Every restaurant wants to make their guests’ experience memorable. It can be the difference between a one-time diner and a regular. One way to do this is by using OpenTable’s Experiences to provide ticketed, pre-paid events that nail hospitality at the highest level.
But what kind of experience gets guests talking? We’ve put together some helpful ideas other restaurants are using to go beyond for their diners. From the chef’s selection to tasting menus, here are some great OpenTable Experiences you can offer dinners right now.
Set menus
If you’re short on ideas for an Experience, why not keep it simple? Guests love value, and offering a set menu is a great way to give them more for less. Fade Street Social has embraced this concept, giving guests the chance to tuck into a two-course early evening menu for €30 or a three-course option for €35. Set menus can provide an accessible gateway to curated dining experiences.
Afternoon teas
While England may be the origin of afternoon teas, the custom has gained such widespread popularity that it has been embraced by countries worldwide. The same can be said for Ireland, and providing guests with a unique afternoon tea experience taps into a popular cultural trend. Take The Peculiar Afternoon Tea from The Atrium Lounge. It offers a twist on the time-honoured customs with sweet offerings giving guests a tropical indulgence.
Chef’s selection
Use your chef’s experience to create an experience. Guests often enjoy trying the chef recommendations, as it makes them feel more connected to the restaurant. ELY Wine Bar does this to perfection, offering ‘Secret Pairings”. The concept sees the head chef Luca matching a dish to one of the team’s favourite wines—perfect for those who like trying something new and getting insight behind the dishes and drinks.
Inclusive of local attractions
If your restaurant happens to be in a prominent location, why not tap into local attractions? The Wiley Fox enjoys a position close to theatres and offers a pre-theatre meal experience. Guests planning to visit Abbey Theatre or Liberty Hall can enjoy a signature burger and a cocktail of choice before the show. Using your local surroundings can amplify the dining experience.
Tasting menus
Offering a tasting menu allows you to truly showcase your team’s creativity and expertise. It provides an opportunity to take diners on an immersive, multi-course journey celebrating the restaurant’s unique perspective. At House Restaurant in Cork, guests can indulge in a seven-course tasting menu that pays homage to the rich gastronomic heritage of nearby Ardmore. This expertly curated experience highlights the region’s finest ingredients and flavours through the chef’s inspired vision.
Collaborations
Collaborating with the right partners can add an exciting new dynamic to your restaurant’s offerings while treating guests to a truly unique experience. By joining forces with like-minded brands, artisans or even celebrated chefs and mixologists, you can tap into their expertise to create one-of-a-kind culinary events or pop-ups that generate buzz. Roe & Co Distillery does this brilliantly with its Summer Garden series, recently welcoming El Milagro for an authentic Mexican food and cocktail experience. These types of collaborations allow you to temporarily transform your space in an immersive way that surprises and delights regulars while attracting new diners looking for novel tasting adventures.
Highlight your cuisine
Offering experiences focused on specific meal periods can be a handy way to drive business during traditionally slower times. Using OpenTable Experiences, you can create compelling set menu options tailored for breakfast, lunch or even happy hour occasions. The Ivy Dawson Street does this masterfully with their Breakfast Experience, which offers a curated morning menu featuring freshly-blended smoothies, assorted pastries and more. By designing experiences around these off-peak times, you provide an enticing incentive for guests to visit outside of peak dining hours.
Go beyond the food
Restaurants can differentiate themselves by going beyond the menu and crafting unique experiences that highlight special events, occasions or pay homage to particular themes. For instance, Platform 61 in Dublin celebrates female guests with a special “Ladies Night” Experience, a midweek indulgence featuring a two-course meal and refreshing drink. By getting creative with your Experience, you can generate buzz, treat guests to something novel and celebrate something special.
Summary: It’s all in the Experience
Crafting extraordinary dining experiences goes beyond just excellent food and service. By using OpenTable Experiences, you can design one-of-a-kind, pre-paid events that immerse guests in truly memorable moments. Best of all, setting up your unique Experience offering on OpenTable is a seamless experience in itself. The possibilities are endless.
*The restaurant experiences described in this article were accurate as of May 2024 but are subject to change.
