiance, you should pay close attention to your restaurant tables and restaurant chairs. These items ground your business and make it what it is, contributing largely to comfort and decor. Think about how your restaurant accords with other restaurants like it. For example, if you have a barbecue restaurant, you may want to go with a rustic theme – wood benches, tables etc. Choosing soft, cushiony diner booths will make for a different feel that you may or may not want to consider.
2. Matching: Does the food go with the ambiance? That is, if you’re serving unpretentious, home-style Italian food in a small, hole-in-the-wall kind of way, you probably don’t want a brash interior. Think rich, dark colors, simple decor and soft, warm lighting. Don’t oversimplify, though, white-washed walls have no character. If you have a pizza parlor on the other hand, you may want brighter lights and colors on the walls. Either way, your restaurant should reflect the kind of food you serve.
3. Service: Especially when you’re beginning your restaurant, it’s important to have superb service. Young, attractive servers are always a hit, even if they’re inexperienced. When they fudge an order, always allow your customers the option to keep both plates. They will be delighted if they’re hungry, and if not, they will appreciate the gesture.
4. Food: Yes, the food is the most important. But without the above three characteristics, good food still means bad restaurant. The food should be the icing on the cake, it should meet your patrons’ expectations if the restaurant furniture, ambiance, and service have been up to par. Always serve food piping hot. That shows the customer that it’s fresh and hasn’t been waiting or neglected. The same goes for bread, if you serve it.
5. Extras: Chances are if you’ve followed the above tips you shouldn’t have trouble filling your restaurant, but there are no guarantees. A wild card like your location or a longstanding local competitor may make it difficult. If that’s the case, think about what you can do to further set your restaurant apart. Live music, a wide wine or beer selection, new dishes, specialty cocktails, original art, candles, an open kitchen, or a new web site can all further distinguish your restaurant from the others.
Don’t be afraid to get creative and break the mold. When people go out to dinner, they often want to be entertained – and that includes every aspect of a restaurant from the food to the restaurant furniture.