Reel in more customers with something unique
For the past two weeks, we’ve been taking a look at different kinds of experiences that make dining more than just a meal. Whether we like it or not, that’s what dining is becoming. Designer food on wild and wonderful plates. Thrilling feasts at a roller coaster restaurant. The whole dining experience is being turned upside down just to bring in more intrigued customers.
A study found that by the end of 2015, about 41% of our nation eats out at least once every two weeks. With the downfall of covid, we can be certain that those numbers are just going to pick up once again as people rush to get back out into the world. That being said, there’s no shortage of restaurants on offer, so how can you get people to visit your restaurant over any other?
If you’re the owner of a restaurant looking for a way to lure in diners, look no further. In this article, we’re going to explore what you need to do to transform a plain restaurant into one worth visiting in 2021 and beyond. From art to entertainment, here’s everything you need to know.
The restaurant
The first thing any of us experiences before we even step foot into a building is the restaurant design. Get creative with the décor – visuals have never been so important.
The outside of your restaurant is the first step in grabbing a potential diner’s attention. It needs to represent everything that your restaurant is. If it’s a beach-themed restaurant, put some sunchairs outside. If it’s a children’s cartoon-themed restaurant, put full-sized character models outside. Go overboard with the signing, the bins, absolutely everything can be themed – and it should be. Your restaurant needs to stand out (while still looking good) to pull attention from other food services onto you.
Once customers step foot into your restaurant, you need to keep that momentum. Themed seating areas, tables, even the menus. Again, absolutely everything can be designed to match your theme. Music or ambience to add to the atmosphere. Turn absolutely every aspect of your restaurant into a visual favour.
That being said, it’s important to be careful with restaurant design. Cheap decorations can ruin the atmosphere and fall apart quickly. Too many decorations might be a bit suffocating and overbearing, while too few can leave your restaurant just looking bare. And if you do decide to add themed music or ambience, try not to turn it up too loud to scare or interrupt guests’ conversations.
If you’re stuck on ideas on how to make your dining experience special, consider checking out our top 10 unique dining experiences list for inspiration!
The entertainment
Entertainment can come in a variety of different forms. From the rollercoaster restaurant’s meals hurdling down on tracks to Gingerline’s fully immersive dining shows, your entertainment can be as overt or subtle as you like.
Different people are interested in different experiences, so it goes without saying that no matter what kind of entertainment you go for, you’ll have people lining up outside your restaurant door regardless.
If you’re looking for some ideas, check out one of our highlights on unique dining experiences.
The food
It goes without saying that the quality of the food is still important. Regardless of what goes on in your restaurant, people will only want to eat there if the meal is good. That’s why they’re there, after all. That being said, quality food is no longer a selling point. It’s expected.
Your food and drink is a great way to make the experience that much more immersive. If your restaurant is themed to the ocean, consider matching the food and selling a seafood-based menu. You can even change how the food looks to suit your restaurant, just like how Disneyland’s new Pym Test Kitchen shrinks large food down to bitesize portions and grows smaller food into meals for the whole family! And while we’re on the topic of food appearance, don’t forget to match your silverware to the theme of your restaurant for maximum immersion.
A lot goes into fashioning the perfect dining experience. Traditional dining and fast-food restaurants are all over the place. It’s time to break free from that chain. When it comes to reeling in the most customers on the block, making your experience exceptional is the way to go. Not only does fun and unusual dining gather more interest, but it prompts free advertising from previous diners as they rave about the all-new dining experience.
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