When a restaurant first opens, there can be a lot of buzz and excitement around it. Everything is done to the highest standard, and everyone’s on their best behavior. But over time, these standards can begin to slip, and it’s your customers who will notice first. Having a bad experience at a restaurant can put many people off from returning, so you need to make sure that the experience your customers have is like the first time, every time.
Here are some pointers for keeping standards high at your restaurant.
Make sure that processes are always followed
Restaurants rely on processes to ensure success. Without them, your kitchen would be chaos and nobody would get their food on time. Processes are great, but as people become familiar with them, the automation of work can lead to sloppiness or a rushed job. Make sure you do spot checks in all areas of your business and identify any areas where processes are being rushed or the appropriate checks aren’t happening. It’s easy to assume that your business is running smoothly from behind an office door, so make sure you get out and do some talking to make sure everything is in order.
Give your staff regular training
A quality restaurant needs some quality staff. As well as creating an employee training plan for your restaurant, you need to put an ongoing training plan in place where you can discuss new issues and introduce new dishes, techniques, promotions, etc. Regular training can bring all of your teams closer together to help them get to know each other and work better.
Hosting training sessions can be difficult, so you’ll need to be prepared to close your restaurant for a morning or afternoon to make sure everyone can attend.
Don’t let saving money interfere with quality
The restaurant industry can be tough, and saving on your outgoings can help you with your business costs to make sure you can keep your staff levels up and continue to deliver great things.
But when it comes to saving money on different costs, don’t compromise on quality. If you’re changing different vendors or suppliers, you need to make sure they’ve passed a GMP audits and other quality checks to make sure what you’re getting is good food. Always do taste tests and soft launches of new products to make sure you’re making the right decision.
Ask for feedback
Focusing on providing excellent customer service can help your restaurant to thrive while maintaining the high standards you’ve set out since the beginning. Ask your customers for their feedback regularly to help identify potential problems before they become larger ones.
Maintaining a high-quality restaurant with a great reputation is a challenge, but it’s also part of the fun. Keep things fresh and make sure you always maintain the highest quality to keep customers coming through your doors and leaving with smiles on their faces.
