What creates the most popular restaurants?

The pursuit of experientiality has brought new challenges to the competitive landscape of the business world. Standing out from the crowd seems increasingly difficult as rapid information flow reflects in customer expectations. No matter how much you invest in your restaurant's menu, your competitors' doorbells seem to ring even more frequently. Is your food perhaps distasteful, or what's going on?

A glance at the competitors

Riding the wave of popularity is delightful, but reaching for it amid the hustle and bustle of daily life can feel challenging. It seems that those who have a particularly dedicated customer base effortlessly glide past the line. Despite analyzing competitors and revamping the menu, change eludes, and it feels like you've tried everything. Sound familiar? Believe me, you're not alone.

The situation isn't made any easier by the fact that advice on the path to success pours in like rain in the summer. Some suggest updating marketing, others the menu, and some the decor. The development work consumes the annual budget and sanity. Before throwing in the towel and tossing your phone into the lake, take a moment to think about your competitors. Who is your toughest rival?

The living room sofa. That's the one. A growling stomach rarely ventures beyond the refrigerator or the nearest grocery store. Food is available at home, and beer can be bought cheaper off the supermarket shelf. Even the drink selection isn't a significant competitive advantage nowadays, as supermarket cold aisles are filled with options ranging from classics to products from craft breweries. Menu, marketing, and decor overhauls won't work if the living room sofa is more inviting than the restaurant.

Success stories are born from coziness

Personalities stand out, whether it's a person or a business. It's no wonder that in recent years, the restaurant industry has been dominated by a living room-like atmosphere that invites customers to visit time and time again. However, surfacing and creating an ambiance doesn't require miracles, as even small details can influence the coziness of a restaurant.

Whether it's good music, a hockey game on TV, or a karaoke room, entertainment is the factor that moves customers from the couch to the restaurant. The key to success is a touch of experientiality – a combination of emotion, events, and restaurant entertainment. These are the things that make customers feel welcome. Forgetting this detail is a mistake that many restaurateurs fall into. Food is the supplement to the restaurant experience; from a successful menu, customers buy an atmosphere, a sense of leisure, and a feeling of free time. The atmosphere is precisely created through entertainment.

Simplicity is the best – so forget the circus acts

Entertainment and amusement can easily be confused on a conceptual level. Entertainment doesn't have to involve constantly amusing customers – so forget about pursuing magic tricks and grand events. Restaurant entertainment is at its best when it's simple pastime that brings a good vibe. A sports channel package not available at home. Karaoke singing with friends. Or just background music that dissipates the chatter and supports the emergence of interesting conversations.

However, events don't have to be completely forgotten. When the fundamental pillars of restaurant entertainment are in place, it's easy to organize both larger and smaller events around the atmosphere. Adding themed karaoke or even hosting Olympic games in the restaurant are simple ways to engage customers and showcase the restaurant's personality. If the foundation of restaurant entertainment needs polishing, the team at Entertainment Creators is here for you.