Especially in big cities, you often find one restaurant after another. When guests find their way to your restaurant, you naturally want to serve them in the best possible way and make their experience a great one. Only if they are satisfied, there is a chance that they will come back or recommend your restaurant to others.
If you want to keep your guests coming back, you have to offer them something they can’t get anywhere else. This can gofrom dishes on the menu, to the particularly good service and even the décor of your restaurant. Be creative, come up with something unique.In this article, we will show you ways to improve the customer experience at your restaurant.
Table of Contents
The ambience
The appearance of your restaurant is the first thing your guests will see. It will determine how they feel at your restaurant. A good atmosphere invites guests to stay longer, to feel more comfortable and to come back. This includes not only the decoration and furnishings, but also the degree of cleanliness. Always make sure that all areas of your restaurant are clean and attractive. No one likes to eat where it doesn’t look hygienic.
But the appearance of your waiters and waitresses can also influence the ambience. You don’t have to force your waiters to wear uniforms or anything like that, but they should keep up a good appearance. A few dos and don’ts regarding the dress code can’t hurt either, especially to ensure a uniform appearance. A small uniform apron or something similar might also help.
Your service
You’ve probably already figured this one out on your own, but besides the food, the service is one of the most important things at a restaurant. And service starts in the very first second a guest enters your restaurant. People love to be served as quickly as possible and with a friendly smile. So don’t make your guests wait too long at the door but show them to a table quickly. A menu should arrive shortly after. Next, give your guests enough time to decide. If they haven’t chosen anything yet and the waiter is already back at the table again, it caneasily create pressure. But if they have to wait too long to order, itwon’t make a good impression either. So, it’s best to keep an eye on your guests to find the right moment to take their order.
Your staff should also be attentive and friendly during the rest of the visit, so guests can quickly find them for requests or follow-up orders. Also, make sure that empty plates don’t pile up on the table at any point. Clear used dishes regularly without interrupting the guests while they are eating. This creates a good atmosphere. And if there are empty glasses on the table, ask if they would like any more drinks. Such small gestures ensure that your restaurant will be remembered well.
Pay attention to your waiters’ demeanour
The people on staff are the ones who primarily interact with the customers. Waiters should not only provide good service, but also be knowledgeable about the restaurant and the menu. Nothing is more embarrassing than a waiter who doesn’t know what’s on the daily menu. Some guests may also ask for personal recommendations. In that case, your waiters should not simply name the first thing on the menu, but rather show personality and choose one of his or her personal favourite dishes, as this will be most credible and convincing.
Since service staff are always the first point of contact, they should also be able to advise on allergies or similar issues. Of course, they cannot know every ingredient of every dish by heart, but it is part of good service to check with the kitchen as quickly as possible.
And if your staff make mistakes, it doesn’t have to turn into a bad thing. What is important is how they react next. For example, if they have mixed up an order, they should apologise politely and makeit right as quickly as possible. This way, customers can have a good experience despite a small mistake.
Small acknowledgments and gifts
A little greeting from the kitchen beforehand, a hot of liquor or an espresso afterwards – here you are completely free to choose what suits you and your restaurant. But small gifts on the house make guests feel welcome and well taken care of. They will be happy about the acknowledgment and keep great memories of your restaurant. Small gestures can have a big impact on how guests feel about their visit.
The customer is king
According to this saying, you should take care of your customers. Some may have somewhat unusual requests or want to change a dish on the menu, be responsive to these requests. This will make your guests feel welcome and like they are well-cared for. Even though some customers may be a little more demanding and critical than others, you should always try to react calmly and professionally.
Feedback from guests is also very important. Ask them if everything tasted good or if something was wrong. Always respond politely to criticism, apologise for mistakes and perhaps offer guests a small dessert or a coffee for free if there was a problem with the meal. This way you can make your guests feel positive again despite a little mishap. If you have made changes to the décor or menu, feel free to ask for your guests’ opinions when they pay. Many are happy to be involved. It makes them feel valued. Take their feedback to heart, because your guests themselves know best how you can make them happy.
If you follow these tips, your guests will certainly enjoy their visits to your restaurant.If you want to have more customers and offer an unforgettable experience, you might also want to consider the gastronomy consulting service from agere.