Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 10, 2020

” No one knows for sure, but we are seeing glimpses of a trend that may be the answer for restaurant owners and operators: expanded outdoor seating. ” An (ROI) Argument for Expanding Outdoor Seating. Creating or expanding outdoor seating is nowhere near as expensive as a building expansion. Inside Out.

Outdoor 553

Outdoor Seating Customer Service Small Business 553

Goliath Consulting

APRIL 5, 2025

Efficient Seating and Ordering Process Minimize wait times and ensure smooth transitions from arrival to seating. Personalization, such as remembering a regulars favorite dish or celebrating special occasions, can leave a lasting impression. Provide digital menus or physical copies that are clear and well-designed.

Customer Experience 195

Customer Experience Email Marketing Customer Service Mobile Ordering 195

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 24, 2024

How do you balance seating arrangements to maintain fairness and efficiency? What steps do you take to handle special seating requests, such as accessibility needs? What strategies do you use to communicate with servers effectively to manage seating flow? How do you ensure guests feel welcome when they arrive?

Hospitality 195

Hospitality Seating Customer Experience Reservations 195

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 3, 2024

The demand for earlier reservations provides restaurants the opportunity to get creative when it comes to driving traffic for second and third seating’s with memorable experiences, dynamic pricing, or late-night specials. We also recommend that operators maximize their space by offering varied experiences throughout service.

Reservations 221

Reservations Book Customer Experience Dine-in 221

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 22, 2024

Use it to share updates, special events, or new menu items. For example, you can promote your seasonal dishes or happy hour specials. When done right, it helps keep your restaurant at the top of customers' minds, encourages repeat visits, and promotes special events or menu items. It's an active marketing tool.

Book 195

Book Marketing Email Marketing Social Media 195

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 24, 2025

The Untapped Power of Music In an era of fierce competition in the restaurant and hospitality sectors, curating an unparalleled guest experience isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential for turning reserved seats into lasting memories. Older generations (55+) prefer outdoor seating driving 27% of reservations.

License 252

License Fine Dining Customer Experience Customer Service 252

Lavu

MAY 30, 2025

The last thing any restaurant should do is make the customer feel like they are being pushed out of their seat for the next guest. Maximizing table turnover is crucial for restaurants to optimize their seating capacity and increase their profitability. However, turning tables must be done tactfully.

Seating 140

Seating Mobile Ordering Customer Service Customer Experience 140

Modern Restaurant Management

AUGUST 16, 2021

We all had contests for our staff where the goal is to sell the most specials/most wine/most desserts, etc. One of the fine dining operations that I consult with had a contest for selling the most chef specials, with the prize being that the chef would personally make the winner any item on the menu for dinner. Lesson Learned.

Front of House 520

Front of House Cash Management Back of House Hiring 520

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 31, 2021

If possible, restaurants should consider expanding into casual and comfortable outdoor seating arrangements that can feature a more pre-pandemic feel. Other practices can be updated to enhance the feeling of personal service; for instance, table settings can be placed as guests are seated.

Customer Service 474

Customer Service Customer Experience Online Ordering Hospitality 474

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 27, 2020

He cautioned that when restaurants can reopen for dine-in service, they will have to face the bittersweet reality of less seating capacity and less sales–he estimates as much as 30 percent–due to social distancing practices and guest apprehension. "They

Front of House 438

Front of House Social Media Back of House Seating 438

EATER

MAY 22, 2025

At the southern tip, Las Vegass most coveted seat is at an 18-stool countertop at the Oyster Bar, where round-the-clock lines wait for thick, creamy pan roasts brimming with seafood.

Hotels 278

Hotels Seating Dine-in Design 278

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 28, 2021

We walked into a restaurant and there was a sign at the host stand: “Please wait to be seated.” We were seated right away, but the server did not get to the table for almost 15 minutes. I was at a restaurant last night and the service went like this: Server: “Here are our special cocktails for tonight.”

Customer Service 465

Customer Service Reservations Specials Employee Relations 465

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 11, 2020

While having to reduce the number of seats is never ideal for a restaurant, many states are requiring it. The best option is to remove some tables and chairs from your dining room altogether in order not to have a bunch of empty seats as reminders of restrictions. Give your outdoor seating the same importance you give indoor.

Customer Experience 516

Customer Experience Dine-in Food Safety Kitchen Safety 516

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 2, 2024

For this, flexible seating arrangements are the key – from cozy booths to communal tables and counter seating, offering options that cater to individual preferences ensures that solo diners feel comfortable and valued. First impressions matter. Creating an inviting ambiance is critical for attracting (and retaining) solo diners.

Loyalty Program 411

Loyalty Program Catering Seating Email Marketing 411

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 10, 2021

While you are waiting to be seated, the hostess fans out a deck of cards containing four jokers. Provide Free Meals on Special Occasions. Nothing creates loyal customers like remembering their special days and offering them free meals on those days. Then prepare to wow them with a special offer. Start a Food Challenge.

Marketing 567

Marketing SEO Front of House Website Management 567

EATER

MARCH 14, 2025

This year, Del Taco is offering three seafood specials through April 23, which Del Taco president Tom Rose calls the perfect combo for Lent season. You also dont have to grow up with fried fish Fridays to enjoy the fast-food specials this time of year. Still, Dunkin is missing a real opportunity to run some Eid specials.

Seasonal Menu 279

Seasonal Menu Dietary Restrictions Catering Social Media 279

Lavu

OCTOBER 13, 2023

This should include all tables available for seating customers. Optimize seating arrangements: Arrange tables in a way that maximizes the use of available space without compromising customer comfort. Incentivize quick dining: Offer time-limited promotions or specials during off-peak hours that encourage customers to eat quickly.

Seating 174

Seating Mobile Ordering Customer Service Online Ordering 174

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 17, 2021

After displaying the restaurant name and logo, there’s more work to do to incorporate smaller restaurant signs around the business to promote specials, new menus, hours, etc. Window Decals and Clings : Window decals and clings are a smaller option to post around the restaurant to advertise things such as hours and specials.

Outdoor 493

Outdoor Point of Sale Design Customer Experience 493

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 10, 2023

The partnership resulted in a 116-seat signature restaurant directly inspired by the chef’s menu. We believe in the importance of offering a holistic experience where menu, service, and environment complement each other seamlessly to deliver a special experience and create excitement and loyalty towards the venue.

Design 487

Design Customer Experience Magazine Seating 487

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

Canadians also actively seek out restaurants with loyalty programs and special promotions to access discounted prices. It allows for placing orders by seat, course, and shared items for the table with a full graphical floorplan, significantly speeding up the ordering process and reducing wait times.

Loyalty Program 221

Loyalty Program Mobile Ordering Customer Service Customer Experience 221

7 Shifts

JULY 10, 2020

Stay tuned for a few special tips from Melissa Bensky, one of Toronto’s most prolific foodgrammers with her account, @tastethesix. Set a goal for your restaurant’s grand opening—whether it’s seating capacity, an order volume, or revenue for your first day back in business. 1 Set goals for the event ?? Plan your staffing ?????

Events 351

Events Social Media Kitchen Safety Seating 351

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

How do you prepare your team for special events or holiday rushes? Can you give an example of how you’ve managed a large event or special occasion at a restaurant? As a restaurant manager, how do you prepare your team for special events or holiday rushes? How do you handle situations where an employee is underperforming?

Leadership 195

Leadership Management Management Operations 195

ChowNow

MAY 30, 2025

If youve got a big outdoor patio, maybe a summer evening special event is the best move. It could be a fall-inspired cocktail, a one-week burger special, or a collab dish made with a local farm or bakery. Use it to share special offerings like limited-time discounts, early access to new menu items, or loyalty program rewards.

Ordering 195

Ordering Loyalty Program Social Media Email Marketing 195

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 26, 2021

But if you’re in control of making changes such as updating your specials for the week, promotions for new customers, and meal deals for a unique holiday, you’ll save time. As the operator, you should be in the driver’s seat of your online ordering experience to make updates anytime and anywhere.

Ordering 566

Ordering Mobile Ordering Online Ordering Email Marketing 566

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 5, 2020

Therefore, maximizing the ability to utilize outdoor space to increase seating capacity will be critical for restaurants during this period. That said, it can be expected that consumers will likely feel more comfortable if the restaurant has socially distanced outdoor seating option available.

Outdoor 422

Outdoor Seating Government Employee Relations 422

The Rail

JANUARY 15, 2025

Look for underutilized corners, walls, or other spaces that could serve additional purposes, such as hosting extra storage, decorative elements, or seating options. Another key point is using slim chairs that allow more seating without crowding. Similarly, flexible seating arrangements keep operations smooth.

Outdoor 130

Outdoor Seating Customer Service Customer Experience 130

Modern Restaurant Management

AUGUST 19, 2020

Seated Acquires VenueBook. Seated acquired digital event booking platform VenueBook. With Seated Events, Seated at Home, and Seated, restaurants can drive demand to their three primary sources of revenue in a single, easy to use rewards platform.” and the surrounding region. . and the surrounding region. .”

Kitchen Safety 515

Kitchen Safety Loyalty Program Delivery Customer Service 515

Culinary Cues

JANUARY 3, 2023

Customers would like up, sometimes around the block, hoping for a seat in her rather small restaurant where she featured, what we called – blue plate specials. I asked her what made her food so special? Hospitality is what makes the experience of dining special, and it is most definitely what brings people back.

Hospitality 466

Hospitality Customer Experience Customer Service Small Business 466

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

Knowing they have a lunch special on Wednesdays is invaluable knowledge and can inform your decision-making. This is where special offers, newsletters, and SMS marketing can come in handy. What to use it for: Showing off your food and drink, promoting events and specials, and engaging with your audience.

Seating 221

Seating Email Marketing Marketing SEO 221

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 14, 2020

If you’re already open : Update your website, social media, online listings and answering machine with your new hours and details such as seating capacity. Food photos have a special place in the heart of consumers on social media—and Instagram is the perfect place to share and connect over cuisine.

Marketing 539

Marketing Social Media Influencer Online Ordering 539

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 7, 2020

Guests would be seated at every other table or booth so as to maintain a safe distance. Bar seating will be removed and reconfigured to allow six feet between bar stools. Petersburg, are open at 25 percent capacity, allowing parties of up to 10 seated six feet apart, until further notice and according to state mandates.

Food Safety 511

Food Safety Front of House Back of House Seating 511

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 1, 2024

A warm greeting, attentive service, and a willingness to accommodate special requests can significantly enhance customer satisfaction. You can also implement a waitlist system during peak hours to help manage overflow and make sure that guests are seated as quickly as possible.

Customer Experience 397

Customer Experience 2024 Customer Service Online Ordering 397

ChowNow

JANUARY 23, 2025

A study found that 61% of diners are prepared to spend extra for a unique special event menu. Provide space for seating, tasting, and entertainment. Why customers love it: Guests feel special learning insider techniques and getting hands-on experience. Its ideal for foodies, date nights, and special occasions.

Events 195

Events Seasonal Menu Social Media Customer Experience 195

Modern Restaurant Management

AUGUST 10, 2021

Some have been giving a special, one-off payment to new recruits, while others have provided free starters or drinks to those who sign up for interviews. If patrons are dining in, they can simply include a table number when they place their order so that the food can be brought to where they are seated.

Ordering 592

Ordering Recruiting Employee Relations Food Order 592

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 31, 2024

While swicy took the front seat this year, Rubix’s proprietary research found that 5 percent more Gen Z respondents reported having frequent sweet and salty cravings over sweet and spicy. People are interested again in Happy Hour specials and will dine earlier in the evening to take advantage of value-driven deals.

2025 450

2025 Beverage Fine Dining Guest Recovery 450

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 22, 2021

While daily specials delivered in family boxes might be quite affordable and frugal, food delivery itself often costs more than the meal for one which can hit monthly discretionary spending quite hard. They have learned to navigate the grocery aisles and mastered basic cooking techniques and there is no going back.

Allergens 520

Allergens Online Ordering Fast Casual Food Safety 520

Modern Restaurant Management

AUGUST 25, 2020

With outdoor dining occupying the foreground, and bars and indoor dining taking a back seat to consumer preferences, it begs the question: what happens when it gets cold? Offer special meals for dinnertime or 15-minute meal kits that require minimal assemble and make times.

Seasonal Menu 493

Seasonal Menu Outdoor Customer Service Catering 493