It is more and more apparent these days that when people go out to eat, they want more than just food served to their table. The restaurant industry is getting more competitive, as less and less people are going out to eat and are choosing to stay home and eat. The complete restaurant experience is what entices people to eat out; from reservations, ambience, location, entertainment, engagement, price and of course the quality of the food. Every aspect of their experience is how they will measure a good restaurant.
Let it be known that at every restaurant, the food should be the star. If a place has bad food, no matter how good the rest of the experience is, it’s safe to say that not many people will go there.
Many restaurants are staying ahead of the curve by supplying free Wi-Fi to their guests and offering special applications that are specific to their restaurant. While many people think that this is a nuisance as the enjoyable part of a meal out is conversing with your friends and family, many people still want it. Others are offering special applications to check in and get rewards, reserve a spot at the restaurant and view the menu beforehand.
Even the fine details inside the restaurant are very important; were the bathrooms clean, did the hostess greet us in a pleasant manner, did our table wobble from an unsturdy table base, was the lighting too dim or bright and was the music at a reasonable level. As less and less people are dining out due to financial reasons or lack of convenience they are very selective about where they go and why if they do decide to go out for a meal. As price is a big concern, most people want more out of a restaurant that is expensive, like nice seating, great parking, coat check, larges tables and attentive service.
It is very apparent that people want to have a memorable experience when they go out to eat. Most times they choose where they go based off of past experience. Everything from food to ambience to the fine details is what they will remember when making the decision.