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08 December 2025
Team Up
Review
How can you attract customers to a restaurant when competition is everywhere ?
Attracting new customers is no longer just about good cooking ! According to Thierry Marx, president of UMIH, “25 restaurants close every day” due to a lack of profitability and visibility (RMC,2024).
You must therefore combine a strategic location, a unique concept, online reputation, digital communication, customer loyalty, and marketing activities.
👉 In this guide, you will find 30 tips to attract as many customers as possible and fill your restaurant.
🎁 Free bonus : download the PDF checklist of the 30 tips and apply them easily in your establishment.
In the restaurant industry, location is one of the most important choices !
The famous “location, location, location” remains true, especially in a competitive market.
A good location depends on several criteria :
In 2024, plant-based and vegan dishes generated 20 % more sales (Extencia, 2025) : proof that positioning yourself in a niche market can be highly profitable.
Today, offering good food is no longer enough : you must deliver a full customer experience !
👉 That is what attracts and retains new customers.
Focusing on a niche market is often a smart move. It helps you avoid competing directly with major chains and allows you to target your ideal customer more precisely. For example, you can launch a vegetarian brunch, a menu for athletes, or revisit traditional regional recipes.
A strong concept must be simple and easy for customers to understand. Everything should remain consistent : the menu, the decoration, the tone of your social media, and even your staff uniforms.
According to the BrightLocal 2023 study, 98 % of consumers read customer reviews, and 80 % say they have been asked by a business to leave one. Even better, 65 % respond positively to these requests.
Contests are not limited to social media : you can also run them directly in your venue to collect more customer reviews and strengthen your online reputation.
For example, invite your customers to leave a Google review after trying their luck with a prize wheel or a scratch game. Attractive rewards make the experience fun and increase participation.
👉 Result : your customers are more willing to share their review, because they feel they have something to gain.
With solutions like Up Review, everything becomes simple : create, customize, and launch your QR code contest in just a few clicks.
👉 Service is the number one factor mentioned in customer reviews !
A bad experience in the dining room can quickly overshadow a great meal. Conversely, a warm welcome can turn a walk-in guest into a loyal customer.
So clarify everyone’s role : who greets, who takes orders, who manages the floor. This organization prevents mistakes and improves customer relationship management.
Training in customer relations is essential. A smile, attentive listening, and special attention to customer needs make a real difference. Also teach your team how to handle complaints with calm and professionalism.
A united and motivated team is not just a human resource : it is a strong asset for relationship marketing and customer loyalty.
Uniforms are not just a small detail : they play a major role in the atmosphere and the customer experience.
A chic brasserie may choose simple, elegant outfits, while a student-friendly restaurant might opt for bright colors or playful patterns. This choice helps immerse your current customers and attract a new audience.
👉 The example of Raising Canes in the United States shows how a uniform can become part of the entire concept.
Uniforms also strengthen team cohesion. They give employees a sense of pride and help build a strong, consistent brand identity.
Les uniformes ne sont pas un simple détail : ils jouent un rôle majeur dans l’ambiance et l’expérience client.
According to Digitaleo (2025), 86 % of internet users rely on Google Maps to find the location of a business.
Google has become the first reflex for customers looking for a restaurant. Being well positioned on Google Maps can make all the difference, it is a major issue for organic visibility and customer acquisition.
Your profile must be complete: address, opening hours (including public holidays), phone number, website, and services offered. Also add attractive photos on a regular basis (dishes, dining room, team) to appeal to customers and improve your conversion rate.
👉 Discover our complete guide to optimizing your Google Business Profile.
The online menu is a powerful asset: it helps you appear for precise searches like “best burger Paris” or “vegan restaurant Lyon”. The more relevant and keyword optimized information you add, the more Google sees your business as trustworthy and highlights you in search results.
According to Francen Num, 52 % of restaurant owners say they increased their revenue thanks to the Internet, and 37 % spend more than 1 hour per day managing their website and social media.
Today, many customers discover a restaurant through Instagram, TikTok or Facebook before even walking inside. These social platforms are perfect for attracting new customers.
Posting content regularly is essential: photos of dishes, kitchen videos or stories showcasing the atmosphere of the dining room make people want to try the experience.
Short videos (quick recipes, behind the scenes, meal preparation) are a simple and effective marketing tool to engage your customers and reach a new audience.
👉 But posting is not enough ! Interaction is key: reply to comments, thank people for sharing, and encourage your customers to post their own photos.
A simple detail can drastically reduce your visibility: different opening hours between Google, TheFork, TripAdvisor ou Pages Jaunes.
Google compares your information across all platforms. If they do not match, your restaurant appears less trustworthy. As a result, you lose visibility and potential customers may turn to your competitors.
So make sure your opening hours, address and phone number are identical everywhere !
👉 Also remember to update holidays, closing periods and special events. Incorrect information can harm customer satisfaction and make you lose reservations.
Listing your restaurant in directories is a simple and effective way to increase your visibility. TripAdvisor, Michelin, Yellow Pages, food blogs or local guides : each listing is a new entry point to attract customers.
In addition to generating direct traffic, these directories send strong signals to Google.
👉 Each link to your website is perceived as a mark of trust, which improves your SEO !
Yet many restaurant owners neglect this action. It is unfortunate, because it has a lasting impact on your digital visibility and helps you capture customers who actively use these platforms.
If you want to attract foreign customers, be present on the platforms they use. Tourists do not always look for information in the same places as locals.
👉 Americans turn to Yelp or Foursquare, Chinese users rely on Dianping, and Brazilians prefer Kekanto.
By listing your establishment on these directories, you expand your catchment area far beyond your neighborhood. You can attract new customers and draw in travellers, who are often bigger spenders than local customers. Some even become true regulars during their holidays.
👉 Online reviews have become essential : more than 9 out of 10 customers read them before choosing a restaurant.
They are now a real barometer of your guests’ satisfaction. Yet many establishments still fail to respond to them.
A review without a reply is a missed opportunity. Thanking a satisfied customer strengthens the relationship and encourages loyalty. Responding professionally to a negative review shows that you are attentive and willing to improve : this is often what turns an unhappy customer into a loyal one.
Platforms also reward this reactivity. And a poor rating carries much less weight when it is accompanied by a professional and constructive response.
Online reviews should not be left to chance. To receive them consistently, set up a simple and automatic process, like real commercial prospecting applied to your reputation.
Here are some effective methods :
The more recent and positive reviews you collect, the more your rating improves. And this rating often becomes the first decision-making factor for new customers during their purchasing journey.
👉 Discover how to get (a lot) more 5 stars Google reviews
According to Digitaleo (2025) , a Google Business Profile with more than 100 photos generates 520 % more calls and 2,7 % more clicks.
Even before reading a menu, customers often decide with their eyes !
Bright, sharp, appetizing photos of your dishes instantly trigger desire and help you attract new customers.
👉 Do not overlook visuals of your dining room and your team either : a welcoming place and a smiling staff reassure people and make them want to walk through the door.
These photos can then be used everywhere : Google Business Profile, Instagram, your website, your flyers, or even your digital advertising campaigns to boost your sales.
A good example is Big Mamma : since a large part of their success comes from visual marketing on Instagram.
Publish well crafted photos of your dishes, show behind the scenes in the kitchen, use stories and especially Reels, which are particularly attention grabbing.
👉 The key is consistency and creativity !
An active account, posting several times a week with varied content, helps you attract new customers, expand your audience, and turn your followers into real visitors.
Even if Facebook sometimes feels less trendy, it remains an essential channel for restaurant owners, especially at the local level.
It is the perfect tool to share your daily menus, announce a special event, or publish photos in real time. This daily connection encourages customer loyalty and maintains a lasting relationship with your audience.
Its other major advantage is Meta Ads. They allow you to target your prospects very precisely according to age, location, or interests. It is a powerful marketing lever to boost your results, especially in B2C.
A culinary influencer can boost your restaurant’s foot traffic with a single post. Local micro influencers are often more effective than big stars.
👉 The best example : WeLoveMontpellier : a highly targeted local community that generates strong engagement.
Choose profiles that match your identity and your target audience, because a well crafted collaboration becomes a true customer acquisition lever and can fill your dining room for several days in a row.
Your customers can become your best ambassadors if you give them the right tools !
Some restaurants purposely create photogenic spaces : mural artworks, original mirrors or colorful neon signs.
These elements attract attention, encourage customers to take photos and share them on their social networks.
👉 Each post then becomes free, credible and highly effective advertising.
You can also encourage customers by reposting their content on your official accounts. It highlights them, strengthens their connection with your restaurant and stimulates even more engagement.
A simple contest can boost your online visibility very quickly ! For example, ask people to like, share or invite a friend, with a free meal or a gift card as the reward.
👉 A great example is an Instagram post from the account WeLoveMontpellier, which you can use as inspiration for your restaurant !
Result : more engagement, more visibility and new customers attracted thanks to shares.
With Facebook and Instagram, you can target your prospects with precision : age, location, interests or consumption habits. Result : you reach exactly the right people.
👉 Support your campaigns with high quality visuals and a clear call to action such as “Book now” or “Order online”.
In addition, Google Ads allows you to capture users who are actively searching, for example those typing “Italian restaurant Lyon” or “brunch Paris 11th”.
70 % of searches today are done on a smartphone ! A website that is not mobile friendly drives visitors away instantly (Digitaleo,2025).
Your website must therefore be responsive, meaning it adapts to all screens : computer, tablet and mobile.
It must also be fast, easy to read and display essential information first : menu, photos, contact details and reservation option.
👉 Test the responsive design of your website.
A Christmas menu still visible in February or a summer menu displayed in November gives a neglected and unprofessional impression.
Update your menus, events, special offers and opening hours regularly. This strengthens your credibility with clients and also sends a positive signal to Google.
Tip : a living website that publishes fresh and relevant content has a much better chance of appearing in search results.
Most customers want to book quickly, without making phone calls.
👉 Offering this option is essential for your restaurant !
This solution improves the customer experience and avoids having to go through intermediaries that charge commissions.
A simple detail can make all the difference : add a “How to get here ?” button on your website or your Google listing.
With mobile navigation, your customers want to quickly find the route to your restaurant. With one click, they get the itinerary via Google Maps or Citymapper.
This small option reduces drop offs and makes access easier, especially for visitors passing through or tourists.
If you are a chain or a franchise, consider creating a specific page for each location.
With a Store Locator, you centralize all your pages, save time and improve your visibility.
Offering seasonal dishes brings novelty and meets the expectations of those looking for freshness and authenticity. Holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Easter are also excellent opportunities to energize your offer.
Every menu change is a real communication opportunity.
👉 To help you, download our 2025 marketing calendar with all the key dates for your marketing actions and communications.
Perfect for filling tables during slow periods, they encourage people to act before it is too late.
👉 Yes ! Limited time offers create a real sense of urgency, the FOMO effect !
In addition to occasional offers, some ongoing discounts attract a regular clientele.
Offering 30 % or 50 % off during specific time slots, via platforms or directly on your website, can ensure a constant flow of bookings.
The key is to balance these promotions so they remain profitable !
A loyal customer generates up to five times more revenue than a new customer, while acquisition costs much more than retention.
To encourage them to come back, offer exclusive benefits : a points card, a discount after several visits, a free dish for their birthday or an invitation to a private event.
This way, the customer no longer sees themselves as just a consumer, but as a recognised and valued regular. And it is this feeling that makes them want to return again and again.
The companies in your neighbourhood represent an often underestimated opportunity. Offer them lunch packages, catering services for their events or special deals reserved for their employees.
These partnerships bring you regular revenue and give you access to a new local audience.
Beyond the meal, it is often the little touches that leave a lasting impression on a customer.
👉 Treat them like a friend or a family member !
Offering a free tasting on Sundays, inviting the chef to talk with guests in the dining room or adding a small unexpected surprise… These simple gestures create a memorable experience and encourage your customers to talk about you around them.
Attracting and retaining customers in a restaurant is not based on a single action, but on a combination of well coordinated levers.
By applying these 30 tips, you will build the foundations of a complete and long term strategy to fill your dining room, attract new customers and turn your regulars into true ambassadors.
Nathanaël Butet, for the Up Review team ❤️
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