Some restaurants have now turned to social media as a way to connect with their following. These restaurants have created Facebook and Twitter pages to give the customers, or those contemplating becoming a customer, an inside look into the kitchen as well as the chefs that are preparing their meal. Customers nowadays want to see how their food is prepared. They want to feel like they are part of the process, like they are having a meal cooked for them in their own environment. Posting pictures and videos help them feel the way they would like to about their favorite restaurant.
This gives the customers an opportunity to see how their meal is being prepared step-by-step. The restaurants that have taken this approach post pictures to their Facebook and Twitter pages of the culinary process. Some also have posted videos so the customer can see exactly what goes into the meal and exactly how it is prepared.
This is also a good outlet for customers to voice their opinions, questions, complaints, as well as a good way for the customer to thank the restaurant and/or chef. Grant Achatz of Chicago’s Alinea has his own Twitter. He feels that his customers want to hear from him, not from someone that he is paying to represent him. He replies to the tweets he receives and said if see reads of a complaint he will fix the problem and may refund the meal. Achatz said, “the more we know about who is coming into our restaurant, the better we’ll be able to fulfill our obligation to do what will make them feel happy.” Tony Priolo, chef at Piccolo Sogno said if someone has tweeted him before coming into the restaurant he will try to visit them at their table when then come in, or will send something special to them.
More restaurants should jump on the Facebook and Twitter train. It is an excellent way for customers to see their favorite restaurants and dishes from the inside out. It is also a great way for restaurants to do some free advertising, but also a way for them to see what people want. This allows restaurants an advantage. If their customers tweet or post on Facebook what they did or did not like about their trip to a restaurant, the restaurant will be able to fix the problem, or keep doing what the customers like.
