Ontario patio dining is opening up this month and summer weather is finally here. People are getting excited to head to their favourite restaurants. There’s a reason why summer in Ontario is known as “patio season”.
Get on track for a successful patio season with these 5 tips for opening a profitable restaurant patio:
1) Maximize Seating
This might seem tricky considering changing public health guidelines on restaurant seating. However, you must take some extra time when planning your patio floorplan to execute a plan that maximizes seating capacity without sacrificing ambiance or comfort. Pay attention to local guidelines and shift your floor plan accordingly. Consider how you can welcome the maximum number of guests and adhere to COVID-prevention measures.
2) Create an Insta-Worthy Atmosphere
Patio atmosphere is important for two main reasons. First, it’s essential to create a comfortable and welcoming space for your clientele to enjoy their dining experience. It will also encourage them to stay longer and order more! However, it’s also important from a social media perspective.
Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of marketing. Someone posting your beautiful patio on their Instagram account might just be enough to influence others to join them. A beautiful, Instagram-worthy patio is going to get attention online and will increase your online exposure—and encourage more visitors to your restaurant.
3) Set Up an Outdoor Bussing Station
An outdoor bussing station is essential to help your employees do their job with ease. No one wants to be rushing in and out of the door with dirty dishes every time they clear a table. With an outdoor bussing station, your team becomes more organized and efficient at clearing tables. Resulting in less wait time between seating tables.
The ability to clean tables quickly means you can welcome more guests. Additionally, in case of an accidental spill, someone can be there to quickly clean up the mess. An outdoor bussing station will not only make your team happy, but it will help them take care of their customers more efficiently. Resulting in a better experience for everyone.
4) Don’t Forget About the Elements
Patio season is not always sunny days and perfect weather. If you plan you can make sure your patio is prepared for all types of weather, meaning you can keep it open for more days out of the year.
Market umbrellas are great for both sunny, hot days, and to keep clients dry in case of a little rain. Outdoor heaters are ideal for chilly nights, and bug zappers or citronella candles will help keep bugs away. If you keep all your bases covered, you will have more optimal days on the patio and will increase your profitability.
5) Offer an Incentive to Entice Passers-By
An outdoor barbecue or cooking station is a great way to drum up excitement and entice passers-by with the sense of smell. If that’s not an option, you can also entice foot traffic to join your patio with patio-only specials such as cocktails or sharing plates
Patio Season is Here
Patios are going to be an important part of dining out this summer. Make sure your patio shines for all the right reasons and earns you a great profit with these tips!
Are you ready for a profitable patio season? If you’re looking to invest in a restaurant property with a patio, get in touch with us and we can serve up some options.
