Virginia Woolf once said, “One cannot think well, love well, or sleep well if one has not dined well”. A restaurant can have hundreds of people dining either in and out with them on a daily basis. This makes it critical for the restaurant business to create an innovative experience for each customer and make a lasting impression. You need to stay up-to-date with the trends in the restaurant industry, and all the ways you can accommodate the changing tastes of your target customer groups. In other words, your restaurant needs a revamp, and this is how you can do it.
This article will cover:
- Restaurant Predictions for your 2019 Revamp
- Design Changes for your Restaurant in 2019
Restaurant Predictions for your 2019 Revamp:
Conscious Eating
Conscious consumption of food, starting from the ingredients and the way the food is prepared is taking the front seat. Famous cooks like UK’s Jamie Oliver are endorsing ideas of clean eating, which requires food to be cooked following specific steps of preparation. Of course, the food should be healthy too- which means fried and processed foods are not an option.
Revamp: Introduce more “clean-eating” options on your menu. Maybe include a section that shows how the food is being made, or even invite your customers to see how the food is being made to give them more confidence in your methods.
It’s Free or It’s Out
It can be a struggle to accommodate when people demand if foods are gluten-free, refined sugar-free etc., but it’s where the future is headed. Customers are more aware of their calorie and sugar intake and prefer making responsible choices when it comes to their food. Even dairy products are out the door after several studies prove that adults don’t need milk and not to mention 75 percent of the population are unable to digest it.
Revamp: Next, to certain dishes on your menu, you can tag it’s gluten-free, dairy-free or sugar-free. Else, discuss with your chef on how some dishes can be custom prepared to it’s closest “free” form.
Plant-Based and Organic
With more people shifting to a vegan lifestyle, more restaurants are counted on to address that need. Chains like Pizza Hut and Burger King are offering vegan burger options, and even ice-cream chains like Ben and Jerry’s’ are offering dairy-free and plant-based ice creams. Although it may seem like organic food too has been around for a long time, its prices and difficulty to obtain “organic” certifications made it a less viable option. But these days, it is becoming a booming industry with more affordable organic options hitting the market.
Revamp: Take a leaf from the popular fast-food chains (who may even be your biggest competitors) and add vegan and vegetarian dishes to your menu. You can even create a fun spin on meat or dairy made dishes by replacing them with plant-based options.
Bowl Dishes
Making food decisions can be exhausting and that’s where the popularity of food bowls enter the picture. Most food bowls offer rice, and some gravy, meat and/ or vegetables. These days bowls also have fruits, nuts, and yogurt. Overall, it’s a balanced diet and because it’s a healthy option people prefer bowl dishes.
Revamp: This one’s a little obvious- Add bowl dishes if your menu doesn’t have it already. You can make different bowl options by balancing on carbohydrates such as rice and noodles, proteins such as meat or soya and nutrients such as fruits and vegetables. A good bowl has components from all parts of the food pyramid.
Mediterranean Dishes
One of the favorites of 2019 is Mediterranean dishes, and has over a billion people in its fan base across the world. This is because Mediterranean food is extremely healthy-consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, and legumes, as well as uses more herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods.
Revamp: Explore Mediterranean options to add to your restaurant menu. If it doesn’t go with your restaurant theme, it isn’t a problem because fusion foods are a huge hit. See how components of Mediterranean dishes can be fused with what your restaurant serves- creating an undefeatable combination.
Natural Enhancement
Brain foods are big in the market. More restaurants are promoting natural remedies to common health problems, and the positive impact of this, in the long run, is seen in a good light. Foods that give power like spinach, nuts, and eggs are becoming more popular, as well as less-common foods such as turmeric, sage, and mushrooms. With its legalization, the usage of cannabis in various restaurants is becoming more common, and dishes like love cookies, or happy pizza have become huge hits.
Revamp: Add more natural enhancement ingredients to your menu and stress their benefits in your advertising. Make sure the ingredients you add, such as cannabis, is legal in your state, and check any laws pertaining to their commercial use.
Design Changes for your Restaurant in 2019
1) Go Instagrammable: Instagram is a trend here to stay, and it can be the best way to market your business. Not only should your food be “instagrammable” by now, make sure your interiors are as well! This means using brighter colors and good lighting, with fun and different concepts that people can recognize belong to your restaurant.
2) Take the Artistic Approach: Although some cities are more famed for their art, you can make your restaurant feel artsier by hiring a local artist to come design or create works for your restaurant. Not only is this helping promote their talent, but also allowing you to promote your business through an artist network as well. It’s a double whammy.
3) Green-Restaurants: Using greenery in your restaurant can make a great connect in the minds of your customers. It creates a relaxing ambience and it’s a nice way to indicate the freshness of your ingredients.
4) Simple and Old-School: Always one of the best ways to make your restaurant a sure hit is to keep it simple and classic. This is an effortless way of designing a restaurant; using neutral colors and You can always do a smart restaurant renovation if you feel your restaurant design is at its peak but you’re still not bringing in enough traffic.
Restaurant owners generally have two major inhibitions against revamping their restaurant. One, fear of stepping outside of their comfort zones and two the financing involved. They’re both easy to overcome. Stick to your restaurant brand guidelines, theme and color palette but push them to the limits. This maintains a tone of familiarity with your customers but they’ll love the bold makeover you’ve done to your restaurant. It’s important that every restaurant investment makes the most revenue, and getting a hand with extra financing for your restaurant renovation can help you make the most of 2019 and it’s endless opportunities!
