Even new restaurant owners typically know that guests aren’t going to come back if they don’t get great service or they don’t like the food. What many people don’t realize is that ambiance can have just as much of an impact on customer satisfaction as more obvious factors like food quality. Read on to find out how to address four all-too-common but often overlooked problems that restaurant owners can’t afford to ignore.
Consider Acoustics
Every restaurant owner wants his or her establishment to be popular enough to draw a crowd but few diners want to eat out in an overwhelmingly loud environment. That’s why good acoustics are essential for all restaurant environments. Cut down on echoes and excess noise by installing acoustic ceiling panels and walls or check out the more innovative, restaurant-friendly products available at kireiusa.com.
Design Around Problem Areas
Optimizing seating is important since it allows restaurants to comfortably accommodate more guests. There are a few areas of any restaurant where most patrons don’t want to sit. They include tables near doorways like entry doors, kitchen entrances, restrooms, and tables located right in the middle of the room.
Start by identifying problem areas. Sit in each chair in the room and pay attention to the view and the air drafts. If a table is particularly drafty, consider installing a wood partition. Improving the view is a little easier and may involve installing tall plants or screens between tables and problem areas like busing stations.
Create Easy Access for Waitstaff
Restaurant interior design isn’t just about creating a comfortable environment for customers. Restaurant owners also need to take practical issues into account such as easy access to the kitchen, tables, bus stations, and other key areas for waitstaff. Make sure to leave enough space between tables for waiters, food runners, and other staff to get through without disrupting guests’ dining experiences.
Good flow is about more than just leaving enough space to maneuver between tables. Waiters and waitresses need to be able to see their assigned tables so they can respond to guests’ requests as quickly as possible, which means that service stations need to be close to each waiter’s assigned seating section and the tables need to be in his or her line of sight. Restaurants with hosts or hostesses should ensure that there’s a solid visual connection between the host’s podium and the main seating area, as well.
Picture Perfect Designs
Restaurant owners need to realize that marketing to today’s social media savvy consumers requires creating picture-perfect designs. That means incorporating interesting photos or art and ensuring that all the design elements work together to create a unified vision. Choose a theme and pay attention to details since these elements can help with branding.
Some restaurants have even started intentionally installing “selfie-walls.” These typically feature bolder colors and designs and incorporate the restaurant’s name. Make taking photos in the restaurants fun for guests and they will become important assets for digital and social media marketing.
The Bottom Line
Opening a new restaurant requires a lot of work but it’s important for new restaurant owners not to let essential design considerations fall by the wayside as a result. Following the tips above won’t just help to attract new patrons but will also make life easier for the restaurant’s employees as it becomes more popular and crowded. It’s worth the extra time and expense.
