Eating in Outer Space: How to have a stellar outdoor dining space
Remember when you were a kid and couldn’t wait to get outside? I suspect that didn’t go away. As adults, we simply traded tree climbing and mud pies for taking our breaks and lunch hours outdoors. Winter is in the rearview, customers are seeking outdoor dining options again. Before you (re)open your outdoor dining space, there are steps that can help ensure safety and success:
Playing it Safe – Before the season gets rolling, it’s important to consider the effectiveness of the measures you have in place to keep your customers safe and comfortable. Is your inclement weather protection (i.e., clear-panel curtains, awnings, etc.) in good condition to offer protection from the elements? The ability to rapidly deploy shielding from inclement weather helps prevent soggy bottoms on both your pies and your customers.
Hidden in Plain Sight – Customers want both an enjoyable outdoor dining experience and the privacy of an indoor dining space. The seating layout should offer a smooth traffic flow for both customers and staff while keeping the outdoor aesthetic intact. Staff should be able to unobtrusively buss tables, and the POS system and/or server station should be located somewhere that is both convenient and out of sight.
Time After Time – An annual review of your outdoor space will help identify what worked well (a limited seasonal menu helped the kitchen keep up with increased demand) and what could be improved (an awning leak during heavy rain left puddles that could’ve contributed to a slip-and-fall accident). If you’re starting from scratch, it’s important to monitor service levels, maintenance issues, and customer satisfaction from one year to the next. To paraphrase Maya Angelou, once you know better, you can do better.
If you’d like to know more about balancing service levels with customer satisfaction and safety in your outdoor dining (or any dining space, please click the button below to get in touch.
