You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Nowadays, most people form an opinion about your restaurant by analyzing your online presence, such as your website and social media. However, don’t ignore the power of an impressive location.
The best restaurant entrance blends both form and function by creating a pleasant experience for each customer. This will persuade them to come back. Check out these creative restaurant entrance ideas that will help you get noticed:
6 Restaurant entrance ideas to increase client retention
The first thing potential clients see when they walk by your restaurant is your entrance. If the place seems intriguing and inviting, passers-by will be tempted to give your business a try.
1. Create an adequate waiting area
No matter how big or small your location is, the restaurant entrance area will usually serve as a waiting area for people who did not book a table in advance or arrived early for their reservation.
Here is what you can do to make their waiting time comfortable:
- Have seating available: customers may be tired and will find standing for long periods unacceptable. To not crowd your entrance area, you can install benches on the sides that will provide comfort while not blocking the traffic;
- Provide shelter from the weather: your restaurant will be open even if the sun is scorching or there is a blizzard going on outside. Therefore, ensure the entrance space is at an acceptable temperature in any type of weather, either using heaters or fans. If the space is small and people will be waiting outside, retractable covers are a great idea;
- Have slip–proof floors: you don’t want to risk people slipping and having an accident at your entrance. Choose a floor material that is easy to clean and prevents slips in any type of weather.
2. Display your menu and promotions
One of the best restaurant entrance ideas is to display your menu to get people to decide on their order before they are seated. This will make the service faster, allowing you to turn more tables and increase the number of sales in a day.
But having a big board will take up much-needed space in the entryway and someone will have to constantly update it when you change the menu or if certain items are out of stock.
To avoid these issues, use a QR code menu! All you have to do is print out the code on a flyer and stick it on an easily available space, such as a window. Clients will be able to scan it in seconds and browse the menu leisurely, on their phone.
If you want to enable QR code menu ordering, GloriaFood has a free solution for you:
If you want to get people even more excited to get to their table, show them your attractive promotions! If you use the online ordering system from GloriaFood, you can take advantage of the easy-to-use Promotions module to add promotions to the top of your menu in seconds.
3. Make it photo-worthy
A lot of foodies like to show off the new restaurants they try. This is why it is important to create a restaurant entrance that not only looks good in photos but actually motivates clients to take photographs of it.
Here are a couple of restaurant entrance ideas that are sure to lead to a lot of user-generated content:
- An art installation by a local artist: get close to your local community by promoting their artists. Commission a piece of art from a creator that fits your design and values. Then, showcase it in your entrance where it will not be missed;
- A well-lit sign of your logo: when people post pictures of your restaurant, you want your business’s name to be clear in every one of them. That way, other people will be tempted to visit your place. A big, luminous logo will surely make its way into every image;
- Turn the space into a greenhouse: plants can make any space feel more inviting and they also make a great photo background. You can choose between living walls, hanging planters, and a variety of other ways to display plants that don’t impede the restaurant’s flow;
- A door that everyone will grow to recognize: while a door’s main purpose is to be functional, there is no reason not to also make it a design statement. For example, you can paint it a solid vibrant color or decorate it with illustrations of your best-selling dishes.
4. Adapt your restaurant’s entrance décor to the season
Adapting to the season is a great choice both for your menu and your décor. By adopting a seasonal menu, you can cut costs. Ingredients that are in season are cheaper, and you give people menu variety.
Seasonal décor creates a sense of excitement around your restaurant and brings in more people who want to take photos with your new arrangement.
Check out these examples for seasonal décor:
- Winter decorations: help people forget about the bad weather by making your restaurant entrance a winter wonderland with fake snow, Christmas trees, and red and green decorations;
- Spring flowers: take advantage of all the flowers that are blooming in spring by displaying them at your entrance;
- Holiday decorations: get people in a celebratory spirit by adding a theme to your entryway, such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or St Patrick’s Day.
5. Use lighting to create a pleasant ambiance
Lighting sets the tone for any space. For example, hospitals are known for powerful, overhead cold lights that create a sterile environment. You want to use light to create the opposite effect at your restaurant.
Try out these restaurant entrance ideas for lighting:
- Dramatic light fixtures: if you run a bold establishment, consider adding a big, statement piece of lighting, such as a chandelier or a light installation;
- Guiding lights: as one of the main goals of an entrance is to lead people inside, use side lighting that gets progressively more powerful towards the interior;
- Concealed light sources: such as behind a planter or a painting. They must be powerful enough to lead the way when it’s dark outside while still creating a pleasant ambiance for customers who are waiting to be seated. Opt for LED fixtures because they are more energy efficient and will cost less in the long run.
6. Match the décor to your interior design
Your restaurant’s entrance is still part of your location’s design and should give people an idea of what is waiting for them inside. Therefore, try to maintain the same décor style and colors that will create continuity.
For example, if your interior is decorated in an old English pub style, don’t make your entryway look like an American dinner. If you want to stand out, you can add an extra element, such as a red carpet that is usually seen at more high-end establishments.
Read more: 15 Restaurant Design Tips That Will Attract More Customers
Final words
By using the restaurant entrance ideas presented above, you will create a comfortable space for your customers. This will persuade them to visit you again. The great part is that these ideas don’t require a big budget, just attention to detail.
