How to Attract Families to a Restaurant

Family restaurants encourage kids to have fun during their dining experience.

Whenever a publication such as "Parents" Magazine compiles its Top Ten list of family friendly restaurants, you'll find that certain amenities are prevalent across the board. The ideal family restaurant appeals to both the parent and the children by targeting what is important for the dining experience for both. Parents want convenience and a bargain whereas the kids want good, kid friendly food and the opportunity to have fun. If you successfully marry these two elements, kids will find it a little easier to convince their parents to spend their hard earned money at your restaurant.

Instructions

1. Create a kid-friendly environment. Not every restaurant has to be a wall-to-wall playground like Chuck E. Cheese, but certain play areas or a colorful, festive decor make the environment a fun place to eat. Offer crayons and drawings to help kids pass the time while they wait for the food.

2. Make your restaurant convenient and comfortable for families. Offer larger tables where your customers can spread out. Make sure you have conveniences such as high chairs, booster seats, bibs, special cups or smaller tableware so you can make the dining experience as carefree as possible.

3. Give families a bargain. Meal deals that feed their brood for less hold a lot of appeal for budget-conscious parents . Promotions such as birthday bonuses, "Kids Eat Free" days or rewards for good report cards offer even more incentives for families to frequent your establishment.

4. Create a kid menu that offers both traditional favorites like chicken nuggets, burgers and fries as well as healthy sides like applesauce, fruit or milk. This appeals to the child's palate as well as the parent's desire to feed their kids a healthy, nutritious meal.

5. Make the menu accessible for kids of all ages. As they grow children want to mimic their parents when ordering their food, so offer smaller portions of adult menu selections to appeal to older kids.

6. Serve meals family style. P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Buca di Beppo offer the opportunity for entire families to share kid approved entrees in a setting that encourages togetherness.

7. Court picky eaters with a buffet. This provides a wide variety of foods where you don't have to order an entire dish to get kids to experiment with scary new healthy foods.

References

• Parents: Top 10 Best Family Restaurants