Fine dining, as the name implies, provides patrons the best in fine dining service, food, and ambiance. However, it is also arguably the most expensive form of dining establishment you could operate. Remember that you will be taking in plenty of cash every time you open a fine dining restaurant. That being said, there are many things you can do to improve the bottom line while not necessarily increasing your expenses. For example, a small kitchen could translate into more sales, as well as more repeat business for your restaurant. Here are some suggestions on how you can make your fine dining experience more enjoyable, as well as cheaper:
– Consider having takeout available. If you’re lucky enough to have a full service restaurant, consider offering takeout on a regular basis. You can charge an additional price for this, of course, but remember that every additional dollar you charge in takeout means a dollar less you’re going to earn in taxes. If the takeout portion doesn’t interest you as much as the food I the restaurant, you might want to consider increasing the servings and eliminate takeout entirely.
– Don’t be afraid to mix other menu items with fine dining. Sure, you only have three menu choices to select from, but that’s not saying that you can’t jazz things up. You may not like your current fine dining menu, so it’s okay to try something new. If the food doesn’t impress you, go with a different restaurant. That being said, though, don’t change your current fine dining location too drastically – you’ll still need the same people to work at your restaurant.
– Make sure your staff is friendly and helpful. After all, they are the face of your restaurant. If the waitpersons or others at the restaurant are rude or don’t put your customers at ease, you won’t have many loyal customers.
– Clean, air-conditioned spaces are important. Customers aren’t going to enjoy their meal if the place is constantly hot or humid. Air conditioning can help eliminate some of these problems. Go with a restaurant that offers air conditioning or get one that is energy-efficient. Either way, you’ll find that the customers will enjoy their meals more when the restaurant has these two features working for them.
– Take notice of the wines on offer at your fine dining establishment. Fine dining restaurants should offer a wide variety of wine selections that match the style of the cuisine. If you order a fancy restaurant lunch, be sure that you get a wine that matches or is at least similar to the cuisine you’ll be experiencing. Don’t be afraid to try new wines that you’ve never had before. Just because they’re offered by a top fine dining establishment doesn’t mean that they’re bad, you just need to know what to look for.
– When you eat fine food that is prepared properly, you come away feeling better about yourself and having more energy than you did when you walked into the restaurant. You also feel more comfortable because you know that you’re getting good food. When you dine out, you don’t realize that the quality of the food is as important as how it was prepared. If you don’t feel comfortable in the environment that the food is being prepared in, then you won’t enjoy your meal. Dining in a place that is dirty or where the staff aren’t well treated can be difficult, which is why you need to make sure that everything is spotless and clean before you even leave.
– Dining in fine dining establishments isn’t all about great food and great prices. Sometimes, it’s best to stop to do a little window shopping or to stop and chat with other diners. Some fine dining restaurants offer special packages that include guided tours of the area as well as discounts on local attractions and shopping opportunities. That doesn’t mean that every fine dining establishment will do these kinds of things, but when you find one that does, it can help you to enjoy your dining experience even more.