As warm weather approaches, people are looking forward to spending more time outdoors. This year, let them enjoy fresh air while dining at their favorite restaurant. If you’ve never had an outdoor dining space before, here are my top tips for creating a space outdoors that your customers will love:
Choose a beautiful space. If people enjoy the scenery, the food will taste better. You may need to do some landscaping, painting or decorating to make everyone feel at home in the outdoors. If your outdoor dining space is visible to passers by, it can even serve as free advertising. Speaking of free advertising, an attractive outdoor space invites your customers to share pictures on social media and bring in more business.
Light the space. It’s amazing how much difference accent lighting can make in beautifying a space.
Make the space comfortable. Depending on the season, this may mean adding heaters and fans or opening and closing the tent walls based on the weather. Side walls that are kedered slide open and closed in a track and will make life much easier for your staff.
Speaking of comfort, choose inviting furniture. Proper furniture is durable even in damp conditions and adds to the outdoor ambience.
Cook outdoors. If possible, prepare the food in front of your guests. It will engage them and encourage food transparency.
Prepare for all types of weather. A sturdy awning or commercial tent with walls can make the space usable in all kinds of weather. Some restaurants use a tent only during the colder season. Others keep it in place all summer to offer shade and protection from rain.
Plan for customer flow. Will people enter through the restaurant or enter the tent directly? Will one hostess seat guests both indoors and outdoors?
Plan waitstaff access. Make it easy and fast to access your outdoor space from the kitchen. This will make the lives of waiters and waitresses easier as well as increase customer satisfaction and speed of service.
Obtain the proper permits, and be sure to follow local rules and regulations.
Many areas will not allow a tent to be in place more than 180 days out of the year. Tent permits may also be required. Your tent provider can help you with this process.
Of course all food safety regulations apply as well.
Be sure to follow any local noise ordinances.
Advertise your patio. Mention your outdoor dining space in all your marketing both inside the restaurant and online. Yelp even has a special category for restaurants with outdoor seating.
Tents For Rent offers tents for long term tent rentals as well as new or used tents for sale. Contact us today to find out how to plan a successful patio dining space.
