Dining Out: Signs of a Restaurant with Excellent Ambiance and Atmosphere

“A well-run restaurant is like a winning baseball team. It makes the most of every crew member’s talent and takes advantage of every split-second opportunity to speed up service” –David Ogilvy

 

Dining out has always been seen as somewhat of a luxurious weekend activity depending on the kind of restaurant you choose.

After all, you are granted an opportunity not to cook and clean up after yourself for a price. In this regard, many might associate eating at restaurants as an activity that is saved only for special occasions. However, there are also many of us who would choose to dine in restaurants and eateries in order to save time. Whatever your reasoning for eating out might be, dining at restaurants form part of our monthly, if not weekly, jaunts and excursions. However, if eating out becomes more than just your average weekend excursion and your everyday routine becomes saturated with client dinner meetings at restaurants and luncheons with prospective leads, would you be able to identify that well-made restaurant that stands out? Chances are you would. Apart from developing a uniquely refined palate, there is an increased chance of you distinguishing which restaurants are on par with global standards when it comes to service and professionalism.

More importantly, you would be able to pick out which restaurants are great for private client meetings and which ones are appropriate for group gatherings which all boils down to one factor: Ambiance. Indeed, not all restaurants are made the same. Some are more appropriate for sit-down dinners that give you a little privacy which makes them perfect for dates and meetings. There are also dining places that are great for groups and would cater to parties and family gatherings. However, regardless of what kind of restaurant it might be, it should always strive to give customers the kind of atmosphere that would encourage them to come back. In this regard, would you be able to tell if a restaurant has created an awesome atmosphere? Although there are quite a myriad of things that influence a good restaurant experience (good food and excellent service among them), the customers’ needs should be a forefront consideration. The little details in each restaurant should align with their brand while taking care not to overlook your needs and experience. In this regard, the overall impression and vibe would be cohesive and would suit just about any diner.

So, on your next dine out venture, here are some of the aspects that make a good ambiance—whether you are eating in any of the Nuvali restaurants or elsewhere.

 

Restaurant Concept

A restaurant should have a concept which would be a creative them that is unique to them. Apart from serving themed food, the restaurant should also convey a story as to who they are and what makes them such a good restaurant. Excellent concepts stem from the restaurant’s history or unique offerings and should be able to connect both their food and beverage menu to its history, style, fashion, culture and environment. The concept is an imperative factor as it commands the entire energy of the restaurant.

 

Cleanliness

Cleanliness is a foremost factor when it comes to restaurant ambiance. After all, how would you be comfortable with what you eat if you are surrounded by muck and filth and just general grime? A restaurant’s cleanliness is usually an indicator of how clean or dirty the kitchen would be. If you have noticed that things are dirty and disorganized, you can probably expect the same from the kitchen (maybe even worse as it is hidden from view). Apart from giving off a bad vibe, dirty restaurants also drag the energy down. For this reason, restaurateurs should make cleanliness a paramount consideration when it comes to creating a good ambiance for their restaurants.

 

Staff

The staff—especially those that interact with customers—should contribute to creating an overall good restaurant ambiance. The energy of your restaurant is often hinged on how well the staff treats its diners and patrons. Everyone from the maitre d’ to the servers, busboys, chefs, cooks and the like should contribute in elevating the overall atmosphere. Employees should be helpful and friendly when interacting with their customers. More importantly, employees should be well-versed about what they are serving so that they would not have any difficulty in answering customer’s queries about the menu.

 

Lighting

While often overlooked, lighting is an imperative factor when it comes to creating a good restaurant ambiance. It usually sets the tone that would produce a feel and vibe analogous to your restaurant’s overall theme. Of course, the lighting has to match the restaurant’s concept or else it would fail. Elegant and romantic restaurants would often have grand crystal chandeliers and candlelight lighting whereas fun and colorful lighting would be better off in family-themed and child-appropriate restaurants.

 

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Dining Experience: The Top Four Basic Services a Customer Needs in a Restaurant

 

“To eat well, I always disagree with critics who say that all restaurants should be fine dining. You can get a Michelin star if you serve the best hamburger in the world.”-David Chang

Eating out has been seen more of a leisurely activity rather than a necessity.

After all, it is at least one meal wherein you do not have to cook and clean up after yourself, so in more ways than one, it can be considered as an avenue to relax. In fact, while the creation of exemplary dishes has always been any restaurant’s paramount focus, this does not mean that they have a rather narrow view as to how their diners should be served. After all, with the restaurant business today becoming more of an experience, to be a successful restaurateur, it would take so much more than just serving good food. Going out to eat should more than just to satisfy your appetites, it should be an enjoyable experience for every single restaurant.

Regardless of how big and established your restaurant might be, ensuring that it is customer-centric would really go a long way. Whether you are one of the many Nuvali restaurants or a restaurant that has just recently opened, prioritizing your customers’ needs is pivotal to success. Apart from providing quality cooked food, exceptional service extends to how courteous your staff members are and how pleasant the overall environment is. After all, more often than not, the success of your restaurant is hinged on your ability to satisfy your guests consistently. So, if you have a restaurant or have been planning to open one in the future, here are some of the imperative aspects (beyond good food and service) that most diners would regard as an exceptional dining experience:

 

Clean Environment

Ensuring that your restaurant is immaculately clean and pristine can go a really long way. After all, the cleanliness does wonder in improving your restaurant’s aesthetic and ambiance. More importantly, your restaurant’s environment plays a pivotal factor as to how receptive your diners will be to eating their food. If your customers can see rats and roaches scuttling about, they would immediately assume that the same can be said about the kitchen despite never having seen it. Incidentally, they would question how well their food is prepared and handled which might cast a doubt as to whether you will ever earn their business again in the future. In this regard, make it a point to go beyond sprucing up your eatery but to make it spotless as well. Pay close attention to the cleaning of tables, floors, chairs, kitchens, and restrooms. Make sure that everything is in impeccable order before admitting any diners.

 

Properly prepared food

Your business is primarily centered on food, so it is only understandable for your diners to expect it to be good. More importantly, properly cooked food that caters to various taste profiles would surely have customers coming back for more. In fact, this is how one earns a patronage from a mass following of loyal diners. So, be sure that every dish you serve is exceptional and exceeds the expectations of customers. Do this by buying only quality ingredients, talented cooks with superior skills and serve meals at the right temperature. Be sure to supervise the kitchen area and oversee dishes the moment they leave the kitchen area to ensure that they look appetizing. Incidentally, ask your customers about the food and their experience. Their opinions are valuable as these are hints as to where you still need to improve.

 

Menu Choices

Much like any person, there is a world, you would get tired if you had to eat a single dish every single time you are at a particular restaurant. In this regard, restaurants who have condensed menus with no daily or even weekly specials tend to get obsolete fast. If you wish for your diners to react positively to your restaurant, give them an expansive menu as well as a variety of food dishes. You can have a themed restaurant and still be inclusive by doing a themed rendition of a particular local dish. In any case, it is best to have a diverse menu that offers a variety of main courses, appetizers, soups and salads. Be versatile and your customers will keep coming back to try your new offerings.

 

Timely and Amiable Service

Your servers are the ones who primarily get to interact with your customers. With that said, it is imperative to employ quality servers who do not only possess the experience and expertise of a wait staff but would also exude a pleasant and affable personality. Your servers should be well-versed about the menu items so that they can explain it better to your diners should they be prompted. More importantly, it helps them explain how each dish is prepared and offer substitutions whenever needed. Exemplary service should be attentive but never intrusive. Train your staff to anticipate the needs of your customers such as refills and extra napkins.

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