Keeping Customers Happy With Appetizers
May 6, 2008 – 11:49 pmOne way that you can keep customers happy is by offering a menu with appetizers on it. They may be extremely hungry when they come in so waiting for their meal can seem like eternity. The smell of the food in there is going to make them hungrier than before as well. It can be frustrating to wait for food and that could result in them going to another location where they can get a meal fast.
With some locations such as Mexican food places there are appetizers already given to the guests at no charge. Almost all of these types of restaurants offer free chips and salsa for the table to enjoy. This is a delightful part of the meal and it can often be one of the main reasons why the guests return again and again to eat there.
When you are designing your menu of appetizers you want to have a good selection. People have different tastes so make sure there is something for everyone to choose from. Nachos and fried mushrooms are very popular with people. Children seem to love cheese sticks that are loaded with melted mozzarella inside of them. A combination place with three or four different items is great for a large group of people as well.
In order to encourage sales of your appetizers, you should have visuals on the menu. Seeing what these delicious foods look like will encourage customers to order them. When a person is hungry the picture of food can really wet their appetite for it. You can even have a separate menu sitting on the table with only your appetizers.
The wait staff needs to be encouraging guests to order the appetizers as well. After taking their order they can say something along the lines of promoting them. Asking the guests if anyone would like to order an appetizer is a very simple way to do this without being pushy. You may be surprised at how many guests will decide to place such an order.
The appetizers need to be processed in the kitchen as quickly as possible. If the table receives them too close to their full meal it can be annoying. This can prevent them from ordering appetizers the next time they come in. You also want to make sure there are plates offered for each person at the table. Most guests will be sharing the appetizers so this is a nice gesture.
Make sure guests also have silverware, napkins, and dipping sauces for their appetizers. They want to be able to enjoy them while they are still hot. If they have to wait for the staff to accommodate all their needs the food can be getting cold. Being able to anticipate what the guests need is a vital part of successfully serving them from the moment they want in the door.
It is often a very good idea to serve appetizers at your sit down restaurant. Customers will be very happy with them, especially if they are part of the meal and at no charge. Should you have a menu of appetizers, you can be sure customers will buy them. This is a great way to increase your sales as well. It also keeps customers from thinking about their hunger until their main course arrives.
Tags: Customer-Service
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