When the weather warms up, one of the most enjoyable experiences in the evening is eating outdoors. Whether you’re on the street and you want to be around people or you want something more intimate as part of a roof top dining location, the experience of outdoor dining can be made all the more exceptional if you can incorporate some of the following key ingredients:
Views
If you have the option of offering a better view of the country side or of your town, be sure to plan your outdoor dining area in order to offer the best views possible. While some restaurant owners will be limited by their space, do what you can to balance a private, intimate experience with a great view of interesting surroundings, such as providing a view of a nearby field or opening up a wall so that customers can see a popular local attraction.
Shade from the Sun
A strong dose of sunlight can ruin an afternoon lunch with too much heat or blind diners in the evening as it sets. By investing in umbrellas, a canopy, shades, or an awning, you will make your outdoor dining area far more enjoyable for customers and will give yourself longer periods of time where it will be useful for dining. For example, a dining area in the blazing sun on a hot day won’t attract very many people, but if you set up some umbrellas or a canopy that will provide enough shade, customers will find your location far more attractive.
Lighting for Evening Diners
Big spotlights will kill the mood and blind diners in your outdoor seating area. Most pictures of the best outdoor eating areas show long strands of light bulbs that disperse light evenly without concentrating it in any one location. This minimizes bugs and adds to the ambiance of your location.
A Barrier from the Street
Whether you use large flower boxes, railings, potted plants, or more creative dividers that you can move as needed, a barrier will help you create a sense of space for diners at your restaurant and give them a better experience. At the very least, a barrier of some sort will keep pedestrians from cutting through your dining area and disrupting meals.
Flowers
Every outdoor restaurant or restaurant with outdoor seating needs flowers or landscaping. This creates a far more pleasant atmosphere for customers and gives them something to enjoy while they wait for their food. You can also use flowers to give greater privacy in between tables or between the patio and the street.
Secure Tables
The materials you use on your patio can go a long way to creating a secure, stable platform for your tables. While bricks may be nice for walk ways, they don’t always make for a good dining room floor since they can chip or break over time, leading to uneven tables that will wobble.
If you have tables on an uneven sidewalk that you are unable to modify, you still have some options. For example, by using something as simple as wobble wedges to steady a table, you’ll save customers from embarrassing and inconvenient spills when a table shifts. These wedges come in clear and black colors so that they’ll remain inconspicuous.
Clean and Dry Seats
When you have outdoor dining, rain and birds can do a number on your seats. By making sure at least one if not all staff members clean and dry the outdoor seats, you’ll save yourself the embarrassment of almost giving a customer a dirty or wet seat. First impressions are extremely important, and you want to give your customers the best impression of your establishment even before they sit down.
The recipe for the best outdoor dining set up isn’t mysterious, but it does take some time and upfront investment. However, these elements will go a long way to giving customers the best experience possible when they eat out and will surely encourage them to return.
About The Author:
This article was written by the established author, Ed Quinn after analyzing his worst and best restaurant experiences.
Image Credit:
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
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