Earlier, we wrote about how to add ambiance to your restaurant using lighting. As you know, lighting is just one piece of the ambiance puzzle. In this post, we explore the aspect of sound.
You will notice we used the word “sound,” not “music” (although we will get to that soon). Let’s explore the primary sounds that can be heard at any restaurant:
1) Kitchen noise: blenders, pots and pans and dishes
2) Clamor: this is mostly from the voices of guests
3) Music: either live or recorded
These three sound elements often compete with one another and therefore can potentially produce poor ambience. If there is too much kitchen noise, guests may have a hard time hearing their friends and may have to feel like they need to shout in order to communicate; the same goes for music that is too loud. Suddenly, your restaurant may not be so “socializing-friendly” and some guests may simply be turned off.
But before we give any recommendations on how to adjust accordingly, you have to understand your target audience. What kind of restaurant do you operate? Is it an upscale restaurant? Is it fast-casual and family friendly? Do you run a cafe where your patrons are primarily college students? What kind of mood do you think is appropriate to convey to your guests (and not scare them away)?
Suppose you operate a cafe situated in a busy college town. It has an ample area of booths and tables, plus you offer free wi-fi so students love to come to the cafe to study. What kind of sounds do you think would fit this establishment? More than likely, you want to keep kitchen clamor to a minimum and play calm or neutral music at a soft sound level.
If you have any questions about building appropriate restaurant ambiance or how to transform your restaurant business, contact Synergy Restaurant consultants for a complimentary evaluation.