Al fresco dining, commonly known as outdoor dining, is when consumers enjoy their meals outside. This setting is highly favorable during summers because there’s organic air quality. Also, foreigners like this concept whenever they visit a new city because they get to enjoy the beautiful views.
You can attract more diners into your food chain when you provide outdoor seating. In turn, you will boost your chances of generating more revenue, helping you stand out from your local competition.
When setting up an outdoor setting for your consumers, you should follow the five following tips, such as:
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Install Covers
Covers will protect your diners from temperatures affecting their dining experiences because they won’t be exposed to sunlight or rain. In turn, you will be able to leave positive memories in them, encouraging them to return to your restaurant. Aside from that, they might even consider inviting their family members and colleagues to drop by and try your menu, which increases your revenue.
When installing covers, you must consider the height of your consumers so they won’t have to tilt their heads as they walk towards their seats. Also, you should check the quality of your outdoor dining canopies to stay durable even during extreme weather conditions.
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Offer Something Special
Your al fresco dining option should provide something special so you can attract customers who are looking for exciting experiences. If you offer exclusive activities or menus, you will inspire them to be loyal to your restaurant. In addition, you can use these offers as the unique value proposition of your brand so your target diners can differentiate you from local food chains.
When considering what specialty you will offer, you may want to make your outdoor spot a pet-friendly area during weekends so you can attract pet owners and enthusiasts. Alternatively, you could schedule a karaoke night every Friday and open a patio bar every Saturday. Or, you may add outdoor grilling, where your chef will prepare an exclusive menu for high-paying consumers.
Aside from these options, you must keep your outdoor diners entertained by inviting live performers who will give them free shows in the evening. If you want to provide a more positive experience, you should hire a professional DJ so you can attract college students and young professionals into your restaurant. Also, don’t forget to provide access to Wi-Fi to encourage your consumers to publish user-generated content (UGC) on social media to generate more prospects.
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Find Furniture That Matches Your Theme
When setting outdoor seating for your consumers, you must ensure that your furniture color matches your brand. If you’re consistent with your branding, you can sustain the trust of your loyal diners. Furthermore, they will always expect you to deliver valued food, beverages, and experiences, which creates a profitable outdoor dining space.
When choosing outdoor furniture for your restaurant, you need to assess if it fits your area, so your customers will have enough space to move. Next, you must look for materials that can withstand varying weather conditions so you won’t have to pay costly maintenance costs.
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Repel Pests
Outdoors is typically vulnerable to insects like caterpillars, ants, beetles, mosquitoes, and cockroaches. If you don’t implement pest control, your regular diners might refuse to return because they might believe that your food is contaminated due to poor hygiene. Aside from that, you might affect your credibility and put your restaurant staff at risk of health issues.
To manage your restaurant’s outdoor setting, you must repel pests by contacting local commercial pest control to keep your business growing. Alternatively, you may grow insect-repellant plants like garlic and lavender and place scented oils around your outdoor area to eliminate mosquitoes.
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Add Lighting
The exterior of your restaurant leaves the first impression on your prospective and existing diners, which helps you build loyal customers. Therefore, your outdoor lighting must be modern, exciting, classic, or romantic, depending on how you want to promote your food business. Regardless of your mood, you have to ensure that your outdoor consumers can eat in a well-lit place to avoid tripping or bumping into each other.
When adding proper outdoor lighting, you have to install light bulbs in pathways so they can see the stairs or the façade. Aside from that, you may use accent lighting and other decorative fixtures near the tables and seats so they can read the menu. However, you must outsource a professional technician to help you install these lights and hide electrical fixtures that may cause accidents, especially for wandering children.
Key Takeaway
As a restaurant owner, you must give your food business a special touch to create exciting experiences for your diners. Therefore, you should consider following these five tips in setting up outdoor seating for your customers. Once you do so, you might be able to encourage your consumers to return to your outdoor space with their families and friends, which will boost your sales.
