Every day before your doors open for business, gather your team for a motivational huddle and go beyond the typical tasting of the night’s specials. Discuss exceeding guest expectations and a strategy for the service to come. One of my most effective exercises was actually based on a popular game that everyone has played – BINGO! Much like the real thing my version of the game is easy to execute in your restaurant. Here’s the idea…
Labor will always be any businesses’ biggest challenge, but you can turn the tables so to speak with a simple system or plan B, that becomes your restaurant’s strongest competitive advantage.
There are so many reasons people run restaurants. Many of us first got into the business because of passion. Maybe you started working in restaurants and really loved the personal side, camaraderie with staff and customers alike. Perhaps you are drawn to the high-energy.
Possibly, you were a chef with a loyal following of raving fans, or you just saw an opportunity and took the plunge. But that was years ago. Are you still passionate and committed to run a top-notch operation?
The interaction and relationships your restaurant creates between your staff and your customer is job 1 every table, every time. Listen to how your restaurant can apply this simple approach to daily pre-shift meetings and ultimately your restaurant’s culture of Hospitality. Practice F.A.C.E.S. with every new face and you’ll create an unstoppable brand and lines out the door.
I expect to receive the same quality of service whether dining in a Denny’s or a 5-Star Restaurant. The basic principle is the same… its all about hiring the best people with a true desire to serve the public and then developing them, training them, recognizing and rewarding them to build your business. That’s what I Call “PARAMOUNT SERVICE”!
When I ran restaurants, I approached service from the customers point of view. That is at least twice a week, I was a customer in my own restaurant. Doing so gives you a really good understanding of what I call the “3 Most Important Attributes of any Successful Restaurant… Food, Service & Ambiance”.
Think about sales as the lifeblood of your restaurant and Service and Sales naturally go together…you can’t have one without the other. And isn’t your goal to make as much money in your restaurant as possible? I hope so! Listen as I explain how the ABSOLUTE BEST servers Assume the Sale!
The restaurant industry is a HIGH TURNOVER business, but I’ve got the solution. Don’t hire another person in your restaurant until you listen to this podcast episode.
Forget about help-wanted ads, you can’t simply fill openings… that’s a sure fire way to find average people, who will deliver average guest experiences, average food & drink and lead to nothing but problems in your restaurant.
As owners and managers, we all get to sample the menu, but how often do you sit down as a customer? There’s no better way to build your brand, manage your team and elevate the guest experience. Take a seat in your dining room to see, feel and experience what the guest does.
There is nothing more powerful than a consistent and effective pre-shift meeting. Follow the lead of professional sports teams. They have pregame meetings, concluding with a big huddle and cheer! This is the ideal time to 1) ensure your entire staff is on their A game 2) that everyone knows the game plan and 3) that the entire staff head onto the floor with excitement!