What Makes a Restaurant 5-Star: How to Provide Excellence in the Food Industry

Why settle for mediocrity when you can shoot for excellence? Every restaurant owner dreams of owning a business that is rated 5 stars. But what does that mean? And what can you do to make your restaurant rank at the top?

In this article, we will focus on the different restaurant rating systems, and we will answer the pressing question “What makes a restaurant 5 star?”.

What is a 5-star restaurant?

To answer this question, we must first decide on the rating system we are talking about. Here are the most common restaurant rating systems and their type of rating:

• Michelin Guide: 1 to 3 stars. It is worldwide and a dream for many restaurants because it is hard to even get one star. You cannot invite the reviewers or influence their opinion, you just have to do your work well enough and hope you will get noticed;
• Gault Millau: 1 to 20 points, available in Europe. You can not pay for your restaurant to be reviewed, it must be discovered by the local inspectors;1 to 20 points, available in Europe. You can not pay for your restaurant to be reviewed, it must be discovered by the local inspectors;
• Gambero Rosso: they attribute a rating from 60 to 100 to each reviewed restaurant and only the best places get awarded a number of forks between 1 and 3;
• Google: 62% use Google to find a new restaurant. People can review the business and all the ratings are added up to get a final rating from 1 to 5 stars;
• TripAdvisor: before planning a visit to a new place, many people search restaurants on travel platforms to see the opinions of fellow travelers. The rating is from 1 to 5;
• Facebook: 75% of customers use the social media platform to decide on a restaurant. The rating is from 1 to 5 and users can leave comments and add pictures to illustrate their reviews.

Read more: How to Take Orders and Increase Revenue Using Your Restaurant Facebook Page

The short answer to what is a 5-star restaurant is a business that excels in all areas, from the ingredients, and the menu item to the food service and the overall location atmosphere.

For the long answer, keep on reading, because we provide valuable tips in the section below.

What makes a restaurant 5 star?

It is better to set yourself up for success and implement these tips before you open your restaurant. But don’t worry, if you are unhappy with your restaurant at the moment, it isn’t too late to do a rebranding and earn a 5-star rating for your business.

1. Hire an outstanding chef

The food is the main answer to what a restaurant 5 star. And who is the person in charge of creating extraordinary food that dazzles clients and makes them leave a positive review? The chef. Therefore, you need to hire a chef that:

• Can successfully manage the kitchen team: a good chef is not only in charge of creating the menu but also of coordinating every member of the kitchen staff to get them to consistently create high-quality dishes, in an organized manner;
• Has experience in the same role: while there are many talented cooks out there, not all will be able to manage a team. Look for a chef with experience because they will deliver results and there won’t be a long learning process;
• Has credentials: there are many cooking schools out there that teach people how to be a great chef. Look for certifications when hiring because those people have skills that are appreciated by professionals;
• Has a vision: you don’t have to go after renowned chefs at the beginning, especially if you don’t have a big budget. Be open to young talented chefs who want to make their mark in the industry with their vision sustained by extensive culinary knowledge.

Read more: How to Ace the Restaurant Hiring Process and Get the Best Employees

2. Create a 5-star restaurant food menu

While many inspectors and customers also take into account price, service, and atmosphere, the food is indubitably the most important factor. The first interaction a customer has with your restaurant is through the menu, so you should make a great impression.

Follow these tips to create a 5-star restaurant food menu:

• Keep your menu short: a 5-star restaurant prizes quality over quantity. Therefore, opt for a small menu with stand-out dishes instead of a big menu with easily ignorable items;
• Use high-quality ingredients: if you are rated 5 stars, you will be able to charge a higher price for your items. But, to get there, you need to start with only the best ingredients that impress with their freshness. Try to collaborate with local vendors and cool with seasonal produce;
• Change your menu occasionally: Having a fixed menu is fine because people find it reliable, especially if the quality is consistent. But, if you want your customers to keep coming back, you must surprise them with delicious new dishes. You can try a rotating menu or just supplement your menu with nightly specials. If you use the menu creator from GloriaFood, you can update your menu as many times as you want or create a different one for special days, at no cost;
• Provide innovation: the competition in the food industry is fierce. If you want the coveted 5 stars, you need to get noticed through innovation. Try rarely used ingredients, a new way to cook classic dishes, or innovative cooking techniques;
• Tempt customers with irresistible menu descriptions: the whole restaurant experience begins when a client opens the menu (at the location and online). How can you impress them? On top of professional restaurant food photography, concoct menu descriptions that stimulate the taste buds and entice readers to order.

Read more: How to Write a Menu for a Restaurant: Complete Guide with Examples

3. Comply with 5-star restaurant service standards

A 5-star meal is enjoyed with all the senses. Therefore, if you want to create an unforgettable experience for clients and inspectors that they will rave about, ensure you have the following:

• An inviting ambiance: you need to create a restaurant atmosphere that will subconsciously enhance the dining experience. For example, enough table experience so people feel that they are seated privately, music at a low volume so clients can hold a conversation without raising their voice, and sparkling clean tablecloths and utensils;
• Attentive and knowledgeable staff: the interaction customers have with employees will leave a lasting impression and influence their rating. Therefore, train your staff to greet clients immediately and be attentive to all their needs. Furthermore, have a tasting for all servers, so they can knowledgeably recommend dishes and pairings to interested customers;
• Technology that makes clients’ lives easier: people are more likely to leave a positive review if they have an easy and fast ordering process. Therefore, you will need an efficient online ordering system from GloriaFood to offer a 5-star online ordering experience. Furthermore, also add the free table reservation system from GloriaFood so clients can easily book a table in a few clicks on your website.
• A dress code for the employees: uniformity can help your restaurant appear more distinguished. What’s more, uniforms will make your staff easily recognizable for clients who need help.

Final Words

The answer to what makes a restaurant 5 star is a formula: delicious, innovative food + talented chef + irreproachable service. Of course, to achieve all of these your restaurant’s processes must be in top shape and leave little room for error.

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