As the pandemic fades away and restaurants welcome guests again, intimate, five-star hospitality is in high demand. This type of hospitality is usually found in private dining spaces within a restaurant or venue.
Some restaurants even have a special area that can be reserved for events. These are the perfect spots for birthday celebrations, family dinners or corporate networking.
Choosing a venue
Whether it’s for a birthday, anniversary, intimate dinner or a corporate event, private dining is a great way to bond with friends and colleagues. The key is to create a memorable experience that matches the occasion and guests’ tastes.
The most important factor is to find the right venue for private dining. This means a space that is big enough for the number of people in the party and has an ambiance that reflects the type of event being hosted. If a space isn’t the right size, it can be distracting and leave guests feeling uneasy.
A restaurant’s layout is also important. Ideally, the space should be separated from the rest of the restaurant so guests can feel secluded and have their own space without being too isolated. It should also be accessible and close to public transport links so that it’s easy for everyone to get to the event.
Once you’ve found the perfect venue, make sure to promote it using your reservation tool and social media pages. You can also host an open house for local business owners and networking groups to give them a tour of your venue and showcase different event setups in each area. Remember to include high-quality photos of your spaces and food in marketing materials so that guests can easily picture themselves celebrating their special occasions or gatherings at your restaurant.
Menus
The menu is the focal point for any dining experience and private dining (usually referred to as PD) is no different. Often restaurants offering a PD program will offer guests a choice of set menus to choose from that can be booked in advance. Alternatively, restaurants will also allow guests to select their own dishes from the a la carte menu on the day of the dinner party.
When choosing a menu it is important to consider what your guests are likely to enjoy eating, whether they will be vegetarians or vegans and any specific dietary requirements. Many restaurants will offer a wide range of choices so there is sure to be something for everyone. Increasingly popular are platters of food to share so that your guests can tempt their palates with a mix of delicious dishes on offer.
The venue you choose will also depend on the date of your private dinner party and what kind of atmosphere you want to create. Do you want to be tucked away cosy in a basement or would your guests enjoy the high life of a penthouse suite? The weather will also play a part as well as you might like to be able to open up doors into a courtyard or have outdoor seating for your guests. If you are a wine lover, you could even host a wine tasting event which is an enjoyable way to add a bit of ooh-lah to your dinner party.
Theming
Themed events are a great way to attract guests and increase revenue for private dining. These events can be a great way to showcase a restaurant’s expertise and create a memorable experience for guests. They can also help restaurants build a reputation in the community and attract new customers.
There are many different themes that can be used for private dining, including local culture, technology, storytelling, and entertainment. Local culture can be incorporated into a dinner event in several ways, such as featuring a menu with regional ingredients, providing traditional Tuscan pottery and artwork as decorations, or hosting a live musical performance during the meal. Technology can also be used to enhance the experience, such as by providing virtual reality headsets for guests or projecting images and videos onto the walls and tables.
Storytelling can be a fun and interactive way to entertain guests. It can also add a sense of mystery and intrigue to the dinner event. For example, a murder mystery theme can be a great way to engage guests and create a memorable experience. Other ways to incorporate storytelling into a private dining event include arranging a wine tasting or a cooking class.
Many restaurants offer themed dining packages to cater to specific occasions and demographics. These special menus can be a great way to attract new customers and generate high-margin revenue. For example, a restaurant could offer meal packages for birthday celebrations, holiday events, or business meetings.
Service
A private dining room is a secluded area, space or room within a restaurant that can be reserved for a number of guests – either privately or as part of a wider group. It can be used for anything from an intimate dinner for a couple to a large celebration or even a wedding reception.
When booking a private dining experience you can expect an exceptional level of service, from the food to the wait staff. This is because restaurants know the importance of hosting a quality event, and they usually only hire experienced hospitality people – so you can rest assured that you’ll get five star wait staff who will go above and beyond to make your event special.
Some venues offer unique experiences as part of their private dining packages, such as a dining at the kitchen table where you’ll be able to enjoy all the heat, noise and commotion of the busy kitchen. Other options include a wine tasting where you’ll be paired with wines that perfectly complement your meal.
Some venues also allow you to BYOB, so if you have a particular bottle of wine or champagne that you’d like to bring with you then ask the manager if they can accommodate it. Also check that your venue has adequate accessibility for any of your guests with disabilities and if there are toilets located nearby.
