Chef LaLa - To Owners and Managers of Restaurants

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FEBRUARY 7, 2007

Keep Them Coming Back For More

As owners and managers of restaurants, we spend so many hours on location that sometimes we start to overlook the “basics” for our customers. Taking care of the small details can make all the difference in building brand loyalty. So much money is spent on advertising and PR campaigns, when really, word of mouth of people's own experience is the best promotion available.

So whether you are new at food service or you just need a little reminder, here are some of the basics:

- Assault their senses. Address everything a customer, feels, sees, hears, smells and tastes.

- Make a lasting impression - from the reservations, to their visit to the restroom, to their departure.

- Pay attention to your staff and their manners, disposition and appearance.

- Ambiance is the number one reason to visit a location. Consider the lighting, the table decor, the wall colors, the tidiness of the bathroom, the comfort of the chairs, the noise from the kitchen and the waiting area.

- Make sure your staff is well versed on describing the menu items. Individual's pallets are becoming more sophisticated, and customers are seeking to venture and try new items that are obtainable and explained.

- Try sitting in as a customer one day. Does it meet your standards?

From the valet attendant with a smile, to a pleasant waiting area, to the check delivered in a timely manner, it's the little things that keep customers coming back and bringing their friends with them.

Chef Lala
Contributing Editor, Comida News
http://www.cheflala.com/