What does it take to really put your restaurant on the must visit list for people in your community? Is it merely good food, excellent service or good ambiance, or is it something else which you haven’t yet figured out. The dining business can be a cutthroat industry and as every business owner knows, you need to have something to set yourself apart.

Over the years we have seen any number of restaurant gimmicks come and go. Sometimes an entrepreneur will base an entire project around a gimmick, such as the Planet Hollywood chain of venues, for example. Some of these angles can be less subtle than others and as such they have a limited lifespan. Clearly, the trick is to come up with an idea that is both innovative and has longevity.

If you have been able to come up with some restaurant gimmicks of your own, it is probably a good idea to bounce them off your trusted confidantes and advisors. When we are involved so much with our business from day to day, we often do not have a neutral perspective and this is where trusted advisors would be so important. Don’t be afraid to let them pour cold water on your ideas, if need be.

The process of marketing a restaurant is involved and if you do not have a lot of experience you should seek out some professional advice. It is not good to learn the hard way, even though many industry veterans tell you that they come from the school of hard knocks. Don’t be tempted to implement any of the restaurant gimmicks that you may have seen in magazines, books or by visiting other locations until you have thoroughly analyzed any repercussions.

A smart restaurateur will realize that restaurant gimmicks have their place but must make sense within the overall promotion of your business. If you’re not careful when introducing your ideas, they may be seen as cheesy or simply a way of trying to squeeze extra dollars out of visitors. There is clearly a fine line between a great idea and something born out of desperation!

When you think about restaurant gimmicks, there is a certain negativity surrounding the very phrase. It follows that the business owner must employ a large degree of subtlety. For example, it could be as simple as introducing a new range of menu items which can be linked in some way to a new societal trend. This should hopefully be a little more subtle than the current initiative employed by Kentucky Fried Chicken to promote Kentucky Grilled Chicken, instead!

Restaurant gimmicks can be fun and there’s a lot to be said for not taking them too seriously, either as a business owner or as a customer. If you strike the right balance then you can provide a number of potential talking points for your visitors, as hooks to get them to come back or to attract people through word-of-mouth.

Remember that people are looking for a degree of escapism when they join together with others to eat out. You can introduce some restaurant gimmicks to enhance this experience, but be careful not to overdo it.