I am someone who enjoys eating out a lot. Whenever I go out, I should eat something or else. Those who come with me to my mall spree every Sunday knows that first-hand. Even if I’m full I have to eat something. I have to feel the atmosphere of dining out. It may be a hobby of sorts, I’m not really sure. I just happen to have an affinity with food I guess. LOL
It doesn’t have to be a restaurant but when I am in one, it can’t be helped to note down what pisses a customer off. Whatever the reason to in the restaurant is, the event boils down as a time of social interaction with a companion. It’s a time to have a discussion over a course in a different ambiance compared to what we are used to either from our houses or work places.
Basing on my own personal experience on dining out, here are a few factors that somehow contributes to consumer’s insight if they are to come back to a restaurant.
1) Enough space among tables. No matter how beautiful inside a restaurant is, if customers or waiters will continue to bump against each other and food gets thrown all over the place… Reminder, no one wants to have bruises or food splattered all over them. Might as well have lesser tables.
2) Music. Sounds contribute a lot to the ambiance of the place. Could you imagine Starbucks playing hard metal music? Or a Japanese restaurant like Tokyo Tokyo playing OPM (Original Pilipino Music)? Enough said.
3) Timing. I once ate at a restaurant with officemates and we waited for 1 hour for our food. A long, friggin hour! It consumed our lunch break, not to mention our patience since we were really hungry and we needed to eat in a rush or we will be late! We never went back to that place. In a fastfood, it is expected for food to be fast. In a restaurant, it is not expected for food to come out too fast but it should be at a time wherein customer’s will be excited to see the food yet not be frustratingly hungry. Timing is essential.
4) Staff friendliness. A friendly staff will always make customers feel welcome and come back to the restaurant. Depending on the class and ambiance of the restaurant, the constant presence of waiters or staff could be decided. In restaurants like Shakeys, an alert waiter is enough but on hi-end restaurants, wherein CEO’s or royalty often dine, constant watch from staff could be required. Whatever the case may be, restaurant staff should always be alert for any customer requests. In my case though, I cannot imagine a waiter hovering nearby while I eat with a companion. It would truly be uncomfortable knowing someone is within earshot focusing on our conversation.
5) Quality Food. Not every restaurant is expected to have hi-class food since not everyone could afford such. What is important though is delicious and CLEAN food. What, you asking, do I mean by clean? Well, you see, back in college, I ate with my bestfriend in a japanese restaurant. We were half-way through our meal when she found a baby cockroach at the bottom of her riceball!!!! Eeeew! Disgusting!!! We told everyone we knew not to go there. I guess we were the reason that restaurant is not there anymore. XD
Oh well, these are the things that is essential for a restaurant to catch my heart. There are plenty of good restaurants in the world. Tokyo Tokyo, Barrio Fiesta, Pancake House, San Diego restaurant, etc. Whatever is a restaurant’s forte, the essential factors above are the basic things customer’s look for in dining quality service.
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