Good news for independent restaurant operations!  Though the public may not be eating out as often these days, they are dining out more selectively.  Many potential patrons are seeking a unique experience, one that can only be found in a unique restaurant.  So how do you go about getting the lion’s share of this market?  Your restaurant needs to create a unique experience for your guests, one that they will remember and talk about later—thus drawing more customers without a penny of marketing money spent.

Where to start?  You might start with your menu.  With a slight lull in sales, I have seen restaurant operators debating increasing their menu offerings.  However, this can be a risky move if it dilutes your restaurant’s message.  Does your food have a theme—or a quirkiness that you could play on as a strength?  What makes your food memorable?  Make sure your menu reflects your restaurant’s uniqueness: in the food and in the look of the menu.  You can find all the menu accessories you need here at Serv-U.

Confident in your menu, move on to décor.  Delicious food alone may be enough to keep people coming, but creating an interesting dining environment is one more piece of the puzzle.  If you don’t have a cohesive décor yet, now might be the time to cultivate it.  Get creative and dream big; ask trusted friends for ideas.  And then go with your instincts.  If your budget permits, start with tables and chairs.  If you’d like to “test the waters” first, start by freshening up smaller items like wall art, tabletop lighting, tablecloths, even interesting glassware and dinnerware.  Don't stop there, though; consider other tabletop items like ceramic vases and stainless steel holloware, metal serving baskets, and sizzling cast iron skillets.

Stuck for ideas?  Check out this wacky list of unique dining experiences.  I don't know if I’d like to eat in a morgue, but I’m sure that if I ever did, I’d never forget it!