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At First & Oak, we strive to create a memorable dining experience for our guests with a carefully curated menu and personalized service. We create experiences that allow our guests to escape the daily humdrum of their busy lives. Today, a restaurant is more than a place to dine. It is an experience that allows them to create memories with the people they are with. There’s more to it than just offering scrumptious food. Everything from the ambiance to smells, decoration to the checkout process will impact your guests and help you deliver the meaningful moments they expect.
So, what makes for a memorable restaurant customer experience?
Create a captivating atmosphere
Your customers want to feel relaxed and comfortable when eating and drinking with friends and family. Your restaurant’s entire vibe must offer a welcoming experience to your patrons. Here are some tips to get the ambiance right:
Lighting: Correct lighting helps create a cozy and comfortable environment that allows your guests to relax. You can create a warm atmosphere by dimming the lights, using small bulbs with a warm yellow hue, or placing candles on customers’ tables for that romantic effect.
Music: The music should be just the perfect volume to give a pleasant background noise and allow your guests to fill the air with conversational buzz. Create a playlist that suits the personality and theme of your restaurant.
Chairs: Choose comfortable chairs that let guests sink into and enjoy their food without leaning forward.
Decide a central theme: Having a central theme will bring cohesiveness to your decorations and let you connect with your customers. Your restaurant’s paint, upholstery, choice of chandeliers, and even cutlery will assist in aligning your central theme. Remaining consistent will your design will help immerse your guests and allow them to enjoy the overall restaurant experience.
As one of the best restaurants in Santa Ynez, all our dining rooms exude sophisticated ambiance, wherein our guests enjoy fine china and stemware, personalized services, and an intimate setting that delights our patrons.
Deliver efficient and seamless service
Great hospitality is an extension of excellent service, taking the restaurant experience to the next level. At First and Oak, we believe in offering hospitality that goes far beyond food and service. We believe that a truly memorable experience is when our guests’ needs are anticipated and met instantly, making our patrons feel special and cared for.
Take Advantage of Instagram
In the world of social media, a big part of any memorable experience is offering ‘shareable’ opportunities to help patrons share their experiences with their friends and followers. Create an experience that’s worth the ‘Gram’. This can be done through artistically plating your dishes, creating the right ambiance that focuses on aesthetics and design. Think of Instagram as a great marketing tool that helps you gain loyal customers, bring in new costumes, and attract online engagement.
Outdoor dining
Charm your guests not just by its food but also by its stunning ambiance. Pebble paths and fairy lights lead to our delightful outdoor patio. When the warm breezes flow and the sky turns a beautiful shade of orange, an outdoor patio will let your patrons enjoy a long meal under the sun, glass of wine in hand, when time quickly ceases to feel important. Our guests enjoy a menu designed especially for summer and using local, seasonal ingredients, featuring homemade bread, kimchi cracklings, and roasted lamb.
Deliver consistent great food
Last but not least, the food you serve is the cornerstone of any successful restaurant and certainly influences how patrons perceive their restaurant experience. Empower your hospitality team, from stewards to runners and cooks, to focus on food quality and presentation. We believe that our finely curated plates, balanced flavors, and special surprises as our guests savor the culinary artistry through flavors and tastes make us the best restaurant in Santa Ynez.
When it comes to delivering a memorable dining experience for your patrons, we believe that the rule of thumb is to create a warm, relaxing, and inviting atmosphere that makes guests feel welcomed and included to return! We are proud that our guests choose our restaurant time and again to celebrate special occasions, spend a memorable date night, or simply enjoy great food.