4 Tips for a Successful Restaurant

If you're developing a new patio area outside your business, take advantage of the nearby views. Use stonework on the walls around the patio area to frame a cityscape, water view or street scene. Stonework keeps the outdoors looking consistent.

Have the patio floor set with smooth, flat stones, to give it even more of a natural appeal. Using stone rather than all-weather carpet means you don't have to worry about spills on the floor or mold growing under the flooring. Stone can stand up to rain, furniture legs, customers' feet and rolling carts.

If you don't have a good view where your patio sits, install large shade cloths printed with landscapes to create a view. Alternately, build stone or brick walls that are high enough to block the view when patrons are seated. The stone walls and your carefully chosen decor will create a memorable and timeless view all their own. Have a stone fountain built on the patio to add gentle sounds and overcome loud street noises.

Your patio may be used for dining or sharing drinks, but the table placement must be considered.

While experts recommend you provide at least 10 to 14 square feet of floor space per dining table in a casual indoor setting, you need to leave more space between tables for free movement in an outdoor setting. If you have a fire pit or socializing area in your patio dining room, people will be getting up and moving around more than they would in your indoor dining rooms.

Some experts recommend you space chairs at adjacent tables no less than 18 inches apart for an indoor banquet setting. In an outdoor setting, you should allow at least four to five feet between your tables for safe traffic flow. Smaller tables that seat up to four diners are better than larger tables on the patio. You can move them easily, and they can be placed together for larger groups.

Around the edge of your stone patio wall, consider using taller cocktail tables to vary the height interest of the outdoor area. The floor running adjacent to these cocktail tables can be kept free of tables and used as a walkway around the patio dimensions.

The cleaner your patio stays, the more people will use it. If you ignore the patio and let leaves and debris litter the space, people will assume you've lost interest in your business. Tidy and maintain your outdoor spaces every day to give your customers confidence.

Having durable stone construction and all-weather furnishings means you can hose off bugs, dust and dirt from your patio without harming furnishings. Talk to your mason about the feasibility of installing a drain or drainage system on your patio. Plumb in a hose spigot in the area, and cleanup of nasty patio messes will be a breeze.

If you have a fire pit on the patio, you need at least one staff member on every shift to monitor the flames and patrons. That person should know everything about the fire pit, from how to turn it on to where the gas shutoff valve is located.

Your staff fire expert should enforce all rules about materials, seating and activity around the fire. This staff member must also monitor the weather to ensure no winds or gusts will affect the fire. Install a security camera and an indoor monitor so that employees inside can keep an eye on the fire outside.

Contact Whitney-Anderson Building Group to create your outdoor bar or restaurant haven. Their expert masonry will enhance your facility and add more seating capacity to your business.