With people’s fleeting attention and growing appetite, restaurateurs are investing more time and money on making their restaurants more appealing to customers. There isn’t just any one element of a restaurant that makes it more attractive. It’s like a package deal with all senses coming into play. It isn’t enough just to have good food, you have got to work on what the restaurant looks like, the kind of crowd you want to attract, the smell in your restaurant, service and everything in between.

But there are little things you can do to make changes around your space to have more people pay attention. Instead of sitting back and thinking it’s just the slow season or the market is down or that newer restaurants are taking your share of business, get working on your own.

You might not think much of it as a restaurant owner but what exactly is your restaurant’s vibe? You might have gotten the concept right, but to bring more people in, you need go beyond what is obvious. Look at the cool and hip restaurants, bars and cafes today. Some of them have such strong following that their loyal patrons are at their place a few times a week. The key is to create a vibe that draws people in and gets them to come over repeatedly, share the restaurant’s ambiance and food shots on social media, have an impact with visuals, sounds and smells for your restaurant to be customers’ go-to place.

Look and feel

Ambiance is the first thing a customer comes face to face with as soon as they step into a restaurant. Be it a small cafe or a hipster pub, making a statement and standing out will set you apart from the rest. A small cafe like Madison & Pike in Gurgaon has a very rustic yet classic American feel to it. Even tiny details like wall paintings, a red brick wall and something as simple as the font the cafe’s name is in are almost etched in customers’ minds. You don’t need to redecorate entirely, but include a few pieces of fun, quirky or even simple items in your cafe/restaurant that people might take notice of like posters, artifacts, vintage Indian household items and the likes. Lighting is also a part of the ambiance. Depending on the kind of establishment, adjust the lighting accordingly. For example if yours is a cafe, ample natural light works beautifully. If there’s no source of natural light, try adding some light fixtures with bright yellow light to make up for it. Today’s version of word-of-mouth is sharing pictures on Zomato, Instagram, Facebook and other platforms. To have your restaurant’s pictures on these platforms means more people looking at them and more chances of them coming over.

Music and noises

Why ‘sounds’ and why not just ‘music’? Because music is not the only sound customers hear. With a busy restaurant, sometimes with food, even sounds pour out of the kitchen. It is generally quite off putting when that happens. Granted everybody knows how a professional kitchen can be, but nobody wants to hear it. Occasionally someone from the staff losing their cool or even loud customers can make anyone’s experience unpleasant. Similarly, at a cafe when the music gets too loud, it can drive customers away. Cafes are meant for coffee and conversation, if nothing else. For loud music, people go to bars and pubs and that’s not what they need in cafes. And while we’re talking about music, it isn’t only the volume, but also the kind of music played at restaurants that can add or take away from a customer’s experience.

Service and other nice things

If ambiance is what brings them in, service will bring them in again. You might roll your eyes thinking, “Oh, not this. Not again.” But think of the mistakes you’re doing in the name of good service. One that stands out in many restaurants today is the wait staff being way too attentive, hovering over diners’ asking them after every second bite how everything was going. It can be a tad overbearing. Customers won’t tell them to back off upright but that is certainly no reason to keep going. Learn to observe from a distance and go to them when it appears that they may need some help. Staff needs to be friendly, warm and show customers a good time without bothering them. Ask them if they had a good time or if the food was good once they’re done. That indeed is polite and courteous, not refilling their glass after every sip of their drink.

Sharing and spreading the word

It’s not just your customers, but you should be sharing restaurant updates on social media as well. If not you, the restaurant owner, it should be the restaurant’s manager or even the chef. The Bombay Canteen is a good example where Chef Zachery shares constant updates online about the restaurant’s happenings. From new dishes to staff meals, people get a peek on what the restaurant is up to. It also creates a warm and friendly vibe that makes people want to drop by. Always spread the word about the fun stuff at your restaurant. Show how excited you are about a new gadget or the new menu, or even a vegetable that’s in season. That way you’ll also stay relevant and in your customers’ minds.

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People love eating out and they’re always looking for new places almost every week. It’s the hook that will keep them coming to yours. Your restaurant’s decor, food and service are a part of the hook, but you must show your customers how they can have a good time at your place. Now THAT is the real hook.