Managing your Restaurants Wait Times

People who want to enjoy a night out with a dining experience as part of the activities don't want to wait. It is particularly frustrating to go to your favorite food place and be forced to stand or sit in a small foyer or entrance area for lengthy periods of time. The owner of a busy restaurant chain in Nevada has found a way to turn the wait period into a positive and lucrative experience for her guests. Here are some tips for managing your restaurants wait times in a profitable way.

The wait period for guests which is usually during the breakfast and lunch rush periods can be as long as an hour. The popularity of the dining establishment makes guests willing to wait. The owner points out that she has taken steps to turn the interval between entrance and seating into a mini-vacation.

The savvy restaurateur offers drinks to her patrons while they wait. The drinks might be Bloody Marys, coffee or other items. This works in two ways: the guests are relaxed and happy while they are awaiting a table to open up, and the restaurant makes some income off the drinks that are provided. The return can easily be $20 for a party of four.

There are even specials offered to enhance the feeling of socialization and sharing. Selected drinks such as Mimosas and Bloody Marys are offered in pairs. The specials are noted on the menus. Some locations where the owner is aware of making waiting customers happy encourage them to enjoy a drink at the bar, or at an outdoor waiting area.

Customers who are waiting can be utilized to test the popularity of new drinks. Patrons are getting something during the delay and the restaurant owners gets the benefit of public input. Making personal connections with waiting patrons helps them to feel at home and welcomed. Children are not forgotten either. They are offered free toast orders to help them take care of hunger pangs during a delay.

Paying attention to the ambiance of the wait period will help guests to not feel like they are just marking time while getting more and more anxious for the fun to begin. Instead managing your restaurants wait times in a fun and positive way gains customer's good will. It also provides an opportunity to increase the revenues from customers who are there to take part in an enjoyable meal.