Bar Customer Service — How to Deliver Top Customer Service
Great bar customer service at your venue is vital if you want to run a successful hospitality business.
Nothing compares to the experience of lounging in a bar with your buddies, savouring your favourite drink, and roaring at the football game on the television.
Bars are one of those wonderful locations that can put you at ease regardless of your mood.
But what constitutes a successful bar?
Is it the fatty bar grub that pairs so well with a quart of ice-cold lager, or is it the atmosphere?
Although all of these factors contribute to a great bar experience, good old-fashioned bar customer service is the true adhesive that binds everything together!
What comes to mind when you think of your best customer service experience?
Perhaps it was the bar man who remembered your name and your preferred drink.
Or the time you phoned customer service and the representative sympathized with you before going out of their way to resolve the problem.
A positive customer experience might influence customers’ perceptions of a corporation.
It can also help to foster loyalty.
Exceptional Bar Customer Service — The Game-Changer for Your Bar
Quality bar customer service is undeniably one of any restaurant’s most crucial allure aspects.
Customers will flock to your restaurant if you provide exceptional service.
Who doesn’t want to be greeted and served by pleasant people?
Satisfied consumers are critical to the growth of your business model.
Customer service is a balance of conversation and support offered to your customers.
It’s the perfect mix of real care and sound advice you give to the bar’s patrons.
Customers will want to return to your bar again and again if you treat them with respect and care in addition to delivering good food.
However, customer service is one of those things that gets overlooked.
You always want to give good service and make your customers happy, but running a bar may be chaotic, and it’s not always possible to give your customers a perfect experience.
However, keep in mind that outstanding bar customer service can help your bar get an advantage over the competitors when done correctly.
Customer satisfaction is placed first in a Harvard Business School study on Starbucks, and it has a significant impact on revenue creation.
At the same time, one customer experience research discovered that harsh customer service and inadequate quality are the most common reasons for a client abandoning a brand.
According to research, the above factors were stated as a reason more frequently than late or slow service.
These two studies emphasize the significance of excellent restaurant customer service.
Apart from the food, beverages, and hanging out with friends, guests are more likely to appreciate a bar experience when they are getting top-notch customer service.
Your role is critical because you and your staff can ensure that ordinary clients become frequent visitors.
How to Enhance Your Bar Customer Service
Meeting customer expectations include anything from communicating with customers through messaging channels to engaging in conversation at the table.
They always demand convenience and comfort.
Here are a few secrets to developing the best bar customer service and making your bar the most sought-after bar in town: –
1. Engage in small talk
2. Remember the regular faces
3. Offer treats and freebies
4. Involve your visitors in the experience
5. Be attentive
6. Recognize and pay attention to your customers
7. Learn the menu by heart
8. Start the process the moment a customer enters
9. Solve all queries immediately
10. Improve the efficiency of your service by optimising it
11. Don’t make your customers wait
12. Be prompt but also safe
13. Have regular team meetings to evaluate how the staff can improve
14. Take feedback
15. Incorporate technology into your daily working
1. Engage in small talk
You may make small conversations and get to know your guests on a personal level without suffocating them.
Consider some conversation starters with your customers, such as any big arrangements they have for the evening, what they did over the weekend, and so on.
The conversation will feel natural, and guests will know they have a pleasant face to talk to if you keep it light-hearted and unforgettable.
2. Remember the regular faces
If you encounter the same folks at the bar frequently, learn their names.
You’re creating a rapport with your regulars if you know their names and acknowledge them by name.
This is a small gesture that they will appreciate since you may know their order before they speak, or you may be able to find them their favourite seat.
3. Offer treats and freebies
Offering them refreshments is another subtle method to engage them.
This is not only a fantastic method to strike up a conversation, but it’s also likely that they’ll appreciate it.
You may even say you’ve been working on a trademark cocktail and want them to experience it.
Nobody can say no to a free drink, and it’s another method of demonstrating that you’re willing to go above and beyond.
4. Involve your visitors in the experience
If you’re across the counter, try to incorporate some theatrics as much as possible.
Part of the fun of watching mixologists create drinks, for example, is seeing their skill.
Show guests that you’re having a wonderful time behind the bar by doing it with panache and enthusiasm.
Customers appreciate theatrics behind the bar, so make it a fun experience for them. You’ll realize that your happiness is contagious.
5. Be attentive
Guests will gather at the bar to unwind, socialize, drink, and enjoy themselves.
You should strike a balance between giving them the attention they desire while also avoiding becoming obnoxious.
Don’t forget about them; inquire about their beverages or how else you can assist them.
These small details can make a big difference in the consumer experience.
It demonstrates to your customers that you value their time in your bar and want them to have a good time.
6. Recognize and pay attention to your customers
The bar may become crowded when you least expect it, but that won’t stop patrons from begging for your attention.
Many voices may be speaking to you at the same time, and even if you aren’t purposely ignoring them, it may appear that way, and guests will not enjoy it.
Simply stating that you are aware of their presence and that you will be with them soon is sufficient to demonstrate that you are not ignoring them.
It’s also a good idea to pay attention to what they’re saying, especially if the orders are long and intricate.
Then, they’ll instantly recognize that you’re giving it their all and will want to reach out to you as soon as possible.
7. Learn the menu by heart
Not every consumer knows precisely what they want so they may look to you for advice.
As a result, it’s a smart idea to memorize your menu so that your customers can make informed decisions.
You’ll be able to assist them in making a decision, pick out anything distinctive or different about your beverages, and even provide suggestions that they’ll appreciate.
This demonstrates to clients that you have the expertise to assist them and that they can rely on you in the future.
8. Start the process the moment a customer enters
Restaurants must bear in mind that the demands of their customers should be at the forefront of every dining experience. Here are some pointers to get you started:
- As soon as your customers walk through the door, greet them with a smile.
- Address diners using courteous titles such as sir, ma’am, and miss.
- Customers should not be interrupted. Make sure you wait until they are ready to start a discussion before you begin.
- Pay attention and remember what they want.
- Know your restaurant’s menu inside and out.
Maintaining appropriate protocol can leave a lasting impression on your customers. As a result, be certain you get it right. For example, you can use the following advice:
- If you notice/understand that a special guest is present, remember to serve them first. Otherwise, start with the women, then the men, and finally the children seated at the table.
- Clear the table and serve the food from the customer’s left side at all times. Make a polite request if you need to interrupt or reach inside.
- Pour and replenish drinks from the customer’s right.
9. Solve all queries immediately
The elegance with which you handle client issues and complaints is the second most crucial stage in providing superior restaurant customer service.
However, even if you try your hardest to produce a perfect first impression, things can go wrong.
Don’t let that bother you, and keep in mind that the purpose is to gratify your dinner.
Therefore it is critical to solve problems as soon as possible. Allow no time for your diner’s discontent or rage to fester.
10. Improve the efficiency of your service by optimising it
The ambiance of your pub is entirely dependent on how well your services run.
It might be aggravating to wait for meals and drinks that take an excessive amount of time to arrive.
A single forgotten order can ruin a customer’s experience and make them reluctant to return.
This is why you must make efficiency a top priority.
The way you work will be determined by the number of people who visit your pub. It all depends on where you are and who your customers are.
Make it a point to personalize your service to customer demands and to be versatile.
There will always be a few difficult customers that are impatient, so try to handle this problem by keeping them entertained.
Karaoke nights, for example, are sure to keep your customers entertained while also giving your employees some extra time to bring their meals to the table.
11. Don’t make your customers wait
Make sure your customers don’t have to wait long for their appetizers, first round of drinks, or main course.
They will most likely become irritated while waiting for their food or beverages.
It makes no difference whether your bartender creates the best cocktails, or your chef cooks excellent steaks.
They’ll already be agitated, which will give them a bad impression.
In addition, it might be difficult to regain the trust of dissatisfied customers.
Thus, the goal should be to avoid it as much as possible.
Keep an eye on the number of restaurant employees and hire additional if necessary to ensure that clients do not have to wait long.
12. Be prompt but also safe
If you’re well-organized, you’ll be able to work more efficiently behind the bar.
Customers don’t want to be kept waiting for lengthy periods, and they won’t enjoy it if you move quicker than you should.
While avoiding potential hazards like spillage, attempt to be quick, efficient, and proactive.
Trying to do tasks too rapidly may raise the danger of harm, but doing it too slowly may cause customer frustration, so strike the correct balance.
13. Have regular team meetings to evaluate how the staff can improve
Leaving your staff out of the business plan is one of the biggest blunders you can make in our industry.
The people that are in front of the line are usually your employees. Customers will interact with the waiting staff first, and they will also be the ones who listen to their input.
As a result, there’s a good chance they’ll be the first to notice if something goes wrong.
In addition, organizing weekly meetings can assist you in bringing your entire team on board.
14. Take feedback
The feedback you receive from your customers will be the most crucial measure of your service quality.
Examine each piece of information you acquire and put it to use.
Customer feedback will also provide you with a comprehensive picture of your customers’ experience.
15. Incorporate technology into your daily working
Integrating automation into your bar’s system is one unique method to provide excellent customer service.
Here are some technological implementations for delivering a memorable dining experience for your guests: –
– Online ordering
– Ordering via Kiosk
– Free Wi-Fi
– Encourage check-ins on social media
– Feedback forms
To Wrap Up…
The only priority of a bar should not be limited to producing excellent drinks. Quality bar customer service and delicious cuisine are a winning combination.
Building a positive brand image for your tavern requires a fantastic overall experience.
As a result, concentrate on establishing a positive relationship with your consumers and making them feel at ease.
With so many bars ready to provide a fantastic customer experience, you’ll need to develop unique tactics to dazzle your customers and improve their overall experience with you.
