Loyal customers are the lifeblood of small business and in particular independent restaurants.  Finding ways to keep your customers coming back should be one of the top priorities of your business.  There are several factors that contribute to providing a memorable restaurant experience.

Great Service

Having a well-trained, polite, courteous and friendly wait staff is one of the top ways to develop a loyal customer base.  These employees are the ones that interact and communicate with your customers, making them the face of your company.  Your hosts and servers provide the first impression and set the tone for a guest’s entire visit.  “85% of diners feel that service and atmosphere are more important than quantity of food. Of this percentage, 93% agree that timely seating and honoring of reservations is the most important aspect of service.”  Being attentive and personable throughout the length of a service is imperative for driving repeat business.  Proper onboarding practices and continued training will ensure your staff is representing your company in the way you would like.

Consistently Quality Food

It’s important to remember the main reason people are visiting your establishment is to eat.  When it comes to food, quality and consistency rule.  Your chef is your most important hire as they set the tone for your menu as well as the rest of your kitchen staff.  Keeping on top of inventory and purchasing top quality fresh ingredients contribute greatly to your final product.  If you’re looking to save money and be frugal, this is not the area to do it.  People will pay for quality and the easiest way to lose a customer is by serving them a subpar meal.  Have processes in place to ensure your dishes come out the same way every time.

Reasonable Prices

While your pricing structure will vary dependent up on your restaurant’s concept and target demographics, you should ensure your menu items are not overpriced.  Your food cost should account for 30-50% of your menu price.  This leaves enough margin to cover overhead and still turn a profit.  Specials also play a major role in how customer’s view your prices.  Some guests will only come in for certain specials, whether it be a soup of the day, rotating entrée or an early bird.  The prevailing idea behind menu pricing is to ensure your customer is receiving adequate value while still allowing you to turn a profit.

Unique Menu Items

One of the big advantages that independent restaurants hold over chains is their ability to offer unique items.  Having a delectable treat that no one else offers can create a niche customer base all on its own.  A unique take on a traditional dish or simply importing exotic ingredients to recreate popular overseas items can help your restaurant’s menu stand out.  Allowing your kitchen staff to experiment can bring about creative ideas that have the potential to take your restaurant to the next level.  Offering these items as a special when first introduced can help build fanfare around your new dishes.

Menu Flexibility

While you don’t want your menu to be too large with a lot of moving pieces, offering a reasonable amount of options for sides and the ability to substitute can endear your establishment to its customers.  Making this process easy without creating a hassle for the customer or making them feel like an inconvenience is key.

Click Below For More Ways To Improve Your Restaurant Business