Last Updated on: 30th May 2024, 09:54 am
Creating a family-friendly restaurant can be a game-changer for your business, attracting a loyal customer base and ensuring repeat visits. Catering to families involves more than just having a kids’ menu; it’s about creating an environment where both parents and children feel welcome and comfortable.
Menu Considerations
Diverse Offerings: Start by diversifying your menu to include kid-friendly options. Simple, familiar dishes such as chicken goujons, macaroni and cheese, and mini burgers are popular choices. Additionally, consider offering healthy options like grilled chicken, fresh fruits, and vegetables to cater to health-conscious parents.
Portion Sizes and Pricing: Ensure that portions are appropriate for children and priced accordingly. A “kids eat free” night can be a great promotion to attract families.
Allergy Awareness: Be mindful of common allergies and dietary restrictions. Clearly label dishes that are gluten-free, nut-free, or vegetarian, and train your staff to handle special requests with care.
Ambiance and Seating
Comfortable Seating: Provide high chairs and booster seats for young children. Ensure your seating arrangements can accommodate larger families and strollers.
Welcoming Decor: Decorate your restaurant with a family-friendly theme. Bright colours, playful artwork, and a welcoming atmosphere can make a big difference. Avoid overly formal or delicate decor that might make parents nervous.
Noise Levels: Balance your restaurant’s ambiance to keep it lively yet not too loud. Background music should be family-friendly and played at a moderate volume.
Entertainment and Engagement
Activity Packs: Offer colouring books, crayons, and small toys to keep children entertainedwhile they wait for their food. This can significantly enhance the dining experience for both children and parents.
Play Area: Create a small play area with safe, age-appropriate toys and books if space permits. A play area can keep children occupied and allow parents to enjoy their meal.
Events and Special Days: Host family-oriented events such as magic shows, face painting, or story time sessions. Special days like “Family Fun Sunday” can become a weekly highlight for your customers.
Staff Training and Customer Service
Friendly Staff: Train your staff to be patient and friendly with children. A warm, welcoming attitude goes a long way in making families feel comfortable.
Quick Service: Families, especially those with young children, often prefer quick service. Ensure that children’s meals are served promptly, and consider providing snacks or breadsticks to keep them occupied if there’s a wait.
Understanding Needs: Be attentive to the needs of families. This could mean offering to cut food into bite-sized pieces for young children or providing extra napkins and wet wipes.
Facilities and Amenities
Clean Restrooms: Keep your restrooms clean and well-stocked. A changing table in both the men’s and women’s restrooms is essential for parents with infants.
Hand Sanitiser Stations: Place hand sanitiser stations throughout your restaurant for easy access, especially near the entrance and restrooms.
Parking and Accessibility: Ensure that your restaurant is accessible for buggies and has ample parking, including designated family parking spots if possible. Also provide secure pram shelters from Shelter Solutions so parents have a safe place to leave their buggies and prams outside the restaurant.
Marketing Your Family-Friendly Atmosphere
Online Presence: Highlight your family-friendly features on your website and social media platforms. Share photos of your kids’ menu items, play area, and special events.
Community Engagement: Partner with local schools and community centres to promote your restaurant. Offering discounts to families attending nearby events can also drive traffic.
Feedback and Improvement: Regularly seek feedback from families to understand what they like and what can be improved. Implementing suggestions shows that you value their patronage and are committed to enhancing their dining experience.
Creating a family-friendly restaurant requires thoughtful planning and ongoing effort, but the rewards are significant. By catering to the needs of families, you build a welcoming environment that encourages loyalty and keeps your customers coming back for more.
