Running a restaurant is a dream for many people, but turning that dream into something successful and thriving is not easy. It takes so much more than just a great menu and a good slice of sandwich. With razor thin margins, demanding customers and fierce competition out there. Restaurant owners need to step up their game and become smart and strategic.
Whether you’re just getting started or you’re looking to breathe some new life into your existing restaurant, here are some practical hacks to help make your restaurant stand out and succeed.
- Upgrade your technology with the right tools. Smooth operations are the foundation for a successful restaurant, and no matter how amazing your food may be, long wait times and confusing bills will send your customers running. Investing in a modern POS device for restaurants is a game changer. Today’s point of sale systems do so much more than just print receipts. They can help you to track inventory, split cheques, manage staff schedules, and even monitor sales trends in real time. A good POS setup keeps your kitchen, servers and front of house all In Sync, which makes your life easier.
- Create a signature dish or experience. If you want your restaurant to be memorable, then you need to give people something to talk about. Creating a signature dish is something that’s uniquely yours helps your spot to stick in people’s minds. It could be an over the top burger, a secret sauce, or a vegan dessert that nobody else can replicate. You could even go beyond the food by looking at the experience that you offer. Maybe you dim the lights at 9pm and switch to candlelight, or maybe you offer surprise dessert samples with every table. These are the little things that turn a one time diner into a loyal regular. People come for the food, but they come back for the experience.
- Lean into the art of social media. This is not something that you have to overdo. You don’t need to hire a full time influencer, but keeping your restaurant active on Instagram, Facebook or Tiktok can do wonders for visibility. Posting photos of your best dishes, behind the scenes content, or even highlighting your team can help to build connections and keep your restaurant at the top of everyone’s mind.
- Train your staff properly. Your staff are part of your brand. Your servers, host and kitchen staff are the front line of your restaurant, and they’re the people your customers interact with the most. When you invest in good self trading, you’re not just going to improve service, but you’re going to build a culture. Make sure that your team knows your brand voice, understands your menu, and feels empowered to solve problems. When you have happy employees, you have happy customers, and happy customers leave good tips and better reviews.
Easier to have a successful restaurant when you know the hacks to get you there in the 1st place. Start with these four and see how you get on.
