Nibletz Staff
Mom and pop restaurants might be fading away, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t popular anymore—it just means that the majority of these restaurants don’t have the means to survive because they aren’t keeping up with the times! Mom and pop restaurants are incredibly popular because they serve food that is close to our hearts. Comfort foods such as mac and cheese, spaghetti and burgers are foods that we will never get tired of because they remind us of our childhood, and nothing hits closer to home than a blast of nostalgia in the foods we eat.
Unlike larger restaurants, diners are much more homely and are suited for families as well as professionals. You wouldn’t see a ragged family waltzing into a high-class restaurant, but you will see important-looking businessmen walk into a diner for a coffee and a burger. There’s no discrimination in a diner, and that’s what makes it so special.
But how do you turn your basic diner into something special for everyone to remember? Here are just a couple of tips.
Be Friendly
When you work at a small diner, it’s not always the food or the prices that attract people—it’s you! The friendly atmosphere is one of the most important components when you want to create a great diner, and the only way to do that is to get involved with your staff and be friendly. Greet everyone as they come in, let them sit where they like, and introduce yourself so that they refer to you on a first-name basis instead of saying “excuse me!”. This advice completely contradicts what professional waiting staff will tell you, but they work at fancy restaurants, not diners!
Embrace Technology
As mentioned before, mom and pop restaurants family because they don’t keep up with the times. The only ones that survive are situated in prime locations that get a lot of foot traffic and have a lot of history. However, if you start one up and you’re in an unknown location, then don’t expect to get a lot of customers. You should embrace technology, such as a restaurant pos system to speed up transactions, and a website so that you can advertise yourself on social media. Mom and pop restaurants are popular because of the comfort food, so you want to advertise your strengths and be yourself—don’t act like a fancy restaurant because you aren’t one!
Don’t Get Fancy
A diner is a diner. You shouldn’t act like you are something more and you shouldn’t act like you are something less. Focus on your strengths and cook up delicious homemade recipes and comfort foods. Don’t try to encroach on other business territories and don’t challenge others. If people want fried chicken, they’ll go to a fast food location. If they want fancy Italian pasta, they’ll go to an Italian place. What you should be serving is simple homecooked pasta and chicken meals that are reminiscent of your childhood, not a fancy restaurant. Keep it simple, stick to your strengths, and don’t overdo it.
