If you’re a restaurant owner, you know how important it is that you’re able to create a dining atmosphere that people want to take part in. For restaurants in more temperate areas of the world, this means not only making the inside of your restaurant appealing but also using any outdoor dining space to the best of your ability. However, many restaurants don’t give their patio or outdoor dining spaces the same thought and attention that they give their interior seating. So to help you find ways you can make your patio just as enticing as your indoor seating, here are three tips for improving the outdoor seating area of your restaurant.

Know What’s Most Important To Your Patrons:

To create a space that your patrons will love to visit, you first have to know what it is they’re looking for in an outdoor dining space. According to Daniel P. Smith, a contributor to Food Newsfeed, some of the top reasons people will choose to dine outdoors include favorable weather, available views, noise levels, and if the seating options are covered. While you can’t control all of these things, you can take steps to make the seating more covered and protected from the elements, enhance your natural views, and cut down on any noise that might be present in your area. Other features your patrons will be looking for before choosing to sit outside at your restaurant are lighting, how you control the temperature, the type of furniture, and any entertainment options you provide.

Pick The Right Tableware:

Eating outdoors and eating indoors often require different types of utensils or tableware. While you might allow for a certain type of plates or cups when serving food indoors, you might want to think about how those same materials will fare in an atmosphere that you have less control over. For example, Lisa Hallett Taylor, a contributor to The Spruce, recommends that, at the very least, you try to keep glassware out of the patio area. If glass drops and breaks, it can be much harder to effectively clean up when outside, which could put your patrons at risk of getting cut or otherwise hurt. So when possible, try to use utensils that are more durable and can stand up to more wear-and-tear.

Bring In Fire Or Water:

If you’re really wanting to turn your outdoor patio space into something that will entice your patrons to sit there, not just use it as a last resort, you’ve got to bring in some elements that they’ll love. According to Jeff Caldwell, a contributor to FastCasual.com, diners love sitting outdoors when they can be near or enjoy the sights and sounds of fire or water. So if you can swing it, try to bring in a fountain water feature or some type of fire pit to draw your customers outside and encourage them to take advantage of your patio area.

To bring your restaurant’s outdoor seating area to a new level, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do just that.

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