As the warmer weather continues and operators gear up for the busiest season of the year, creating a strategy for success will help you stay organized and prepared for the demands of summer. From décor to logistics to staffing, planning ahead will help you optimize operations and keep guests coming back.
Prepare your patio
Traffic has likely already increased for outdoor dining, so ensure your space is ready. Design seating for maximum traffic and mobility, add heaters for cooler nights, install weather protective shields to keep tables full, and train outdoor staff. You may want to include some long tables, as well as your regulars, so you can accommodate larger groups. For décor, switch it up with fresh flowers and table settings regularly, and consider adding greenery for privacy and to protect guests from pests like flies and mosquitoes. As well, if you are at a busy corner, you might want to invest in speakers, large plants, or specific lighting to create the perfect place to dine al fresco.
Switch up your menu
Summer is the easiest time to shop locally and use seasonal ingredients in Canada. Take advantage of the season by rotating a summer menu to keep guests interested. You might consider partnering with a local brewery or baker to cross-promote, attract a new audience, and help each other’s businesses. This is a good way to test out potential new permanent dishes, too, or discover new favourites to repeat next summer.
Make the most of the holidays
Holidays are happening throughout the summer, from food holidays to statutory holidays. Capitalize on all types of events by getting creative with your menu, changing up your décor, advertising the celebrations, and posting live from the events on your social channels. These celebrations will help bring in new guests while keeping your regulars excited and engaged. Don’t forget to staff carefully – these events may bring in more traffic, and long weekends typically mean that some staff are away, so schedule strategically to keep staff from getting overworked and guests from becoming frustrated.
Speed up service
There are a few simple things you can do to optimize service and seat more guests on your patio. Many restaurateurs are making the most of their technology to help grow sales, and the same can be accomplished on your patio. Add extra payment terminals or tablets to make ordering and settling the bill quick and easy. This will also eliminate the burden of sharing machines, and you can turn tables faster.
Ensure that your menu is explicit, with all dietary restrictions and substitutions clearly explained. Providing transparency allows servers to visit tables less frequently, so they can serve more guests. You may also want to enable ordering with QR codes for items like drinks and desserts to make it easy for guests to add on to their cheques.
Take reservations so you can staff accordingly and shorten wait times. This will encourage guests to plan ahead, allow for adequate staff allocation, and make the experience enjoyable for your guests.
