What Attracts Me To A Restaurant?
I love to eat out, and I do so more than I probably should. However, I have a very busy lifestyle and I really don’t enjoy cooking. Once a week I go out to lunch with two of my best friends. We meet for an hour or so in order to catch up on things because we all have jobs and families that take up most of our time. This is our one piece of time to really stay in touch with each other and do something for ourselves.
I eat out with friends at least once a week so it does add up to quite a bit of money I spend on this luxury each month. Since I don’t like to cook though I think it is a good investment for me. There are some restaurants that I am known to eat at on a regular basis. When I am in them, I often see familiar faces as the establishment has a large number of regular customers. This is a good sign that they are doing everything right to keep customers happy.
All of these other issues are part of eating out in any restaurant. If I have had two bad experiences in any given location, then I don’t return. I am sure many other people aren’t going back either. Hopefully the owner of the restaurant will implement necessary changes before it is too late. However, I don’t want to waste my money by going there again unless someone I trust tells me that things have significantly improved.
Too many restaurant owners simply don’t understand what it is that attracts me and others to their business. They seem to think if they are great cooks then people should be lined up to get inside. Well, I will tell you that good food is only part of the equation. If I am going to pay the money that I have worked so hard for, I want to have an experience that is wonderful.
I don’t think I am alone when I say I want to leave a restaurant feeling like I have gotten my money’s worth from the experience. I don’t like to be disappointed or feel cheated. If a restaurant owner is lucky, customers will give it a second chance but this doesn’t always happen. First impressions are very significant when it comes to choosing places to eat.
I enjoy traveling a great deal as well so I get to try out new restaurants. I will often base my decision on what I am in the mood for. Sometimes I am attracted to those that are a chain operation. I know exactly what I will be getting and I know I am going to enjoy it. However, I have had experiences at these types of chain restaurants that I wasn’t happy with so there is no guarantee.
In addition enjoying restaurants, I also like to share my experiences. I post plenty of reviews online about my experiences. Some of them are positive and others aren’t. I think that people have a right to know though and they can base their own decision to eat there on that information. Hopefully, the restaurant owner’s are taking a look at this information too so that they can make changes to how they operate it.
There is too much competition out there for restaurants not to cover all the basis elements. Offering a delicious menu is just one aspect of the business to focus on. There are many other pieces of the overall puzzle that have to be in place for it all to work out. I love restaurants and eating out, but I will only be spending my time and money in those establishments that have plenty to offer me.
Patricia Farnham is well known for her insight on creating a successful restaurant. Learn from this veteran restaurateur with real life examples of restaurant failure and success. She’s uncovered many methods of starting a restaurant for very little money, and keeping it open. Check out her website for how to start a restaurant information, opinions and resources.
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Filed under: Restaurant Promotion & Advertising
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