8 strategies to boost on-premises sales

A majority of restaurant operators say growing on-premises traffic is more important to their success than focusing on takeout and delivery sales, new National Restaurant Association research indicates. 

According to the 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry report, 90% of fine dining, 87% of casual dining, and 7 of 10 operators in the fast-casual and coffee/snack segments are committed to growing their on-premises dining after a protracted period of slower dine-in sales resulted from the pandemic and a weakened economy.
 
While takeout and delivery are convenient, on-premises dining offers customers an enhanced atmosphere, the chance to socialize with friends, and a way to celebrate special occasions. 
 
Following are strategies to increase your on-premises dining business. 
 
Make your restaurant inviting

• Regularly clean and sanitize restrooms, tables, and floors. Keep shiny surfaces—mirrors, windows, glass partitions—spotless. Organize service areas, such as the hostess stand, bus stations, cashier—so they’re neat. 
• Create a cozy atmosphere with warm, soft lighting. Highlight service areas—tables, bars, and other focal points—with accent lighting that draws attention and enables customers to see clearly.
• Allow space between tables to give diners more privacy, and waitstaff room to move. Incorporate a mix of seating types—tables, booths, high-tops, bar seating—to meet different customer preferences.
• Use sound-dampening materials to reduce reflection off hard surfaces, like floors, walls and ceilings, so diners can hear each other. 

 Emphasize the differences between ordering takeout or dining on site 

Leverage the components that make your restaurant memorable. Give customers reasons to dine at your establishment.  

• Highlight the differences between your takeout and in-house menus. Offer specials that can’t be duplicated for takeout.
• Hold wine or beer tastings, themed events, local holiday celebrations, cultural events, or culinary demos.
• Offer live entertainment, such as game nights or televised sporting events, once or twice a week.
• Create loyalty programs for dine-in customers that make them feel valued.

 Showcase the food

If you make your dishes stand out, customers will come in to try them. 

• Get creative with presentation. For example, experiment with different garnishes, dips and sauces, and presentations suited to sharing.
• Invest in quality tableware that enhances your menu items.
• Market your dishes online, using high-resolution photos you can post on social media.  

 Tell/sell your story

Share information on what makes dining at your restaurant special.

• Engage your customers online with behind-the-scenes photos or videos of chefs and bartenders making the dishes and mixing drinks. •    With permission, share customer testimonials. Use short clips of customers enjoying favorite meals, or special photos featuring loyal customers.
• Make it easy to leave reviews. Use QR codes that lead to review sites, or other methods that incentivize the process.
• Host online cooking demos, classes, or Q&A sessions. Also, spotlight local growers or purveyors, and explain why you’re in business together.
• Partner with local food bloggers and influencers to raise your online presence, expand your reach, and drive traffic. 

 Build community

Customers like to know when a restaurant is part of the community it serves.
 

• Collaborate with local artists and musicians to showcase their work.
• Partner with local businesses for special opportunities or to host events.
• Partner with local growers and purveyors to demonstrate your commitment to freshness, sustainability and the local economy.
• Host fundraisers for local charities. 

 Leverage technology

Enhance the customer experience and streamline your operation at the same time.  

• Optimize your SEO for local search results.
• Use online reservation systems and waitlist apps. Make sure your POS system can provide real-time waitlists and table availability for any reservation system you sign up with. With waitlist apps, customers can monitor times and receive text messages when their tables are ready.
• Look into tablets or handheld devices to send orders directly to the kitchen’s display system instead of paper tickets. Orders will fire faster and stay organized.
• Offer tableside payment options. Use portable card readers or mobile payment options.
• Streamline the checkout process. Use a QR code on guests’ checks that lets them close out the bill and leave.
• Update your website and make sure key information (hours of operation, menu, locations) is easy to find. Optimize it for mobile devices. 

 Provide outstanding service

Service is a key reason why customers choose to dine in at your restaurant, so make sure it’s top notch.

• Greet everyone at the door and their tables with a smile.
• Train employees to explain and sell the menu, anticipate customers’ needs, and handle special requests.
• Streamline kitchen operations with well-organized stations and a ticketing system that prioritizes orders. Train staff to backstop each other and help busy teammates.
• Solicit, listen to, and respond to customer feedback. Conduct surveys to identify where you’re falling short of expectations and what you can do better.
• Acknowledge and reward exceptional service. Recognize employees who go above and beyond for customers and/or their teammates.