Differences between Fast-food Restaurants and Dine-in Restaurants

Price and ambience are the key factors differentiate dine-in from fast-food restaurants. When running a restaurant, the owners must be clear about what their customer base wants, as it’s an essential part of a successful establishment.

For those who are planning to start their restaurant, knowing these differences is important. In this article, we’ll discuss the key details and differences between dine-in and fast-food restaurants to help you determine the right restaurant setting for your customer base.

Dine-in restaurant vs. fast food restaurant

For fine dine-in Indian restaurants, there must be upscale setting with quality service and moderate to high price food menu options. The fast-food restaurant, on the other hand, has a slightly laid-back atmosphere with moderately priced food selections. So, it’s essential to define the establishment style before starting a restaurant.

Dine-in Restaurant

Customers often expect something special when they visit a dine-in restaurant. The elegant decor, welcoming staff, fancy cutlery and delicious meals make customers feel a unique sense of importance. Of course, you need to shed a good amount of cash on creating a dine-in restaurant. But many customers don’t mind spending cash at dine-in restaurants. Some customers are even willing to pay top prices for an amazing experience.

Although all sections of the population won’t be able to spend too much money on a meal, dine-in restaurants can offer special discounts or offers during holidays or special occasions for everyone.
Nonetheless, a wealthy clientele takes dine-in restaurants to another level of success.

Tips for starting a dine-in restaurant: 

In case, you’re planning to open a dine-in restaurant for authentic Indian Cuisine in Bangkok, the very first thing to consider is how pricey and fancy your restaurant would be. If both factors don’t match, it could be a turn off for your customers. It’s best to research your competitors to formulate a better business model with a perfect menu and price.

A suitable location is also important for a dine-in restaurant to make its presence apparent to customers. If you have ever searched for the best “Indian Restaurant near me,” you’d notice that most of the best dine-in restaurants are located in main areas of the city where more residents like to hangout.

• A fine dine-in restaurant must live up to the expectations of patrons. Most visitors expect such restaurants to be elegant with decent settings using exquisite dinnerware and clean cloth table covers. Moreover, good-looking furnishing and ambience are also a part of such dining spaces.
• Dine-in restaurants are not just known for their quality food but even for their inviting ambience and courteous services. 

Fast-Food Restaurant

If you manage it well, even a fast-food restaurant has more chances of being successful within a few years. However, since customers often look for cheap priced and quick food items, these spaces are often far from obsolete.

While fast-food restaurants have different service level compared to dine-in restaurants, here are certain key factors to maintain such fast-food establishment:

• Quick service
• Menu variety with a specific specialisation (if any)
• Some healthy options too
• A clean facility

Difference between Dine-In and Fast-Food Restaurants

Here are some factors that form slight differences between dine-in and fast-food restaurants:

1. Specific Cuisine 

At dine-in restaurants, customers often go for specific cuisines, such as Indian food in Bangkok. If someone wishes to have Indian, Chinese or Thai cuisine, they would look for the best restaurants serving the cuisine of their choice.

On the other hand, fast-food restaurants often have a variety of quick meals available for different age groups. From burgers and fries to quick meals, different food items are served here. However, some fast-food restaurants also serve some specialised food items like BBQ steaks but, at the same time, they have vast food menu options.

2. Experience

The customer must feel extra special at a dine-in restaurant, as they pay for it. So, the staff at such restaurants must leave no stone unturned when it comes to hospitality. When great ambience with proper lighting matches the ethos of a specific cuisine, a customer will surely have an amazing experience.

Fast-food restaurants, however, don’t have to bother much about the ambience and light setting. Although they have to maintain a decent setup with bright lights, most of their customers are in a hurry to eat their meal or take their food items away. So, customers don’t care about the lavish ambience of such restaurants.

However, for winning some brownie points and good word-of-mouth, even fast-food restaurants must create a good happy atmosphere. But it’s wise not to spend too much on the ambience.

3. Comfort

Besides the appealing atmosphere, a dine-in restaurant must be comfortable too. There is no point in creating a striking ambience if the tables and chairs in a restaurant are not comfortable for customers. The customer spends a considerable amount of time at dine-in restaurants. So, it’s best to invest in comfortable furniture for visitors to relax and sink into the vibe of the dining space.

Fast-food restaurants, on the other hand, don’t have to worry too much about investing in comfortable furniture. For, most of their customers sit for a while till their food finishes. They are not at the restaurant for having a comforting experience.

4. Space

For a dine-in restaurant, do consider a good amount of space for setup. There is no point in opening a dine-in restaurant if customers have to sit in a congested space with their beloved or family.

They are coming to a restaurant to spend some quality time with their partner or family. So, it’s expected that different dining tables are set at a good distance where families or spouses can interact peacefully without being disturbed by the noises coming from an adjacent table.

On the other hand, fast-food restaurants can have open-space or a small space depending on what customer base the restaurant owner wants to attract. However, customers at a fast-food restaurant are not concerned about the proper space, lighting, etc.

If you want to form a strong customer relationship, you must follow the given tips to create a perfect setting for your restaurant - be it a dine-in or fast-food restaurant. It’s always best to record the preferences of your expected customer to gain loyalty points. This will also make patrons have a better experience every time they visit your restaurant.

Also Read:- 

• Experience the Taste of India in Bangkok