If you own or manage a restaurant, then you know that table turnover rate is a crucial metric to track. A high turnover rate means that your customers are happy and that you’re making money.
A low turnover rate, on the other hand, can indicate that your customers are unhappy or that your restaurant is inefficient. Either way, it’s important to take steps to improve your table turnover rate.
What Is Table Turnover Rate And How Is It Calculated?
The table turnover rate is a metric used in the restaurant industry to measure how quickly tables are turned or how often they are occupied. The turnover rate is calculated by dividing the total number of covers by the total number of tables.
For example, if a restaurant has 100 covers and 50 tables, the turnover rate would be 2 (100/50). The higher the turnover rate, the more efficient the restaurant is at seating and serving guests.
A high turnover rate is also indicative of a popular restaurant that is in high demand. While there is no ideal turnover rate, most restaurants strive to have a turnover rate of 2 or higher. In order to achieve a high turnover rate, restaurants need to have well-trained staff who are efficient at seating and serving guests.
They also need to have a good mix of table sizes to accommodate different party sizes. Finally, restaurants need to carefully manage their reservations to avoid overbooking. By following these best practices, restaurants can improve their table turnover rate and provide a better experience for their guests.
10 Tips For Improving Your Restaurant’s Table Turnover Rate
Running a successful restaurant is all about efficiency. One of the most important factors in achieving efficiency is having a high table turnover rate. A high table turnover rate means that your tables are being used to their full potential and that you are making the most of your available space. Here are 10 tips for improving your restaurant’s table turnover rate:
1. Train Your Servers
Table turnover is an important metric for restaurants to track. A high table turnover rate means that more customers are being seated, which can lead to increased revenue. There are several ways to improve your restaurant’s table turnover rate, and one of the most effective is to train your servers.
By teaching them efficient serving techniques, you can help them turn tables more quickly and effectively. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that your servers are properly trained in customer service.
This will help them build good relationships with guests, which can encourage them to return. By taking these steps, you can help improve your restaurant’s table turnover rate and boost your bottom line.
2. Streamline Your Kitchen Operations
As any restaurant owner knows, maximizing table turnover is essential for profitability. In a busy eatery, every minute counts when it comes to getting customers seated, served, and out the door. Another way to streamline your kitchen operations and improve your table turnover rate is to implement a food assembly line.
Rather than having each server take orders and then deliver them to the kitchen, assign one staff member to act as an order taker. This individual can then relay the orders to the cooks, who can assemble the dishes and pass them down the line to be plated and served.
This system can help to minimize confusion in the kitchen and ensure that orders are filled promptly. In addition, it can free up servers to focus on other tasks, such as cleaning tables and resetting them for new customers.
3. Keep Your Menu Simple
Several factors contribute to table turnover rate, but one of the most important is menu simplicity. When customers have too many choices, they can become overwhelmed and take longer to make a decision. This can lead to longer wait times and ultimately lower table turnover rates.
Conversely, a simplified menu with only a few well-chosen options can help to speed up the ordering process, leading to higher table turnover rates and increased profits. So next time you’re looking to improve your restaurant’s bottom line, start by taking a close look at your menu.
4. Don’t Seat Incomplete Parties
As any restaurant manager knows, the turnover rate is important for keeping tables full and customers happy. When a table turns over quickly, it means that more customers are being served and that the restaurant is making more money.
However, seating incomplete parties can hinder the turnover rate by preventing other customers from being seated. In addition, incomplete parties often take longer to order and eat, which can further slowdown the flow of tables.
For these reasons, it is important to seat complete parties whenever possible. While it may mean turning away a few potential customers, it will ultimately lead to a better customer experience and a higher turnover rate.
5. Serve Guests As Soon As Possible
Table turnover rate is an important metric for restaurants. It measures how quickly a table turns over from one customer to the next, and it can have a big impact on your bottom line. The faster you can turn over tables, the more customers you can serve and the more money you can make.
There are several ways to improve your table turnover rate, but one of the most important is to serve guests as soon as possible. When customers have to wait for their food, they often get impatient and leave without spending much money.
However, if you can get their food to them quickly, they’re more likely to stick around and order more. This is why it’s so important to have a well-trained staff who can work quickly and efficiently.
6. Play Around With Your Restaurant’s Design And Ambiance
For restaurateurs, one of the most important factors to consider is the table turnover rate. This metric indicates how often a table turns over in an evening, and it can have a big impact on your bottom line. There are several ways to improve your table turnover rate, but one of the most effective is to play around with your restaurant’s design and ambiance.
Consider making some changes to your dining room layout. If you have large tables that seat eight or more people, try breaking them up into smaller tables for four or six. This will make it easier for guests to find an open table, and it will also make your restaurant feel more inviting. You can also try rearranging your furniture to create a more efficient flow in the dining room.
In addition to changes in the physical layout of your restaurant, you can also experiment with different lighting schemes and music selections. A softer, more calming ambiance will encourage guests to linger over their meal, while a brighter, livelier atmosphere will help keep things moving along.
Pay attention to the overall mood you’re trying to create, and make sure that all of your design choices support that goal. With a little experimentation, you can find the perfect combination of design and ambiance to boost your table turnover rate and improve your bottom line.
7. Assign More Servers To Larger Parties
By having more servers working for a larger party, you can get them seated and served more quickly. This will help to free up tables for other customers, and it will also help to keep your servers from getting overwhelmed.
In addition, larger parties tend to tip better than smaller parties, so you may even see an increase in your tips if you assign more servers to them. Ultimately, improving your restaurant’s turnover rate is all about efficiency, and assigning more servers to larger parties is one way to achieve it.
8. Review And Optimize Overall Restaurant Operations
Maintaining a high table turnover rate is important for any restaurant that wants to be successful. Several factors can influence a restaurant’s table turnover rate, and it is important to take a comprehensive approach when trying to improve this metric.
By reviewing and optimizing overall restaurant operations, managers can make sure that they are taking advantage of all the opportunities to improve table turnover.
One area that is often overlooked is the layout of the dining room; by making small changes to the way tables are arranged, it may be possible to increase the number of customers that can be seated in a given period. Similarly, streamlining the ordering and food delivery process can also lead to faster turnover rates.
9. Add A Virtual Waitlist
A virtual waitlist can help you manage your customer flow more efficiently and reduce customer wait times. Virtual waitlists allow customers to add their names to a list from their phone or other devices, and then they receive a text or email notification when their table is ready. This eliminates the need for customers to wait in line or call the restaurant to check on the status of their reservation.
Additionally, it allows you to keep track of how many people are waiting for a table, so you can better predict customer demand. Virtual waitlists can also help you improve your customer satisfaction by reducing wait times and providing a more efficient way to manage your customer flow.
10. Use Technology
Technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are now several ways that it can be used to improve your restaurant’s table turnover rate. One of the most effective ways to do this is to use an electronic reservations system.
This allows customers to book a table in advance, which means that you can avoid the last-minute rush. Another way to use technology to your advantage is to install touch-screen ordering systems at each table.
This not only speeds up the ordering process but also reduces mistakes and helps to free up staff members for other tasks. In addition, touch-screen ordering systems can also be used to upsell customers by suggesting side dishes or desserts.
By making full use of all the available technology, you can help to ensure that your restaurant runs smoothly and efficiently.
Conclusion
Improving your restaurant’s table turnover rate is a key way to improve your bottom line. By understanding the factors that influence table turnover, you can put into place strategies and tactics to get your guests in and out of their seats faster. We hope you liked this article and found it helpful. If you have any questions or want more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Thanks for reading!