Anyone who’s in business will tell you that one of the hardest times in the life of your business is its inception. This especially applies to the restaurant industry. It is true that people can be fussy, but with these few simple tips, you can keep all of your diners happy, satisfied and make them come back for more regardless of what kind of restaurant you have.

Here are some pointers to keep your business on track and prosperous:

  • Ask for feedback from your customers and heed their advice – All too often, companies will ask for their customer’s input and disregard the responses. If you’re really not interested in what your patrons say about you, then don’t ask. On the other hand, if you want to see how you’re fairing with the other local neighborhood bistros, then being open to feedback is crucial. The responses will give you a wealth of information – from your menu selection, to how your kitchen staff is performing, to your servers and their hospitality towards your customers. These surveys will help you see where there’s room for improvement. Making the appropriate changes can boost your business.
  •  Your customers are your best form of advertising – Your patrons will tell their family and friends about your restaurant, particularly if they had a bad experience. For some reason, people tend to spread negative news faster than positive news, especially using social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  Word of mouth spreads faster than wild fire and will have a significant impact on your businesses success. Therefore, getting feedback from your customers imperative.
  •  Don’t forget about the behind the scenes aspect of running a small business – This means that you don’t want to get caught up in the drama between the kitchen staff and the servers. You need to be in your office doing the drudgery of paying the bills, making sure you have adequate liability insurance, keep the books in order and current; including banking and payroll. These are only tasks that you can do. The more you stay on top of it, even if it’s a few times a week, the easier it will be to show your presence on the floor of the restaurant ensuring that your customers are enjoying their dining experience.
  •  Hire good people that have your interest at heart – Finding individuals who have the same vision of your restaurant will not be easy and will take a long time. However, the good thing is that good employees will be committed to your success. You will learn through your experiences how to run an efficient kitchen and serving staff. In the end, this will help you and your employees, establish a good reputation for the restaurant, as well as for themselves. Your employees will take pride in working at your establishment.
  • Keep your menu simple and use quality ingredients – People become overwhelmed when they see an extensive menu with an endless selection to choose from. So, you’ll want to narrow down their choices for them by having a few delicious meals, sides, and beverages on your menu. This process will also help you create your signature dish that only is found at your restaurant. You will also want to use the finest ingredients you can afford. Fresh ingredients equals incredible taste and a memorable dining experience for your guests.
  • Hire servers who are gracious and hospitable to your patrons – Your servers are the first person to represent your café. They should be accommodating and make your diners feel welcomed to be at your bistro. When they have a customer who is demanding or should a problem arise, it is your job to provide proper training in how you want these kinds of unpleasant situations handled. Always make sure you have a trusted manager on the floor as well, especially if you are not on the premises because you never know when situations like this will arise.
  •  Provide a comfortable environment for your diners – Yes, your customers will like looking at the interior decorating in your restaurant and the signs or pictures on the walls, but that’s not why they are there. They chose to eat at your restaurant simply because they’re hungry, and because your restaurant is clean, has a friendly, courteous staff, and serves scrumptious food. Most people also don’t usually like talking over themselves when the music is too loud, so keeping it turned down a bit will help them have a positive experience as well.

Running a business and making it successful is more than a full-time job. As you gain more experience and continue to be open to learning fresh ideas to create a pleasant dining atmosphere with good, hard-working people behind you, over time, your restaurant will become the talk of the town.