A restaurant exists to accomplish two things: prepare great food and deliver outstanding service. Satisfying guests every time requires a commitment to operational excellence and a passion for hospitality. Today, too many eateries lack any type of plan to help them reach these core objectives. Anyone looking to open a new restaurant in the near future can benefit greatly by remembering the following four final touches that are certain to make a positive impact on how guests regard your restaurant.
Hire Wait Staff with a Passion for Hospitality
Developing a culture of hospitality is a must if you want your restaurant to be successful. This task will be easier if you begin with a wait staff that feels genuinely invested in their workplace. You can accomplish this by inspiring your team to believe that their personal growth is tied to the growth of the organization they work for. If you feel that you need it, go ahead and hire a hospitality consultant who can inspire even you to perform better.
Conformity in the Workplace: Using Branded Uniforms
Status systems help organizations establish a basis of power and authority. Such systems are aided by workplace conformity where workers clearly understand what is expected of them and who they report to.
To this end, your restaurant needs branded uniforms that permit your guests and coworkers to differentiate between team members. Check out these custom aprons and uniforms provided by SKG Uniforms and similar providers that will empower your kitchen and service staff by making them look and feel like the professionals they are.
Using Local Ingredients
Today’s consumers are much more conscious of what they eat than at any time in the past. For this reason, restaurant diners are demanding more locally sourced food ingredients. According to research provided by the National Restaurant Association (NRA), demand for dishes prepared with local ingredients is on the rise. The same NRA research suggests that more restaurateurs across every segment of the industry are offering locally-sourced specialties with more frequency. This is so because restauranteurs have learned from experience that consumers are more likely to choose to visit restaurants that value locally-sourced items.
Flattering Interior Design Elements
In the restaurant business, a wonderful atmosphere is everything. People want to feel relaxed and comfortable when they come to visit your place. If you expect your guests to come back again and again, you will want them to feel like they are in their home-away-from-home. Restaurants represent celebratory occasions and people like to feel good when they celebrate.
To this end, make sure that your restaurant is outfitted with design elements that are flattering to people. Wherever you hang mirrors, be sure to avoid harsh lighting. Keep these areas softly lit, even if you have to use colored bulbs for the task. This applies to your restrooms as well as your dining and entertaining areas. Your goal should be to do what you can to make your guests feel great about themselves.
Food isn’t the only reason that we go out to eat. We visit our favorite places for the atmosphere and for social interaction. Of course, without good food, no restaurant can remain in business for very long. The same can be said for the service staff. Great dining experiences come about because of the trust that diners have in management’s ability to deliver a good experience. Providing good food and exceptional service is the one and only way to earn that level of trust.
