Ireland is heading rapidly towards a three-month milestone in lockdown.
With our restaurants still closed, there is no opportunity insight for a delicious meal out with our friends.
However, most of us have become more resilient and managed to adapt to this minimalist existence we are living in.
The restaurant industry has been one of the sectors worst hit by Coronavirus but I have no doubt that during this period food lovers are dreaming of their favourite eateries, the food they miss and making wish lists of places that they will visit once the restaurants reopen.
I am hopeful that this longing will translate into a booking boom for the restaurants once they have reopened!
Whilst we are all eagerly awaiting the restaurants reopening, let’s have a look at some of the other aspects of the restaurant experience that we know and love!
Of course, food is a large contributor to our cravings for a meal out, but a restaurant is not simply a place you go to enjoy the food or escape home cooking!
Rather, it is a place to enjoy the ambience and experience as a whole.
The way a restaurant is designed and decorated and the feel that the establishment provides, is just as important as what they are serving.
So, what exactly makes any two restaurants, that serve similar food, completely different?
The ambience of a restaurant represents one of the most important factors that come into play and makes a meal out enjoyable, but more importantly, memorable.
Today I am going to discuss the three factors that contribute the most to the ambience of an eating house:
· The lighting.
Well-chosen lighting aids in setting the mood in an establishment.
Using lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in a restaurant can influence customers to enjoy a lengthy dining experience, which can lead to a larger order.
Who would have thought that lighting can increase sales?
· Storytelling.
I confess I am a former customer of many places that use worn-out keywords in their menu, such as "locally-sourced" and "hand-crafted" to tell a ‘story.
Storytelling should tap into the collective consciousness shared by the team working in a restaurant, to light a fire that keeps the staff excited about the work they are doing in the restaurant. Customers can always sense that spark!
· The enthusiastic murmur of a packed dining room.
The sound of each table having their own private conversations and enjoying their evening, along with the soft music in the background. Hopefully, that will be something that we can experience again soon!
While everyone is stuck at home, with plenty of time to think about our next restaurant excursion, have a look at some of the wonderful lighting features made for the hospitality industry by our craftsmen!
Comments