Interior Design Key to Success

Today, a person goes to a restaurant not merely to satiate his appetite but also for its ambience. A restaurant is no more about the cuisines and the chefs but also about its atmosphere and vibes. Interior decoration, besides good food and service, plays significant role, today, in attracting customers. The restaurant interior impacts customer psychology and the duration of their stay, which prompts them to order more or less. Ashok Malkani views the restaurant scenario and finds that the F&B outlets’ exteriors and interiors play a magnetic role in beguiling the customer to visit the place. Seating options, light, music and architecture, which constitute the restaurants’ décor, plays a big part in the success of the eating out place.

- Ashok Malkani

Planning an appetizing menu does not necessarily ensure popularity of a restaurant. The looks of the F&B outlet also plays a significant role in the popularity of the place. While most of the entrepreneurs planning to start a restaurant, or even those who are already in the business, compete with others in terms of location, menu planning, prices and promotions, very little attention is paid to interior design for increasing clientele. They don’t seem to realise that restaurant interior design impacts customer psychology which not only prompts them to order more or less but also influences the duration of their stay in the restaurant.

The general concept of the connoisseurs is that interiors affect the flow of the customers. Architecture and design are important for the success of a restaurant.

Sunaina Manerker, General Manager- Grand Mercure Mysore, elicits, “Interior design & the ambience of the restaurant play a huge role in the customer flow in the current market where a new outlet emerges everyday with unique & modern interiors. Along with food, beverage & service, ambience is something a guest looks for in the social media age. The restaurant needs to look as good as the food.

“The architecture & design are the first elements that catch the guest’s eye. The design consists of various accessories like – proper lights, tableware, napkins & table centerpiece. The guest can take a decision of dining in that particular restaurant just by looking at the décor & ambience. How do you convince the guest you serve great food if he has never dinned at your restaurant? The ambience helps you drive guests into your restaurant. Once he feels comfortable sitting in that particular restaurant & orders, it’s the food & service which make the restaurant a success.”