A recent thread on FohBoh.com brought up the topic of “Ways to Engage a Guest,” and while the ideas were all good, one stuck with me: talk up the kiddies. So when I found out that Parents.com had come out with a “10 Best Family Restaurants” list, I thought it was time for a blog post on the art of courting the unpaying guest who might just beg mom and dad to take them back for more.
The Parents.com list included only national chain restaurants that are familiar to many; that said, I’m not going to repeat the top 10 restaurants here. Instead, I’m going to try to pull a few themes from the reasons these places were selected:
- Changing stations in the women’s AND men’s rooms.
- No smoking.
- Kids’ menus with a variety of foods and healthful options.
- Freebies of any kind are good (finger food, crayons, toys, bibs, etc.).
- No trans fat.
- Nutrition and allergy information clearly posted. (This tends to be a weak spot for independent restaurants.)
- Child-oriented programs (like rewards for reading, recipe contests, contributions to children’s charities, etc.).
- Friendly price points. Drinks included in the meal price is a bonus.
Now, you may not be able to achieve all of these things in a day or even ever; most of the top chain restaurants don’t boast every point on this list, either. Every little bit helps, though, and if there’s something on this list that you can implement without damaging your bottom line, you may actually see a positive return for the effort.
And if your restaurant needs high chairs, booster seats, changing stations, or other kid-friendly equipment, be sure to call Serv-U and we’ll help you choose the best models for your establishment—at the best price.
