By Tisa Conway-Cunningham
Support. Respect. Grace. Whether you are indulging in a quick bite out or partaking in a five-star fine dining experience, restaurant etiquette should apply to every eating out experience.
Food service represents a significant portion of the hospitality industry. This means that the primary goal in the culinary industry is to provide the best culinary experience for patrons. Through quality food, properly trained staff and premium customer service, restaurants create an environment that optimizes customer satisfaction.
An essential ingredient in the success of a business is consumer support. While support can be represented in many forms, the increased use of social media contributes to increased market awareness, real time reviews, customer engagement and viral appeal.
With one internet post, consumers have the power to popularize or destroy a business. This has never been truer than in the food industry. Food pictures. Vlogs. Reviews. Celebrity endorsements. Influencer engagement. The flood of social media support comes in waves of both positive and negative repercussions.
This, coupled with the rise of consumer goods, has prompted selective behaviors amongst consumer spending. Locally, small businesses and local restaurants have fought diligently to keep the lights on and the doors open through a global pandemic, a local natural disaster and a struggling economy.
If we want to keep it, then we must show up. The Frankfort community has seen the loss of many local eateries that were near and dear to our hearts. We loved them. We loved their food and their customer service. They were our favorites, yet we stood on the sideline as these local favorites closed their doors. Taco Johns. Pink Pig. Ritchies. Gibby’s. White Light. The list goes on and on.
Consumer support plays a key role. Now more than ever, the best way to help your local favorites is to show up. Order a one-slice special. Grab some bar snacks. Get a ready-made meal to heat and eat at home. Buy some charcuterie and baked goods for late night snacking. Grab a coffee and fellowship. Sing some karaoke. Play some Bingo. Grab a seat on the patio that overlooks the Kentucky River and enjoy some small bites. Everything counts, so just keep showing up.
At the same time, understanding the impact that social sites have on local restaurants and businesses is key. Words have power. So, it is important to understand how negative press and reviews impact consumerism. Like a moth to a flame, with one negative review, the whole social community grabs onto the notion and it catches like wildfire. One bad review turns into another, and just like that another business is closing its doors.
Grace. Patience. Understanding. You will have to practice grace. Small, local restaurants may take a bit more time to service you because of the smaller staff, but you can guarantee that their service will be top notch. The food you enjoy will be worth the wait, and if there are errors, they will work diligently to remedy any issues that may arise.
If you have a problem with your experience, request a manager. Keep your composure and let them make it right. Everyone has a bad day, so we understand that we are all human and perfection is not a reality. Everything and everyone has flaws. So be patient and give these small businesses a chance to provide the best service they can provide.
It is so easy to give a nasty review. It is so easy to report that a place and experience were not up to par, but in the end, how does that help anyone? A few simple words can ruin the reputation of a growing business. So please practice grace.
Being constructive, versus destructive can be so much more helpful. Maybe start with what you liked about your experience. If the appetizer was delicious, lead with that. Or if the steak was cooked a perfect medium rare, just how you like it, then let the business know that these are the things that you are doing right. A simple compliment can go a long way, and can be such a small, but important factor in how the conversation will be received.
It is not enough to point out imperfections. Specifically, make sure that complaints are made with supporting detail, so that those in charge can take proper action to ensure that an issue is resolved. By providing restaurants, wait-staff and managers with defining issues, increasing customer experience, and giving patrons a new basis and grounds to leave a positive review.
Good reviews can increase foot traffic, providing increased revenue and can be a part of collective efforts to ensure that we are not losing our amazing local favorites for years to come.
A community is sustainable when it can provide proper support to the economy, the needs of our local patrons are being met and there is a balance of social well-being, environmental protection, and economic balance. It is a thriving system that pulls energy from one place to the other and recycles to a high-quality system dedicated to overall improvement while minimizing resource consumption.
They are our neighbors, our friends and our families, and like all of us, they are just trying to provide for their families. So, keep showing up. Keep talking about these restaurants and small businesses, and keep consuming locally. Together, we can provide a safety net that will ensure that our local favorite hot spots continue to be a part of our community for years to come.
