How to Create a Great Restaurant Atmosphere

How to Create a Great Restaurant Atmosphere

by | May 31, 2016 | Business Toolkit, Management

Your restaurant may have great-tasting food, but if the atmosphere is bland or distasteful, it will overshadow the quality of the meal. Not only will customers be unlikely to return but they’ll also spread negative reviews. On the flip side, a great restaurant atmosphere will make the fare taste better, keep your customers around longer and ensure that they’ll return again and again. This is why the atmosphere of a restaurant is just as important as the food, if not more so.

Lighting

The lighting in a restaurant should strike a balance that makes customers feel comfortable. During the day, when the sun is shining, the lighting should be brighter to fit the energetic atmosphere of the day. When day turns to night, the lights should be dimmed to capture that quieter, more intimate feeling.

When it comes to lighting, also consider what type of lighting fixtures fit the concept. For example, for an elegant, romantic restaurant, chandeliers and candles would work well, but not so much for a modern restaurant concept.

Color & Décor

The colors in your restaurant, on the wall and on the plate, have an impact on the dining experience. While warm colors such as red and orange ramp up appetite, cooler colors dampen hunger. Color combinations have similar effects; less contrast between the color of food and the plate on which it’s served has been shown to increase the amount of food consumed.

When making decisions about color, keep not only the concept and brand in mind but also the effect it will have on customers.

Décor is important as well. Simply put, bare walls in a restaurant are unappealing. The artwork and décor on the walls help set the mood and expresses the creative point of view of the restaurant. Each room should have a point of focus, but nothing too overbearing or busy as to detract from the elegance or balance of the overall design.

Music

For your atmosphere to be cohesive, the music needs to fit the restaurant. For upscale dining, music should be subdued and calming. In more casual restaurants, louder and faster music can help create a more social atmosphere.

For a bar or very social establishment, live music can be a great draw. Also, keep in mind that faster music leads to faster eating and quicker turnover. And, when it comes to volume, it should always fit the size of the room so customers don’t have to strain to speak over the noise.

Furniture & Layout

Furniture can have a big impact on the guest experience. It should fit the concept just as lighting, but needs to be inviting and comfortable. That said if you’re looking to turn tables over quickly, going too comfortable won’t be a good choice as guests will tend to stay longer.

Tables and chairs specifically should also be durable and easy to keep clean.

As for layout, tables should have enough space between them so that customers aren’t squeezed together, but close enough to retain a social atmosphere. If possible, separate small tables from large ones, because a single person or couple may be overwhelmed by the ruckus from a large group.

Personalized Service

Excellent layout and décor are only effective if the service is up to the same standard. Service staff including hosts, servers and server assistants should be attentive and polite without being stiff or overbearing. Service staff should also be knowledgeable; when asked about the menu or restaurant in general, having an answer at the ready is always best practice. Next best is making an effort to find the answer.

When keeping all these aspects in mind, it’s important to understand the organic nature of a great restaurant atmosphere. The ambiance shouldn’t be forced, but instead, develop naturally by adapting to the customers’ needs and the environment of the surrounding neighborhood. So, after putting the basic elements in place, let the ship steer itself.

Final Rule on Overtime Pay Eligibility for Salary Employees

Final Rule on Overtime Pay Eligibility for Salary Employees

by | May 25, 2016 | Business Toolkit, Management

It’s official, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) long-awaited rule on overtime pay eligibility was made final this past Monday, May 23, 2016. And, when it goes into effect on December 1, 2016, it will automatically extend overtime pay protections to over 4 million workers within the first year of implementation.

While the actual rule is 508 pages in length, the DOL released a 3-page summary, which boils down to these points:

  • Guarantees time-and-half pay to any salaried employee earning under $47,476 a year ($913 a week) and who works more than 40 hours in a week.
  • Automatically updates the salary threshold every three years, tying it to the 40th percentile of full-time salaried workers in the lowest-income Census region. The first update would be Jan. 1, 2020. Furthermore, the DOL projects a salary threshold of $51,000 by Jan. 1, 2020.
  • Makes no changes in the duties tests used to determine whether a salaried employee above the threshold is considered exempt from overtime pay.
  • For the first time, it allows certain bonuses and incentive payments to count toward up to 10 percent of the new salary level if the payments are made on at least a quarterly basis.

Several industries will be affected by this change, but there’s no doubt that the biggest impact will be on the service industry including restaurants and hospitality businesses. As such, there’s no shortage of controversy surrounding the issue.

In fact, lawmakers, employers and non-profits are joining together and calling for “immediate legislative efforts to defund, block or nullilfy the rule,” the reason being that “the threshold for exempt employees in the final regulations is still too high.”

For more information about the final rule on overtime pay for salary employees, click here →

Turn an Entry-Level Job into a Long-Term Restaurant Career

Turn an Entry-Level Job into a Long-Term Restaurant Career

by | May 23, 2016 | Career

For a wide variety of reasons, many don’t consider restaurant work as a long-term option and hold the belief that it cannot translate into a career able to support oneself and family. But that is completely untrue. In fact, an entry-level restaurant job can be the beginnings of a viable and specialized career path in the restaurant industry.

The ‘hidden’ benefits

A recent Rutgers University study discovered that 40% of today’s college graduates are working jobs that don’t require the use of their degrees… and being a member of the restaurant floor staff is part of that ‘degree-less’ contingent that is often incorrectly categorized as unskilled.

But those working entry-level jobs in the restaurant industry, including graduates, can gain valuable knowledge and access great opportunities from these supposedly ‘low-level’ jobs.

  • The restaurant industry is the perfect place to hone universally applicable skills such as teamwork, time prioritization, and budgeting.
  • If you work in a restaurant that allows you to learn about other aspects of the job while you’re working on staff, you can grow laterally with the position, and get to know the restaurant business on a higher level, while earning money. Think of it as a paid internship of sorts!
  • An entry-level job in the industry can open the door to a variety of long-term career options. From management to operations to entrepreneurship, the options are endless and bountiful.

The key to moving up

According to those who utilized their restaurant experience to become professionally successful, the key is to do the following:

  • Always strive to be better. This will not only keep you engaged at work but also prevent boredom or burnout.
  • Transferable skills are the most important skills to have in the restaurant business. For example, you might not consider taking orders to be a transferable skill, but chances are you’ll someday be giving orders, so learn to do it right!
  • Finally, but certainly no less importantly, the best advice one can give in this circumstance is not to give up. Always try to be energetic and maintain a positive attitude.

How to get started

Finding and applying for jobs in the restaurant industry can be frustrating and big time-suck. So, skip the headache and save time by using Sirvo to connect with top employers.

Instead of walking from restaurant to restaurant or clicking on every single craigslist post, find exactly what you’re looking for with Sirvo’s search feature. Whether it be a specific position, company or location, simply type in a keyword and get results immediately.

And the benefits don’t end there. You can save jobs you’re interested in and then apply for them on Sirvo in literally seconds with your Sirvo profile (a.k.a digital resume), which is easy to update and never has to be printed!

Are you wondering if a certain job can lead to advancement opportunities or have a question about the specifics? Just ask by messaging employers directly on Sirvo.

It’s a no-brainer, so get started to find your next job today!

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Sirvo Partners with Indeed.com

Sirvo Partners with Indeed.com

by | May 20, 2016 | Sirvo Stories

Launch of the Indeed integration provides diversified hiring channels for employers and job seekers in the restaurant, retail and hospitality industry.

DENVER, COLORADO – May 20, 2016 – Sirvo, a modern web app for hospitality recruitment, and Indeed, the leading job search engine, today announced the launch of an integration partnership that automatically publishes Sirvo job listings to the Indeed engine, providing employers with an expanded talent pool and job seekers with new employment opportunities.

The technology is integrated into Sirvo’s job creator tool, which seamlessly publishes job listings to the Indeed platform, requiring no additional action from Sirvo users. This partnership allows employers to simultaneously take advantage of Sirvo’s optimized hiring tools while engaging Indeed’s large user base that spans the country.

“Compared to many other industries, hiring managers in restaurants and hospitality have to hire twice as many people in half the time. They need digital tools and a way to engage job seekers on a broad scale. That’s why this partnership with Indeed makes so much sense.” – Stephanie Maxwell, Sirvo CEO

When a listing is clicked, job seekers are directed to Sirvo, where they can immediately apply for jobs online and communicate with employers at their convenience. Not only does this streamline the application process for industry professionals but also increases accessibility to industry influencers, decision-makers and opportunities.

“Unlike other job-finding sites that funnel listings IN, Sirvo only funnels them OUT. Thus, creating a curated job library for applicants with no risk of applying to the same job multiple times.” – Stephanie Maxwell, Sirvo CEO

With few technology-based hiring platforms, the restaurant, retail and hospitality industry maintains antiquated hiring practices that lead to wasted resources and high-turnover. From start to finish, the process is burdensome, requiring job seekers to physically search and apply for job openings and forcing employers to make hurried decisions that do not last.

Sirvo’s platform, including the Indeed integration, is introducing an all-digital hiring solution tailored for the service industry that is comprehensive, convenient and efficient.

For more information about Sirvo and its partner program, please contact [email protected].

About Sirvo

Sirvo, named Best New Startup 2015 is a modern web app for hospitality recruitment. Sirvo helps better connect employers and job seekers by providing easy access to business and talent profiles, powerful search, as well as collaborative hiring tools for a smooth, streamlined hiring process. For more information, visit Sirvo.com.

About Indeed

Indeed is the #1 job search engine in the world and allows job seekers to search millions of jobs on the web or mobile in over 50 countries and 28 languages. More than 180 million people each month search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies on Indeed. For more information, visit Indeed.com.

 

 

 

Customers You Meet as a Server

Customers You Meet as a Server

by | May 18, 2016 | Career

If there’s one universal truth amongst waitstaff no matter when or where you work: there are certain types of customers that you’ll always encounter when serving.

Some of these customers are amazing, the kind of customers that you’ll want to get all the time. Some of these customers are horrific and hope to never see again. And still other customers who are absolutely hilarious, the kind that you simply have to tell anyone and everyone about, and the kind that you’ll share stories about on various waitstaff websites.

Here’s a breakdown of the customers you’ll meet while serving: the best, and the worst!

The Customer Who’s In a Rush

These kinds of customers can go one of two ways: they can request their food, leave in a hurry, and give you a big tip for being so efficient or they can request their food, leave in a hurry, and give you a small tip because you didn’t bring out their food fast enough.

Do these customers not realize that you don’t control the kitchen? Probably not…

When it comes to customers like this, one of the easiest ways to tip the scales in your favor is to gently remind them that you are there to serve them and that you’ll do your best to make sure their food gets out in time, but you don’t have absolute control over the kitchen.

Pro-tip: If the customer is amenable to suggestions, perhaps you can suggest a dish that doesn’t take as long to prepare.

The Laidback Customer

One of the easiest types of customers you’ll serve, the laidback customer is a simple orderer, easy to please, and an eat-pay-leave kind of person.

They understand the purpose of servers: to take your order, get your drinks and food, and make sure the experience is pleasant.

This is why they’ll need no special accommodations and likely won’t be rude or difficult. It’s likely that they have worked in the food industry and relate to the job.

The Splitter

These kinds of customers usually pop up when as a large party. They’re the kind of customers that want to split the check into many different parts…down to the penny. (How dare you charge them for an extra basket of bread?)

One of the easiest ways to appease these kinds of customers early on is to ask if the check is separate before you take the order.

Pro-tip: Another option is to make sure that you make careful notes about what each customer ordered, so that when they ask to split the check, you can do so with ease.

The Customers with Bratty Children

It’s inevitable that you will get customers with unmannered (or spoiled) children who have no idea how to behave in even the simplest of civilized ways.

Whether it’s the parents of a child who simply must run everywhere throughout the restaurant or who simply will not stop screaming, you’re going to have a huge challenge on your hands.

That said, the easiest way to deal with this kind of customer (and to get the huge tip you certainly deserve) is to appease the child.

Try to engage the child, talk to him/her in such a way that s/he feels included in the restaurant process, and encourage good behavior with a special treat.

The Regular

This is perhaps the best kind of customer you’ll ever serve. They’re the customer that not only knows the menu but also knows what to expect when frequenting your restaurant. From service to timing, there will be no surprises.

The regulars will also treat you with respect, and tip you well.

Pro-tip: If you’re lucky enough to get this kind of customer, hold on to him/her for dear life!

 

There you have it; the customers you’re most likely to encounter while serving and how to approach each!

Learn more about customer service here →

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