Following your food dream and launching a lavish new restaurant or a cute little café on the beach can be exciting but challenging in a multitude of ways. The food industry can be tough, and it’s important to secure your place in the market right in the beginning stages of your venture.
When it comes to food and hospitality, retaining customers comes down to experience – if they enjoy themselves, they’ll probably come back. If they don’t, you most likely won’t see them again since endless other options are available. Because of this, you need to make sure that a few key elements of your restaurant are already in place, practiced, and prepared by the time of your launch, to ensure that opening night actually ‘wow’s your patrons and has them impressed enough to come back for another bite. Here are some things you need to have down pat when you open a new restaurant.
The Vibe
You’ll want the look and the atmosphere of your restaurant or café to be polished and inviting. Going in the direction of a specific niche will help attract customers and also in knowing exactly how to kit out your space. Theming your décor according to your cuisine is almost always a winner – if you’re going for an organic, health-conscious smoothie bar, think light and bright with natural woods and lots of indoor plants. If you want the vibe of an authentic curb-side Italian place, think simple with comfy café chairs and patterned table cloths. Your physical space, furniture, décor, and even music will play a huge role in your customer’s first impression of the place, so make sure it fits the bill.
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The Staff
Customer service is a major touchpoint in the food industry. No matter how great the food might be, if the service is slow or waiters are rude, customers probably won’t want to come back. It’s important to hire staff that is competent in what they do. Your chefs should be experienced and well acquainted with your specific cuisine, and your waiting staff should be friendly and great with people. On top of this, it’s important to go through training with all your staff members so that everyone is prepared for opening night and it doesn’t feel like a messy dress rehearsal.
The Food
Naturally, in the restaurant business, this is the biggest and most important one. Not only do the dishes on your menu need to be delicious and well-executed by your chefs, but it’s important that you have something different or special on offer to pique your patron’s attention. Your restaurant might have a smaller menu, with each dish being something phenomenal cooked to perfection. On the other hand, you might have a bigger variety catering to a range of different tastes and interests. Whichever way you go, make sure that you know and understand the cuisine, style, and types of customers you’re targeting, and you’re sure to have a winning menu.
