restaurant amenities
by Otilia Dobos

Did you know that acquiring new customers is 5 to 25 times more expensive than keeping an existing one? Moreover, there is a limited number of people in your area, so the key to success is to increase client loyalty.

An easy way to do this is to provide restaurant amenities that create a great experience for your customers and encourage them to come back. Check out this comprehensive list of ideas that enhance client satisfaction.

What are restaurant amenities?

Restaurant amenities are things that a food business can provide to make the experience more enjoyable for clients. They can range from physical things such as complimentary drinks to services and the use of helpful technology.

If you offer top-notch restaurant amenities, you will enjoy:

  • A constant stream of loyal clients: when customers are satisfied with all parts of their dining out experience, they are more likely to come back and become loyal supporters;
  • More positive reviews: reviews are the most important currency for restaurants. The more good reviews you have, the more new clients you will attract;
  • Reputation growth: people who enjoy their time at your restaurant will talk about your place and recommend it to others, so you can grow both your reputation and profit.

Restaurant amenities list that will impress your clients

You can easily offer most of the restaurant amenities listed below with little to no investment on your part. The benefits will be worth the effort of setting them up:

1. QR code ordering

During busy hours, clients can often feel your restaurant’s service is lacking because they have to wait a long time to place an order or pay. A good way to solve this problem without increasing labor costs is to enable QR code ordering.

Read more: How to Set up a QR Code Ordering System for Your Restaurant Menu

If you create a QR code menu, print it, and stick it on each table, clients will be able to:

  • Scan the menu as soon as they are seated;
  • Browse the menu for as long as they want;
  • Easily place an order, using just their phones;
  • Pay for their food with no need to wait around for a server.

You can enable on-premise dining for free if you use the online ordering system from GloriaFood. The setup process is fast and easy and you will be able to make ordering easing for in-location clients by tomorrow:

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Increase client satisfaction by making on-premise ordering easier and faster Generate your free QR code menu now

2. Rewards for returning clients

Rewards are one of the most appreciated restaurant amenities as they gamify the dining experience. Customers get rewards according to how often they visit or order from a restaurant, encouraging them to remain loyal.

Give clients an incentive to come back to your place by setting up a simple reward system with the Promotions module from GloriaFood. You can offer people promotions such as free desserts or discounts on their cart according to:

  • How many times they have ordered before;
  • How much money they have spent.

Watch this video to learn how to easily set up this type of reward system:

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3. Table reservation system

Making a reservation by phone is the opposite of an enjoyable experience. Clients may not have time to place a call and it can lead to booking mistakes that will be hard to solve.

Instead, allow customers to book a table directly on your website, in just a few clicks, with no human interaction needed. You can get a free table reservation system from GloriaFood that you can add to your website in minutes.

restaurant amenities

If you don’t have a website, you can create a sales and SEO-optimized one using our intuitive restaurant website builder. This way, you will reach more clients while also enabling customers to make a reservation and even order online.

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4. New menu items

Clients will keep coming back to your restaurant because they enjoy your food. But, at some point, they may grow tired of your regular menu items and want to try something new. Don’t lose them to your competitors, update your menu regularly with exciting new dishes.

A seasonal menu will get clients excited while also increasing your profits because ingredients that are in season tend to be cheaper. You don’t need to replace every item on the menu, just update it with some specials.

You can use the free menu creator from GloriaFood to update your online menu as often as you want, at no extra cost. You can even go a step further and add personalization options such as toppings and sizes to further enhance the dining experience.

Consent needed
Keep clients engaged by constantly updating your menu Use this menu editor to make unlimited changes, free of charge

5. Temperature regulating systems

Going to a restaurant is a refuge from the weather outside. No matter the season, your place should be a comfortable place where clients can enjoy a meal in the perfect temperature.

You don’t want clients shivering or sweating profusely while trying to eat their dishes. This will not only determine them to never come back, but you also risk getting some negative reviews that will be hard to recover from.

Therefore, ensure that you have:

  • AC system: for the hot summer months when the temperature becomes unbearable outside;
  • Heating system: to make your restaurant comfortable even in a snowstorm;
  • Fans: for the outside areas, where the AC won’t reach;
  • Blankets: some nights can get chilly outside, but a soft blanket will keep clients at the table for longer.

6. A clean and well-stocked bathroom

There is nothing more unpleasant than going to a dirty toilet that lacks soap, paper towels, and other essential restaurant amenities. Even if the food was great, the underwhelming bathroom experience will deter people from coming back.

Check out these tips for a proper bathroom experience:

  • Schedule employees to clean and stock the bathroom multiple times a day;
  • Provide extra, sometimes unexpected items, such as stain removers, deodorant, hygiene items, and breath mints.

7. Complimentary food items

Receiving a free menu item can instantly increase the clients’ satisfaction. It doesn’t have to be a whole meal or offered often enough to affect your profit margin. You can:

  • Offer a free dessert on special occasions: for example on Valentine’s Day or Christmas.
  • Provide a small snack before the meal: factored in the price of other menu items so it won’t decrease your profit. For example, buttered popcorn or beef drippings popcorn is always a hit.

restaurant amenities

8. Free wi-fi

Most people spend some time on their phones when visiting a restaurant, be it to check social media, talk with friends, or even post photos from your place. You don’t want to miss out on some user-generated content, don’t you?

Make it easy for people to use the internet at your place by providing free wi-fi. You can condition the access by asking for an e-mail address so you can enlarge your client database. You can afterward use the newly gathered contact data to send clients irresistible promos and persuade them to come back.

9. Special events

Restaurant amenities can be anything that enhances the dining experience, even events. There are many competitors in your area, and it can be hard to stand out from them. Organizing events will provide clients with something extra on top of the food, persuading them to choose your restaurant.

Here are a couple of events ideas:

  • Trivia nights
  • Karaoke evening
  • Live music
  • Dancing parties
  • Wine or beer tastings

Read more: 15 Restaurant Event Ideas to Get Customers Through the Door

10. Outdoor seating

hotel restaurant amenities

If you have the space and you can get the legal approvals, don’t miss out on expanding your space outside. In the warm months, many people are looking for a patio to enjoy a meal while basking in the sun.

Moreover, outdoor seating can help you increase your sales because you can serve more clients and also attract passersbys who won’t be able to resist the deliciously looking food.

Read more: How to Boost Restaurant Sales During Patio Season

Final words

The restaurant industry is known for being highly competitive. You have surely noticed there are a variety of food businesses in your area. Try out the restaurant amenities suggested above to make your mark and increase your number of loyal customers.

photo of GloriaFood blog writer Otilia Dobos
Otilia Dobos

Otilia Dobos prides herself on well-documented, easy to understand and SEO-optimized content, both short and long form.