MRM By Design: The Physical Space is Almost as Important as the Food When it Comes to the Dining Experience

An often-overlooked component of the restaurant business is the physical space. Second in importance to the cuisine itself, the physical environment in which customers dine has a major impact on things like mood, perceived quality, overall customer satisfaction, safety and even appetite.  Architectural design is also an important component of marketability for restaurants. As the saying goes, “perception is reality.” People use tangible cues to form opinions about intangible things such as quality, freshness, value, fun and more. As such, the dining area is outdated and visually off-putting, there is a good chance that customers, and potential customers, will have a poorer perception of the food. This can have a major impact on things like repeat visits, pricing, referrals and more.      

In recent years, studies regarding the effects of the physical environment on overall dining experience have become easier to find. Most of these studies further prove that good design…