How do you recognize a fine dining restaurant from a simply stylish one? Is it the number of forks? Is it the spotless white linens and tablecloths? Or is it an award that shines like a medal of “fine dining” recognition? As far a food goes, it is pretty clear: the restaurant should give diners what they cannot find anywhere else, both in terms of ingredients, creativity and taste.

Here are some characteristics a good restaurant must have, from food critic Anna Ziuzina:

Good Overall Experience

To enhance your guests’ overall experience of your restaurant, you must provide good customer service. The staff who interact with your guests should be polite and maintain a positive attitude. Servers should know the menu well, deliver food and drinks on time, and quickly address any issues that an unsatisfied guest may have. All staff should help to keep the restaurant clean at all times, including the kitchen, food preparation areas and any areas that guests come into contact with.

High-Quality Food

A good restaurant sets a high standard for its food quality and ensures that guests receive the same quality with every meal. Serving quality food can earn your restaurant a good reputation and urge your guests to return to your restaurant. Excellently picked ingredients and an skillful chef are important to serving good food consistently. A good chef understands your guests' needs and must work well with the kitchen staff to ensure that guests receive their meal the way they ordered it every time.

Unique from the Rest

If your restaurant provides good food and service but is too similar to other restaurants, customers may ignore your restaurant when deciding where to eat. A good restaurant should have one or more unique features that stand out in a customer’s mind and give it a competitive advantage over others. For example, your restaurant may be the only restaurant in town that makes its ingredients fresh daily or it may have an amazing view of the city that none of your competitors have.

Great Business Management

A good restaurant owner manages the business side of the restaurant properly, this increases the chances that it can provide quality food and service without intervention. You must manage your restaurant’s finances, keep good records and stay current with regulatory requirements, such as taxes and health inspections. For example, consistently paying your vendors on time reduces the risk of running out of items on your menu.

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