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As a foodie, running your own restaurant is the dream. However, as fun and exciting as the prospect might be, a restaurant is still a business, and your main focus needs to be on bringing in more customers and making more sales.

Whether you’re about to open up your first restaurant or you’ve been a restauranteur for a while and are looking for ways to invite more customers in, this post will help you out with some fun and creative ways to do just that.

Photo by Mehmet Suat Gunerli: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-sitting-inside-a-restaurant-3252051/

Embrace the Great Outdoors

Many people (both smokers and non) prefer to dine outdoors in the fresh air. Providing an inviting and comfortable outdoor seating option is a great way to lure in both new and loyal customers.

Make sure to provide shade for sunny days, and incorporate as much greenery as possible to enhance the outdoor feel. Consider interesting seating options like laid-back park picnic tables, a cozy fire pit gathering, or elegant and relaxing canopy bed lounges, depending on your theme and style.

Unique Menu Offerings

Obviously, the most important thing about your restaurant is the food. Make sure you stand out from your competition by offering unique and experimental menu items.

Keep dishes in line with your restaurant’s theme and identity, but try to experiment with flavors and offer new and interesting combinations that patrons might not have tried before. Make sure to include a variety of vegetarian and vegan options, too, as well as gluten-free substitutes to accommodate a wide variety of dietary needs and preferences.

Live Entertainment

One way to really boost the feet in your door is to offer live entertainment at your restaurant. People love to enjoy live music with their meals, and if you can hire popular local artists, you might succeed in appealing to new audiences as well.

Other than live music, which creates a great atmosphere, you can also consider other performances (like stand-up comedy) or hosting themed events like quiz nights. When there’s entertainment involved, it provides an extra reason (other than a meal) for people to get up off their sofas and into your restaurant.

Impeccable Customer Service

Your customers’ experience in terms of service at your restaurant is of paramount importance when it comes to whether or not they will return. Make sure that your staff is trained to provide friendly and attentive service at all times.

Of course, this all starts with treating your staff well. Happy employees will be more likely to go above and beyond for their jobs, so make sure you cultivate a positive work culture.

Collaborate with Local Influencers

Finally, see if you can partner with local food bloggers or lifestyle influencers to promote your restaurant. Social media is one of the giants in marketing right now, and leveraging this is in your best interests.

Invite and host a blogger or Instagrammer and offer them a free meal and experience in exchange for an authentic post online.