Two different restaurants have similar elements to their success stories.

What makes a restaurant successful? Does your restaurant have that special recipe? In this article, we hope you get inspired by these two vastly different restaurants and their success stories. These are restaurateurs who’ve taken it to the next level.

First, let’s look at what makes a restaurant successful so you can better understand what these restaurants did right.

What Makes a Successful Restaurant?

The first thing you think of when recalling your favorite and most successful restaurants is they all have great food, a superb location, a nice ambiance, and great service. (tweet this)

It turns out these are only part of the reason customers flock to a restaurant. There’s so much more to make a restaurant really shine.

• You need a strong restaurant identity and brand to stand out from the competition.
• A well-thought-out business plan is also integral, as well as a marketing strategy.
• It’s important to take care of your staff, hire right the first time, and retain your staff. You do this by being supportive, empathetic, and rewarding. A competitive pay schedule and benefits can also help.
• Successful restaurants also have a strong understanding of their profit and loss statements.
• You also need to know how to make your menu
• The best restaurants also know their target markets and how to reach them.

These are just a few of the important pieces to making sure your restaurant is profitable and around for years to come. Now let’s look at some success stories.

#1: Chipotle

With more than 3,000 restaurants, this fast-casual chain is nearly a household name. Diners can depend on their healthy, fresh food for dining in or takeout.

When it comes to brand identity, Chipotle sets itself apart and is know for its wholesome food and dedication to sustainability.

Steve Ells founded Chipotle in 1993 and before that, attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After his education, he worked as a line cook in San Francisco and learned about burritos and taquerias.

After leaving San Franciso, Ells opened the first Chipotle near the University of Denver campus with a loan from his father. He knew he needed to sell 107 burritos each day to be profitable, and after just one month, he was selling over 1,000 each day.

Ells opened restaurant number two in 1995 using money from his profits, and he opened a third restaurant with an SBA loan, along with a $1.5 million investment from his father. Chipotle was well on its way when, shortly after, Ells created a board of directors and a business plan, raising even more money. Next up was the first restaurant outside of Colorado when Ells opened one in Overland Park, Kansas.

In 1998, McDonald’s saw the rise of Chipotle and by 2001 was its largest investor. Because of this, Chipotle expanded quickly. By 2006, Chipotle made its initial public offering (IPO), and on the first day, its stock rose 100%. In October of that year, McDonald’s divested from Chipotle and took $1.5 billion from its initial $360 million investment.

Recognizing a need for change, in December 2010, Chipotle hired a Rising Star Chef from the James Beard Foundation to develop a new cuisine. By 2023, Chipotle employed more than 100,000 people.

Why are they so successful?

• Their motto is “food with integrity.” They are committed to serving ethically and naturally produced food.
• Their small menu of just five items means they can stock fresh ingredients with less chance of food spoilage. They also need less ingredients, so they have less waste. A smaller menu also means faster service. Their kitchen doesn’t get overwhelmed, and mistakes are much less likely. Finally, their small menu means customers know what to expect every time they visit Chipotle.
• They are consistent and dependable.
• Chipotle is corporate owned instead of franchised, so they can maintain tight control over every aspect of their restaurants.

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One fast casual and one fine dining restaurant make their mark on the world.

#2: Le Bernardin

This restaurant has been a fine dining icon for over 50 years, and it was named the number-one restaurant in the U.S. and worldwide by La Liste. It’s an internationally acclaimed seafood restaurant by chef Eric Ripert and co-owner Maguy Le Coze.

Le Coze and her brother, Gilbert, moved to New York and opened the restaurant in 1986 in New York after they ran the Paris location for 14 years beforehand. It’s held numerous Michelin stars as well as other awards.

When Le Bernardin was born in Paris in 1972, they only served fresh fish. Earning their first Michelin star in 1976 and two more in 1980, the siblings were ready to move to New York. Gilbert unexpectedly died in 1994, and Le Coze began her partnership with Chef Eric, a friend of Gilbert’s. He continued the tradition to celebrate fish as the “star of the plate.”

Amazingly, The New York Times gave Le Bernardin four stars just three months after it opened, and the trend has continued for decades. Chef Eric also continues to win awards as does Le Coze.

In 2011, they redesigned the restaurant, giving it a lounge with a separate available menu. In 2014, they opened a dynamic, modern even space called Le Bernardin Privé and the Aldo Sohm Wine Bar. Nothing has stopped them – not even economic downturns or Covid. They rarely have an empty seat for lunch or dinner.

Why are they so successful?

• They stay true to their philosophy that the fish is the star of the plate.
• The owners are dedicated to freshness and precision above all else which creates consistency.
• They don’t compromise on the overall experience and stay true to a reliance on good service and good food.
• They put their focus on their offerings at Le Bernardin and working with top-notch staff.
• Finally, their prices are reasonable for fine dining.

Final Thoughts on Successful Restaurants

You can see that these two restaurants—one fast-casual and one fine-dining—have many similarities.

They both stay true to their concepts and brand identities. They have focused menus. One stays small, while the other keeps fish at the forefront. Finally, they both provide fresh food that diners enjoy and look forward to.

Now that you’ve been inspired by these restaurant success stories, it’s time to ensure that your brand identity says who you are. That starts with your website. (tweet this)

Is your website ready to help you succeed? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that provides the pivotal spot for your digital marketing. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well to increase your online sales. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Jahanzeb Ahsan and Dann Digitama on Unsplash

Get creative and find ideas to bring in your target audience.

People love to visit restaurants and not only for the food but for the customer service and the atmosphere. To really set yourself apart from the competition, it pays to have a really unique selling point.

So, in this article, we look at seven ways to make your restaurant more fun. You may just find it’s more fun for your customers and even your staff!

#1: Host Weekly Game Nights

People love to play games. By organizing a game night, you encourage more people to visit your restaurant for food and fun.

Here are a few ideas to bring into your restaurant on a weekly or even nightly basis:

• Board games: you can have several tables set out with board games like Scrabble, Chess, Backgammon, Monopoly, Catan, and others. If you have a dedicated space, you can even leave out long-playing games for people to pick up on a daily basis.
• Puzzles: Set out different puzzles and let diners work on these while they eat and hang out in your restaurant. Again, if you have space, leave the puzzles out and let your patrons work on them on an ongoing basis.
• Trivia night: This is an organized game like Jeopardy that you play with people in your restaurant. They can eat and drink while they play. Take the fun up a notch and offer prizes for the winners.
• Old school arcade games: this brings in a little extra ambiance for your diners, too.

#2: Host a Trivia Tournament

As we mentioned earlier, Trivia is a great game for restaurants. You can really capitalize on this by hosting a Trivia Tournament.

You can either do it all yourself or hire an outside host to do the tournament for you. The bonus with an outside host is they come with all their own questions.

Restaurants have the most success with a Trivia Tournament when it’s done on an ongoing basis. For example, you turn your basic trivia nights into a tournament, so points add up over time.

Consider advertising the formation of teams. Then, you have them compete for six to eight weeks. Have a great prize, such as a gift card for the winning team.

The bonus of a Trivia Tournament is that you get people into your restaurant consistently, eating, drinking, and having fun. During your next Trivia Tournament, you may even have to create a waiting list because so many teams want in!

Wine tastings and craft cocktail tastings really bring in crowds.

#3: Add a Special Menu Item

You can do this on a seasonal basis, so you are always rotating out your special, highlighted menu item.

For example, offer S’mores in the summer. Grab some marshmallows, Hershey candy bars, graham crackers, and tabletop, small grills. Let diners make their own S’mores right at the table.

You’ll find that guests, both the young and the old, will think this is the “funnest” thing they’ve done in at a restaurant.

#4: Have an Anything Goes Day

Periodically let your customers order anything they want. This could be an anything goes day or week when your diners can ask for something special, and you’ll make it. (tweet this)

It’s super fun for diners, and the bonus for you is that you just might find your next menu item.

If this sounds too daunting, you can limit it to sandwiches, specific types of food, or a main ingredient. This way, you’ll be better prepared with ingredients.

#5: Have a Pick Your Discount Night

For this tip to make your restaurant more fun, you can have different discounts on slips of paper folded up in a bowl. Your customers can then stick their hands in to pick their discounts.

Or you can simply advertise a special discount night and announce it on social media, in your restaurant, through email marketing, and on your website. Then, right as the dinner service starts, you can announce the discount on social media and in your restaurant.

People who aren’t already there just might rush on over. Word of mouth will take over as your diners will share it with their friends.

Once people get used to these, they’ll look forward to them and frequent your restaurant more often.

#6: Have a Photo Booth

These are very simple and a little old-fashioned, but people still really love them. And since it’s retro, you can bet it’s “in” right now.

For you, the photo booth can garner you a lot of free publicity as your diners who use the photo booth will most likely share the photos on Instagram and tag your restaurant.

This is a fun experience that adds an extra layer of excitement to your restaurant.

#7: Have Tastings

On a regular basis, have tastings at your restaurant. These might include wine tastings, craft beer tastings, or a tasting for mixed drinks and specialty cocktails. (tweet this)

You can even take it one step further and have classes on how to make mixed drinks.

These draw in a crowd that will be sure to stick around for dinner. Make the event exclusive and offer appetizers, too, and you’ll have customers for life.

Ways to Make Your Restaurant More Fun

Now that you know our top seven ways to make your restaurant more fun, we leave you with one last tip.

You want to put some marketing dollars behind each of these activities to promote them and really get the word out. In addition, create a year-long calendar and make sure each activity is on it.

Post these on your website, in your restaurant, and on social media.

Get creative and start promoting your fun restaurant and grow your audience and your dining crowd. 

At Restaurant Engine, we create websites that help draw people in and increase sales. Your website is a pivotal piece of your success, and all your marketing leads to and from your website. You can count on us to create a website that shows just how fun your restaurant is. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business! 

Images: Elevate and Louis Hansel on Unsplash

TikTok is a great place for people who like to make food videos.

As a restaurant owner or manager, you know how important social media is to your overall marketing strategy. With the ever-growing presence of TikTok, this is one platform you want to start paying attention to if you aren’t already.

In this article, we look at food trends to follow on TikTok. By following these trends, you can not only get ideas for unique food items to highlight in your restaurant, but you can get great tips for posts of your own.

TikTok is transformative in many ways, and the more time you spend on the platform, you’ll notice how TikTok is changing the way people eat and even what they eat. TikTok users are obsessed with food, and they see food as a way to connect with others. (tweet this)

So, take some of these food trends and use them for tips for your own posts. Keep the trend but make it unique to your restaurant for the best success.

Dalgona Coffee

Sometimes called whipped coffee, Dalgona coffee has over two billion views on TikTok.

It’s a creamy, caffeinated beverage that became really popular during the Covid lockdown in 2020. People were desperate for their favorite coffees, and this drink hit the spot for many. Korea is the country of origin for this drink, but TikTok made it famous.

In Korean, Dalgona means “it’s sweet.” What’s so great about this delicious drink? It’s made with only three ingredients: instant coffee, sugar, and boiling water. You simply mix it until it’s light and fluffy. You can add it to a glass of milk with ice.

Baked Feta Pasta

With millions of views and the hashtag #fetapasta, more and more TikTok users are flocking to this food trend.

The key to trends such as baked feta pasta is that many of them use ingredients already found in your pantry. They’re usually quick and easy, so they become popular quite quickly. That was the case for this food trend.

Baked feta pasta can be eaten on its own or as a dip. It’s easy to make with six ingredients: cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, chilis, garlic, pasta, and a bit of basil.

Pasta Chips

Another famous TikTok pasta dish, this one is also quite easy. This trend has people boiling pasta, dressing it up, and then putting it in the air fryer until crispy.

This recipe is versatile and easy to tailor to your own tastes. For example, add cinnamon sugar for a sweet chip, or you can add some cumin, garlic, and chili powder for an extra special savory treat.

Smashed Vegetables

This TikTok craze started with potatoes, but you can make it with a number of vegetables, including Brussels sprouts.

Simply season, bake, and smash. The seasonings are up to you.

Vegetable Burger Buns

From just two videos came one of the biggest trends on TikTok.

The person who created this recipe swaps the traditional burger bun for a bell pepper that is hollowed out and cut in half.

People love this recipe because it’s easy and healthy. This trend certainly hit a niche market with much fewer carbs than traditional buns.

TikTok is the place to watch for new up and coming food trends.

Corn Ribs

In another famous plant-based dish, all you need to do is cut the corn down the middle and into quarters. You want your corn to look like a traditional barbecue rib. You also leave some of the core intact.

Next, you add olive oil and spices and air fry. Perhaps the best part is you then serve it with dipping sauces.

Cloud Bread

This is the most viral food trend ever on TikTok, with more than three billion views.

While Cloud Bread has been around since the 1970s and the Atkins diet, it became trendy in the last year or so.

People love this fluffy, puffy bread. It’s made with just egg whites, sugar, and cornstarch. Basically, it’s a soft baked meringue. But it’s marketed as bread and infamously popular on TikTok.

You can even add food coloring for festive clouds of bread.

Pancake Cereal

This is another one of the most popular food trends on TikTok with over one billion views.

TikTok users find this amazing take on cereal as one of their most favorite ever. And, yes, it’s just like it sounds. It’s mini pancakes in your cereal bowl.

Frozen Honey

The gift of the honeybee, it’s odd to think that you can freeze honey, but TikTok has again proved on trend with frozen honey.

TikTok users squeezed honey into a popsicle that could be frozen, and the internet went crazy.

Dalgona Candy

Like the Dalgona coffee, this is an incredibly popular Korean snack that went mainstream on TikTok.

Made from melted sugar and baking soda, the Netflix series Squid Games made it popular as TikTok users filmed themselves trying to carve a symbol on the candy, just like in the series.

Final Thoughts

TikTok is definitely a platform worth looking at for your own restaurant. As you do so, take a look at the hashtag #foodtok. This is one of the most prominent hashtags on the platform, and it’s a true content cornerstone on the platform.

FoodTok is a place where TikTok users exchange and share recipes, tips, tricks, favorite products, and more. You can use TikTok to learn more about food trends and to learn what might engage your own restaurant followers. (tweet this) It can also help you find out about upcoming food trends.

According to the New York Times, using TikTok is the fastest way to become a food star. More than one billion people worldwide spend a great deal of their time watching TikTok videos.

Now that you know some of the most recent food trends, you have plenty of tips for posts to get you started.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but you can count on us to create a website and online menu that works with your TikTok posts, too. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business! Ready to take the plunge and create a new website? Get your free website consultation today!

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If you want an edge over the competition, embrace new technologies.

In the last several years, many restaurants have adopted new technology to meet the needs of their evolving customers. As restaurants turn to new tech, from online ordering to touchless payment and more, it’s time to take a look at what’s working and what you might consider adding.

It’s essential to your long-term success to embrace technology as you move through the next decade. In this article, we look at five technology innovations your restaurant should be using.

#1: Online Ordering Availability

Giving your customers the ability to order their food online is a technological imperative today. While online ordering was popular before Covid hit the scene, your customers are ordering online now more than ever.

Today’s consumers like on-demand food, and they want your restaurant to provide the technology for them to order online on your website or restaurant app. (tweet this)

Your current and future customers want to order from the convenience of their own homes for pickup or delivery.

When you add online ordering to your website, you are also benefitting. You don’t have to pay third-party apps a fee, and you can ensure your website visitors have a great user experience.

According to one report, less than 20 years ago, people only ordered pizza and Chinese for delivery or pickup. Today, food delivery has doubled in the United States and continues to grow.

For your restaurant, you want to invest in technology that enables website users to order their food online and either pick it up from you or have it delivered. As a result, you can build customer relationships and increase your bottom line at the same time.

#2: Payment Options Without Contact

Contactless payment is also here to stay, and it’s an excellent technology to add to your restaurant options.

Restaurant customers realized during the Covid-19 pandemic that they wanted less “contact” with things that might carry germs.

This led to restaurant technology enabling customers to pay online, on their smartphone or smartwatch, or through a touchless device.

Your customers appreciate the ability to stay “germ-free.” They also like the convenience of touch-to-pay options. In addition, they don’t have to worry about unhygienic cash.

Your overall restaurant efficiency improves with contactless payment options. Your customers can pay quickly and conveniently without pulling out their sanitizer wipes.

#3: Online Reservation System

Does anyone use their telephone for phone calls anymore? Well, the answer is that some do, but many don’t. For example, many Millennials will do anything to avoid talking on the telephone.

So, how do people make a reservation for a table at your restaurant? If reservations are only available through a phone call, it’s time to change up your technology.

If you take reservations, you want to add technology to your website so people can make online table reservations.

This allows your customers to choose their own time slots and make a reservation from their computer, tablet, or smartphone. When customers make online reservations, it also eliminates mistakes from happening.

You’ll find that this technology innovation also improves the overall customer experience by making dealing with your restaurant simple and immediate.

Embrace technology innovations to improve the overall customer experience.

#4: Staff Scheduling Software

Ask most restaurant managers and owners what the most frustrating, time-consuming part of their job is, and they will tell you it’s scheduling their staff.

Juggling days off, employees who aren’t always available, and shift changes can be a nightmare.

You can take some of the heavy load off with technology in the form of scheduling software.

This makes it easy for your team members to see when they’re working and lets them trade shifts on their own.

You’ll find that scheduling software makes employee scheduling and even payroll run much more efficiently.

#5: Handheld Point of Sale (POS) System

Creating a positive experience at your restaurant is vital if you’re looking to grow your business and increase repeat customer visits. (tweet this)

You can do this by enhancing the overall customer experience.

Adding handheld POS devices for your servers greatly improves the ordering and payment process.

Typically the server takes the order with pen and paper and returns to the computer to place the order. Then, at the end of the meal, the server delivers the ticket, comes back to pick up the ticket and the credit card/cash, goes back to process the card or get change, and then comes back to the table for a signature and to return the credit card.

With the technology innovation of the handled POS device, you can streamline the process.

For example, the server takes the order on the device, automatically sending it to the kitchen.

In addition, when it’s time for the check, the server brings the device to the table, and your customer can pay immediately. They don’t have to wait for the server to leave and return multiple times.

The end result is a less harried server who can provide better customer service. It’s also customers who now know you value their time. They leave happier because they don’t have to wait.

Bottom line, you can serve your customers quickly and more efficiently with this technology.

Final Thoughts

As you probably know, the restaurant industry has changed and evolved rapidly over the last few years. Covid altered the way many restaurants did business, and some of those changes have stuck.

The most significant evolution is the addition of technological innovations. Not only do these technologies help you run your restaurant more efficiently, they make the overall user experience for your customers better.

You can concentrate on creating delicious food, and your customers can easily experience your restaurant.

Your restaurant guests want immediate gratification. They want to eat your food on their terms, whether in your restaurant, for delivery, or for pickup.

It’s up to you to provide the software to meet their needs. You’ll find that the more innovative technologies you provide, the more revenue you’ll make. Furthermore, you increase customer loyalty and retention.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but you can count on us to create a website and online menu that harness the power of technology. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business! Ready to take the plunge and create a new website? Get your free website consultation today!

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You can improve productivity with the right POS system.

You know that a point-of-sale system (POS) is great for your customers, enabling them to have a bit more control when ordering or paying for their meals.

Did you know, though, that a POS system is great for managing your business and improving your efficiency? And do you want to improve your productivity?

In this article, we look at how paying attention to your productivity levels will enhance the success of your business. To do this, make sure your upgraded POS system has these seven features.

#1: Inventory Management

One of the best ways to improve your restaurant’s productivity is using your POS system’s inventory management feature. By using inventory management, you’ll see a rapid increase in productivity. (tweet this)

How does it increase productivity? First, you have an accurate count of your inventory. You’ll be better prepared when ordering food and supplies because you’ll know exactly what you have. It can help with both over ordering and under ordering.

In addition, an inventory management system can help if you think you’re seeing losses from theft and waste. It also helps with food costs.

You’ll also find that with an inventory management system, you can easily see when stock is getting low on items.

You will also find that your team members can spend time doing other tasks because you have inventory management built right into your POS system. Employees are not left searching for items, and they don’t have to spend hours taking inventory.

Your purchasing decisions are easier as well. You can decide quickly and efficiently what you need to purchase. Your accuracy also improves, and you can base orders on actual ingredient usage instead of guessing.

Finally, with some POS systems, you can trigger alerts or re-orders when quantities of certain items get too low. This saves you time scrambling to pick something up last minute.

#2: Employee Scheduling

You’ll also boost your productivity with your upgraded POS system when you use the built-in employee tools.

Look for a POS system that integrates time worked, attendance, and labor scheduling. With this sort of system, you can easily schedule your team based on your busy and not-so-busy shifts. You can access all labor information and compare staffing levels.

Employee scheduling in your POS can help you see at a glance how many team members can work on any day or shift. What’s more, you can then determine how many you need to schedule based on a number of factors. By reviewing your sales data, you can cut down on overstaffing shifts.

In addition, your team members can log in and log out using your POS system app. You can see who is working and then ultimately streamline payroll.

This type of system also helps cutdown on clocking in and out errors, so you aren’t overpaying staff either.

#3: Employee Payroll

As we mentioned earlier, your upgraded POS system can help you with your payroll.

No more using paper timecards or trying to tie two systems together. You can do your payroll right through your POS system for maximum efficiency.

An upgraded POS system can streamline operations and improve your overall efficiency.

#4: Marketing Options

With your upgraded POS system, you’ll want to leverage its marketing features for even more enhanced productivity.

Using the system, you can send custom marketing campaigns and promotions right to your current customers.

This efficiently helps you remarket to these customers bringing them back into your restaurant.

With automated tools, you’ll save time and increase your own productivity. These tools also help you keep your customers engaged on a long-term basis.

You know how important marketing tools are to your restaurant business. Marketing helps you grow and expand your customer base while also enhancing retention.

Another piece of your POS system’s marketing tools is the loyalty program. You can use this to retain your customers and bring them back for more.

#5: Diner Management

With diner management tools in your POS system, you can serve your customers more efficiently and promptly.

This allows your servers more time to actually take care of your diners.

It also allows you to turn tables faster, enhancing the productivity of your entire restaurant.

Your POS system allows customers’ orders to transmit instantly to the kitchen. This eliminates any human error from your staff translating the orders on their own. In addition, your kitchen staff can prepare the meals sooner, and your diners get served more efficiently.

Managing your customer orders better makes everything run more smoothly.

#6: Table Management and Reservations

Almost all restaurant owners want a better way to manage their tables and their staff. A POS system is superb at helping you do this.

What’s more, if you take reservations, this seamlessly works right in.

Your front of house staff will be much more productive with your table management system because they can see at a glance which tables are occupied, available, or being cleared.

#7: Reporting Options

Spending hours inputting data and compiling reports is a thing of the past. With your POS system, you have quality reporting with very little effort. Your productivity increases because reporting isn’t a chore anymore. (tweet this)

You can instantly see key performance indicator (KPI) reports measuring your sales, payroll costs, inventory levels, table performance, staff performance, and sales versus labor costs.

Many POS systems have pre-built reports, while others also let you create custom reports as well, drawing data from the system.

Your productivity and efficiency are immediately improved, and you have more time to do the rest of your daily tasks.

What’s more, with a cloud-based POS system, you can give your accountant access to your reports, so you don’t have to worry about exporting any data.

Final Thoughts

If you want to improve productivity, you want to make sure your upgraded POS system has these seven features.

This will help you leverage all your POS system has to offer so you and your team are working more efficiently.

Ultimately this saves you money, improves customer loyalty and retention, and helps you improve your overall customer experience.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but you can count on us to create a website that works right beside your point-of-sale system. Let us help you by creating the perfect site that draws customers in and helps you grow your business! Ready to take the plunge and create a new website? Get your free website consultation today!

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A POS is really worth it because it lets your customers take ownership of their payment options.

With the global point of sale (POS) market growing at exponential rates, you may be wondering if a POS system is really worth the investment for your restaurant.

Because you are a customer facing business, and you want to provide the best overall customer experience to your diners, a POS system is a vital tool in your operational and marketing arsenals.

A POS system can help speed up your restaurant, meet your customers’ needs faster, and help your team work more efficiently.

In this article, we’re going to look at some of the reasons a POS is worth the investment. First, let’s define the POS system.

What is a POS System for Your Restaurant?

A POS system is a must-have for today’s restaurant owner. The point of sale system generally uses cloud-based software combined with hardware in your restaurant.

A POS system helps you manage orders and take payment with ease. Many systems also help you manage inventory, track sales, pull reports, do payroll, and allow team members to clock in. Some even have marketing features such as loyalty rewards.

Your new restaurant POS system is so much more than a cash register. It can take a lot of the work off your hands, combining many features into one system so you’re only dealing with one piece of software. (tweet this)

Now let’s look at some of the reasons a POS is really worth the investment.

You Provide an Improved Customer Experience

If you’re like most restaurants, at one time or another a customer has complained that they had to wait too long to order food or pay for their meal.

Those customers generally leave your restaurant disappointed, and some may not return. With a POS system, diners can take matters into their own hands. They don’t have to wait, and the customer experience is improved.

For people who dine in your restaurant, a POS is especially helpful to them. It shows your customers you value them and their time. What’s more, for those “regular” customers, a POS system can store their name, payment information, and their favorite meal.

And, with a POS system, you eliminate any errors on the part of your servers calculating payment and collecting it. Your diners do it on their own and can even tip through your POS system.

This makes it easy for returning customers to place an order and pay with ease.

You’ll also find another benefit as your POS will alert your staff when orders are up, so meals are delivered while they’re still hot. Customers are happier because their food arrives in a timely manner.

Along these same lines, a POS can also text your customers when their food or their table is ready. This helps you stay in contact with diners, again improving their experience.

Finally, a POS system may also come with built in loyalty programs. This helps you market to your diners and encourage them to return and dine with you again and again.

You Help Your Staff be More Efficient

By making the worthwhile investment in a POS system, you’ll find it takes some of the burden off your team members. How?

Your wait staff is quicker to take orders, and there is less chance of a mistake because they are using a tablet and not pen and paper. In addition, they can easily calculate tips and fees and run bills faster.

A POS system is also beneficial for your kitchen staff. They receive diners’ orders quickly and correctly. This means they can start processing meals in a speedier fashion. Ultimately, your customers get their food faster because kitchen staff isn’t waiting on your servers to enter the orders.

Finally, it’s easier for you and your team to track and manage your inventory because the POS system updates it for you as items are sold and used. You’ll find you throw out less food, and you prevent less food theft.

Bottomline, your POS system improves your return on investment (ROI) almost immediately with cost savings.

A point of sale system can improve the overall customer experience.

You Improve Staff Mobility

With a POS system, your staff has more time to take care of your customers. They are more mobile and not stuck in front of a computer placing orders and taking payment.

With a tablet in hand, or even their own smartphones, they can easily move around your restaurant helping customers right at their tables.

With better mobility and enhanced efficiency, you will realize the cost savings.

You Improve Your Restaurant

Another reason a POS is really worth the investment is because you can manage the back end of your restaurant.

With on demand reporting, you can see what dishes are performing well and which ones are underperforming.

You can also view employee performance and see who is delivering the best customer service and upselling the most items.

In addition, you can manage your inventory, so you never run out of anything and have less ordering mistakes.

Final Thoughts

Cash registers are things of the past. While they are nostalgic, and some restaurant owners may be hesitant to leave them in the past, it’s time.

A point of sale system moves your restaurant business forward. It helps you provide an excellent customer experience every time a diner visits your restaurant. (tweet this)

A POS system also helps you manage your daily operations and your team with ease and efficiency.

Lastly, a POS system’s ROI (return on investment) is huge. While you’ll lay out a significant amount of money to begin with, you’ll earn that back quickly. You’ll have happier customers, better customer retention, more efficient staff, and the ability to track inventory and payroll with efficiency.

So, what are you waiting for? Take the leap today and start using a POS system to grow your business and improve your customer service.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but you can count on us to create a website that works right beside your point of sale system. Let us help you by creating the perfect site that draws customers in and helps you grow your business! Ready to take the plunge and create a new website? Get your free website consultation today!

Thinking about a POS system? Your customers will thank you.

As a restaurant owner or manager, you know how important the overall consumer experience is to the success of your restaurant.

What your customers experience with your restaurant is as important as the food they eat.

For example, if they have a positive experience, they’re likely to return and tell their friends and family about your wonderful restaurant. Yet, if they had a poor customer service experience, they’re likely to do the same sharing with friends and family, but they won’t return.

The importance of the overall consumer experience isn’t to be underestimated. Because it’s so important, we’re going to look at how a POS (point of sale system) can better your customers’ experience.

In this article, we uncover the five customer benefits of introducing a POS System.

#1: Your Customers Get Faster Service

Everyone of your diners has a different expectation of speed. Some like to linger over their meals while others want to be in and out quickly.

When you add a POS system, you can meet the needs of all of your customers.

In our digital age, people don’t want to wait for anything, and they get grumpy when they have to wait. The overall consumer experience matters, and when you make customers wait to order or wait to pay, they start to feel dissatisfied. They lack the control to do anything about their situation.

You can alleviate their dissatisfaction with a POS. With a tabletop POS, your customers can order and pay when they want to do so.

What’s more, your new POS system lets your customers check their orders and payments with ease. Their entire customer journey is made easier.

Returning diners may even find their credit card information saved so they don’t have to pull their card out and punch in the numbers. It’s simple and fast for them to pay your restaurant.

#2: Your Customers Enjoy Connections

With a POS system, you can reach out to your customers and engage them after they’ve left your restaurant.

For example, you can offer them customized coupons and discounts through email marketing. You might have a customer who always orders the same dish or the same appetizer. Your POS system knows this, so you can offer a special or discount on your customer’s favorite dish.

In addition, because you can track customer behavior, you can tailor your marketing strategy to them. They’ll appreciate the engagement and enjoy building a relationship with your restaurant. For example, you might introduce them to your chef through email marketing, and your chef might share a favorite recipe.

Your customers will enjoy the share and in turn be more likely to come back to your restaurant.

Today’s consumers want a rich experience. They also want a personalized experience. Through your POS system, you can give them both. (tweet this)

A POS system has many customer benefits that enhance their overall experience.

#3: Your Customers Get Rewarded

According to one study, nearly 70% of diners said loyalty platforms bring them back to a restaurant.

This statistic is just another reason you want to introduce a POS system in your restaurant. Your customer benefits from it because your loyalty program is tied right into the system.

With a POS system, you can increase customer loyalty by rewarding them. They’ll find their reward housed in your system. They can see how much more they need to spend to bump up to the next level, and they can easily apply their reward to their meal.

You’ll find that your customers really enjoy having their loyalty program tied right into your POS.

On your side, you’ll find that the loyalty program helps you increase sales while also helping to build strong customer relationships.

#4: Your Customers Can Order from Anywhere

We already mentioned that your customers don’t want to wait for anything. They also don’t want to be inconvenienced.

They want to order from you from anywhere and easily. Your POS system helps them do this because it connects to your online ordering system.

With this setup, you give your customers freedom and flexibility to order when and how they want.

#5: Your Customers Can Skip the Line

For some restaurants where customers stand in line to order, a POS system can really be helpful to the overall consumer experience.

Many customers when faced with a long line will simply get frustrated leave. But if you have a POS system, your customers can “bust” through the line. You have several choices here.

You can have team members walking through the line with tablets and take orders from there. Or, you can have multiple kiosks set up throughout your restaurant for ordering.

Letting diners skip the line and order and pay at one time helps enhance diner engagement.

In addition, you’ll find this improves the customer experience while also helping you avoid lost sales. You also might find your customers order more food because they’re happier.

Final Thoughts

You want to provide the best dining experience to your customers. You also want to keep your current diners, draw in new ones, and beat out the competition.

Your first step toward this goal is dynamite food. Your second and equally important step is an excellent customer experience.

With a POS system, you put power and control in the hands of your diners. You enhance customer experience and help your customers enjoy your menu with ease. (tweet this)

By introducing a POS system, your customers can order drinks, appetizers, their meal, dessert, and coffee all on their own. They don’t have to wait for waitstaff to come to their table.

Adding a POS system shows your customers you understand them, value them, and appreciate their time.

Besides the benefit of improving the consumer experience, a POS system benefits your restaurant, too. One of those benefits is gathering important information about your customers so you can market to them again in the future with a loyalty program, coupons, tips, and more.

So, you can see the benefits of introducing a POS system for your restaurant are many, and they can enhance the overall customer experience as well as your marketing abilities.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but you can count on us to create a website that highlights your food trends. Let us help you by creating the perfect site that draws customers in and helps you grow your business! Ready to take the plunge and create a new website? Get your free website consultation today!

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Food trucks are on target to outpace traditional diners in popularity.

Did you know there are nearly 33,000 food trucks in the United States? What’s more, the food truck industry’s market size has grown by an average of 6.6% each year from 2016 to 2021.

This might lead you to ask, “Will food trucks outpace traditional diners in popularity?”

In this article, we look at the rise of the food truck and uncover if food truck trends will continue to grow.

More Commercial Restaurants Experimenting

Whether it’s the COVID-19 pandemic or simply the passage of time, in 2021, more commercial restaurants began experimenting with food trucks.

For example, large national chains brought out food trucks to test new items and new food concepts. Other new restaurants send out food trucks for the same reasons and to test the waters before they open larger restaurants.

The food truck seems to be a catalyst for experimentation in the restaurant industry in 2021 and 2022.

The benefits of this experimentation are that if people don’t like the new menu items or food concepts, customers don’t tie it to the restaurant. Food trucks help test out public opinion.

Oftentimes, though, these food trucks are so successful they continue to roam the city streets. So, in this instance, food trucks are working in tandem with traditional diners and sometimes, they outpace them.

Food Trucks are Expected to Keep Growing

In many instances in the last few years, 50% of restaurant revenue has come from order ahead sales.

This is a promising statistic for the continued growth of food trucks over traditional diners.

Not only can food trucks accommodate the order ahead business, but they can also provide food for their customers safely and outside. By leveraging the power of technology combined with the safety of being outside, food trucks may outpace traditional diners as long as the Covid pandemic remains with us.

It’s Cheaper to Run a Food Truck

What’s more, the food truck industry is outgrowing the restaurant industry, 5.5% to 4.3%.

This is because it’s generally less expensive to run a food truck. First-time foodies, find it easier to open a food truck than a brick-and-mortar restaurant. They can serve their delicious food, experiment with new ideas, and grow their businesses without a lot of overhead and extra expense.

Staff Costs are Lower

Another reason food trucks can outpace traditional diners is because staff costs are lower.

Food trucks are smaller spaces, so owners don’t have to hire as many staff to work the trucks.

You don’t need a host, a waiter, or dishwashers. There’s no need for bussers to clean tables. All you need is a cashier and some chefs, and your food truck can be operational fairly quickly.

When labor costs are lower, you experience higher profits.

Food trucks are growing in popularity, but will they take over?

Food Truck Mobility is a Plus

Food trucks also have the potential to outpace traditional diners because of their mobility.

Food truck owners don’t have to worry about throwing everything into one location. They also don’t have to be concerned with renting or buying the perfect location. They can set up all over town and experiment with different locations all the time.

Then, food truck owners can choose multiple locations that are successful for them, growing their sales each day. If for some reason, a location changes, food truck owners can simply travel to another location to improve their profitability.

Traditional diners have to find one perfect location. They don’t have the ability to move around at will to maximize their profits. And they are basically stuck. If they chose the wrong location, there isn’t much the traditional diner can do.

Don’t forget, food trucks can travel to multiple locations every week. This gives them more visibility and more customer loyalty. Their most ardent fans can follow them around and purchase from them anywhere.

Events and Catering are Easier

While traditional diners have capitalized on the event and catering markets for years, it’s simply not as easy for them as it is a food truck.

Food truck trends suggest food trucks are better suited for attending events. All their food and equipment go everywhere with them.

So, when it comes to catering and events, food trucks again may outpace traditional diners in popularity.

Food Trucks Have an Air of Coolness

Why do people like to eat at food trucks more than traditional diners?

First, food trucks are “cool.” There’s an air of adventure about eating at a food truck, and the target audience really enjoys being adventurous. (tweet this) Millennials are food truck’s favorite fans, followed by the up to 55 crowd.

This is a huge market of diners that wants to get out and explore different cuisines from different cultures. Food trucks allow them to sample food from different countries right in the city where they live.

People also like to eat at food trucks because generally speaking the food is really delicious. Food truck chefs are often on the cutting edge, again making them, “cool.”

In addition, when people order from a food truck, they know the food is fresh and prepared on the spot. They can order and pick up their food almost immediately and either eat it there or when they get home.

Food truck chefs are usually passionate and creative. This is something today’s diners are looking for.

People also like food trucks more than traditional diners because the prices are often reasonable. Why? Food trucks simply cost less to operate, and they can pass these prices on to their customers.

Food truck owners can outpace traditional diners because they can serve incredible food at better prices than brick-and-mortar diners.

Final Thoughts on Food Truck Trends

Food trucks are here to stay. They were on the rise before Covid, and they are continuing to build on their popularity.

Food trucks may outpace traditional diners because they offer mobility, a great menu, and an extraordinary way to sample unique types of cuisine.

You’ll find that food trucks often experiment with new dishes until they find their following. Once people are hooked on a food truck, their popularity rises, and people from all over the city seek them out.

Food trucks are more convenient than traditional diners. Food trucks go where the people are while traditional diners can’t do this.

Finally, current food truck trends suggest food trucks are the real deal. They have capitalized on a unique product, and we expect them to flourish in the coming decade. (tweet this)

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but you can count on us to create a website that works for your food truck business. Let us help you by creating the perfect site for your food truck! Ready to take the plunge and create a new website? Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Jarritos Mexican Soda and Anthony Persegol on Unsplash

Operating fully automated kitchens can help your restaurant grow.

You may have heard of fully automated kitchens, but since they’re relatively new, you might not know exactly what they are.

An automated kitchen uses robots to do the cooking for you. It can free up labor hours and help you manage your restaurant more efficiently. (tweet this)

In this article, we look at the seven benefits to operating a fully automated kitchen in your restaurant.

#1: Better Customer Service

Perhaps the most important benefit of fully automated kitchens are their ability to completely overhaul your customer service.

An automated kitchen standardizes your procedures and speeds up your kitchen which ultimately helps you provide a better overall customer experience.

When you provide better customer service, you retain more customers, you attract new diners, and you make more money.

An automated kitchen frees up your staff because the “equipment” cooks the food. Your staff can help operate the machines and supervise to ensure everything is top of the line.

What’s more, automation standardizes each plate. This makes your customers happier because their favorite menu item is prepared exactly the same every single time.

#2: Money Savings

Some of your most expensive budget items are labor costs and training. Other large expenses include electricity and waste.

When you have a fully automated kitchen, you reduce many of the big line items.

An automated kitchen means you don’t have to hire skilled labor. For example, you don’t need a specialty food cook. Anyone can operate your automated kitchen. You also don’t need to spend money on training costs to get your employees up to speed on each of your menu items.

Don’t let the cost of a robot keep you hesitant. When you purchase your automated kitchen robot, you only pay for it one time.

You’ll spend less money on your automated kitchen than you would hiring and training staff and doing it over again with the high turnover in the restaurant industry.

It doesn’t cost anything to run a robot. It doesn’t take a weekly salary. Robots are also usually mistake-free, so you avoid mistake-associated costs.

Do consider there are some implementation costs, so make sure you can afford the initial investment.

#3: Time Savings

If you have at least one automated robot in your kitchen, you’ll save time. Add another one, and you’ll experience an amazing amount of time savings when it comes to prep time and cooking time. (tweet this)

You can program your automated kitchen to work quickly. It also is quite precise, so you save time on human error.

Your team members can focus on taking care of your customers and meeting their needs. Again, these time savings will enhance your customer service.

Whether your restaurant is fast cuisine, quick service, or fine exquisite dining, a robot can provide you an automated kitchen that moves quicker than normal.

A robot makes your menu items quickly. Their only job is to create your dishes and prepare them in a timely fashion. People are often slow and get distracted. Your robot won’t be either of these things.

What’s more, your robots don’t get tired like humans do. Everything moves quicker in an automated kitchen.

#4: More Reliable Kitchens

An automated kitchen is a more reliable kitchen. How?

Imagine the customer who comes in and enjoys their dish so much they come back two weeks later to enjoy the same dish. Have you ever heard that customer say the dish wasn’t as good the second time around? Or maybe they said it was better?

With an automated kitchen, your dish will taste and look exactly the same time after time. Your reliable kitchen is consistent, and thus your menu items are consistent.

Your robot measures each ingredient precisely. It prepares those ingredients the same way each time a dish is ordered.

The automated kitchen never throws in a “little bit extra.” It also never scrimps on a dish. It’s simply consistent and reliable.

#5: Safer Kitchens

How many times do your chefs and kitchen staff get hurt?

Accidents happen and may include burns, falls, knife cuts, and more.

If you add a fully automated kitchen robot, you won’t have any kitchen accidents. They will be a thing of the past.

Your robot can operate at any time safely. It won’t ever hurt itself. Your robot helps you increase restaurant safety and avoid any hazardous situations.

#6: Cleaner Kitchens

With an automated kitchen, you can supercharge your cleanliness.

You can ditch the hairnets. There’s no need for long sleeves, aprons, short hair, or beard covers.

Your robot is resistant to disease and sickness. It doesn’t transmit germs to anyone or anything.

What’s more, your robot keeps a sanitized kitchen. You will never have a cleaner kitchen than when it’s automated. It’s impossible to have a sanitized kitchen at all times with human staff. It’s not impossible with an automated kitchen.

#7: Theft Free Kitchens

While no restaurant is ever completely theft free, you can reduce your loss risk considerably with an automated kitchen.

Without many people in your kitchen, no one is grabbing or stealing food, and no one is sneaking some to take home with them.

There are no human temptations when you include an automated robot in your kitchen. You eliminate human emotions, and you take away the risk of food loss.

Final Thoughts on Fully Automated Kitchens

The global cooking robotics market is expected to be worth $322 million by 2028. Automation is growing, and it’s a trend to take a look at.

You know the kitchen is the pulse of your restaurant. Your menu is what keeps your customers coming back again and again. Your kitchen sets the tone for your speed of service, and that is also vital to your success.

Consider fully automated kitchens to help improve your restaurant’s safety, efficiency, and cleanliness. It can help you improve speed in your restaurant as well as in your take-out and delivery services.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but you can count on us to create a website that works for your food service business and your fully automated kitchen. Let us help you by creating the perfect site for your restaurant! Ready to take the plunge and create a new website? Get your free website consultation today!

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Manage your food costs and watch your restaurant grow and thrive.

Food prices are rising across the board, and this affects restaurants just like yours. As a food service entrepreneur, you want to control your costs as much as possible, so you don’t have to drastically increase menu prices and pass them on to your customers.

But what can you do? In this article, we look at how food service entrepreneurs are finding creative ways to manage food costs. Let’s look at some tips for slashing those costs.

Thin Out Your Menu

One of the first things you can do is take a long hard look at your menu.

Look at what is selling and what isn’t. If you are purchasing food for items that don’t sell very well, you are probably wasting food. By fixing this issue, you can save on your food costs.

In addition, do you have any items that are really expensive to produce? You really want to look at these. Since the food costs are higher on these items, they really can eat into your bottom line.

So, on your most expensive items, you want to get rid of them if they don’t sell well. If they do sell well, make sure you are pricing the item accordingly, and you aren’t losing money.

Bottom line – if you are throwing ingredients away on a continual basis because of underselling dishes, it’s time to remove them from the menu.

Pre-Portion Your Food

It’s very common for kitchen staff to over serve customers. Perhaps your staff isn’t paying enough attention, or they don’t think the plate looks full enough.

Whatever the reason, you can put a stop to it by pre-portioning out the ingredients for each dish.

If this sounds overwhelming, pick your most expensive dishes and give it a try. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can save by running your kitchen this way.

Get Comfortable with Labels

Labels are a restaurant’s best friend. It’s the best way to know just what is lurking in your refrigerator and how old it is.

For example, when you prep sauce for a pasta dish, you can not only pre-portion it, but you can put it in the refrigerator with the name and date.

This way you can avoid keeping things too long or throwing food away too early. Labeling also helps ensure you use everything in your fridge and don’t waste anything.

You don’t need a professional labeling machine. Some painter’s tape and a sharpie will work just fine.

Get Employee Buy-In

If you’re trying to manage food costs, it’s imperative you get your employees on board.

Your employees are the gatekeepers of your kitchen, and they can really help you cut costs if they know that’s your goal. (tweet this)

Team participation is the key to inspiring everyone to lend a hand. Train them well and explain to them how important it is to reduce food waste and ultimately food costs.

Ditch the Kitchen Trash Can

This might sound like a crazy idea, but if you take the trash can out of the kitchen, you might be surprised at the results.

Consider bringing in see-through plastic food boxes. Label each box with a kitchen team member’s name. Ask them to put all of their food scraps into their own box.

At the end of their shift, you can go through it together. This can help bring awareness to your team and show them just what they’re tossing. For example, they may have inadvertently through a cupful of usable broccoli away.

In addition, once you’re done going through the box, consider composting it. This is another visual cue for your staff members.

In addition, consider using the compost to grow a garden to supply your restaurant. This is a great marketing tactic because today’s diners love to eat food that’s local and sustainable.

This probably isn’t an exercise you want to keep long term. Try it for a month as a way to help your kitchen staff be more aware at the food they’re wasting to help you cut costs.

Review your most expensive items to see where you can reduce food costs.

Cut Food Portions

For this creative idea, take a few weeks to monitor the plates coming back into your kitchen.

Are your diners leaving a lot of food on their plate? Are you sending out multiple to-go boxes each night full of leftovers? If so, you might want to look at your portion sizes.

When your customers are routinely leaving food on their plates, you can cut your food costs by making smaller dishes. This ultimately improves your bottom line.

It also looks better to your customers because people don’t like to waste food.

Lower Your Inventory

This can be helpful when you want to manage food costs. Oftentimes, restaurants buy an overabundance of food. They buy more than they need, and much of it goes to waste because it turns bad.

You want to have a really good handle on how much food you need so you don’t overbuy. When you reduce your inventory excess, you won’t see as much waste from spoiling.

What’s more, your team will be less likely to over portion a plate because you only have a set amount of food on hand.

Final Thoughts

Food prices have risen nearly twice as much as everything else in 2021, and it doesn’t look like it will let up in 2022.

It’s time for food service entrepreneurs to get creative when looking for ways to manage food costs.

By using the tips in this article, you’ll find you can more easily manage your food costs while preventing waste and enhancing your bottom line.

Be vigilant with your inventory. Monitor portions and be aware of dishes that don’t sell.

Take your time and create a strategy for monitoring and managing your foods costs, and you’ll be well poised to take on the competition in 2022 and beyond. (tweet this)

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but you can count on us to create a website that works for your food service business. Let us help you by creating the perfect site for your restaurant! Ready to take the plunge and create a new website? Get your free website consultation today!

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