With Millenials predicted to become the biggest wine drinkers on the planet, restaurant and wine bars are getting more and more trendy. These places have the requisite stemware for a glass of natural wine but offer cheeses and cured meats instead of the usual burgers and fries.
Park Slope gets its own addition to Brooklyn’s stacked wine bar scene in the form of this new Spanish spot. Bar Vinazo celebrates lesser-known varietals and recipes, and is the third outing for restaurateurs Ilyssa Satter and Joe Campanale.
Wine Bar
With Millenials becoming the largest wine drinking generation, many restaurants are opening up with a wine bar in their space to cater to this group. These spots vary from the quaint, homestyle restaurants like Gottino Enoteca e Salumeria in Carroll Gardens to more modern establishments like Wildair in the Lower East Side.
A wine bar is a type of tavern that offers a variety of wines by the glass and usually features an extensive selection of different varietals from all over the world. These bars also offer a standard veneto trattoria restaurant menu including appetizers, salads, and entrees.
Wine bar seating is often designed to be cozy and intimate to create a welcoming environment for guests. The bar may feature wood or metal bar stools with a backrest or a booth-style bench for guests to sit in. The bartenders at a wine bar should be knowledgeable about the wines they serve, and know how to pair each beverage with food options on the menu.
Whether it’s swirling, holding the glass correctly, or asking the right questions to the guest, proper wine service can make or break a guest experience. A wine bar is a unique opportunity to showcase your team’s knowledge of the wines you serve, while elevating the overall customer experience at your restaurant. Having the right equipment in your restaurant will help to ensure you are providing the best wine service for your guests.
Tapas Bar
Tapas is a style of eating that allows you to sample a wide variety of dishes at one time. These small plates of food are usually served along with drinks. They can be beer, wine or even cocktails like sangria. Tapas are also a popular meal option for groups of people.
The origins of tapas are unclear. Some believe that they began as a piece of bread placed over a glass of wine to keep the flies out. The name, however, is thought to have evolved from the verb tapar, which means “to cover.” Today, tapas can include anything from stuffed mushrooms and ham to fried squid and olives.
As the popularity of tapas has grown, more and more restaurants have started to offer this type of dining. Some use the term to refer exclusively to a wine bar, while others have adopted it as part of their full menu offering.
When looking for a great tapas bar, the atmosphere is important. Look for places that have a lively, bustling feel. Some will allow you to sit and dine while others are more like bars where the crowd is standing. You can also get a clue from the language spoken – if the menu is written entirely in English, then the place may be more focused on tourists than locals.
Dining Room
A restaurant’s dining room is where the majority of its guests sit to enjoy their meals. This space may be large or small and is often a reflection of the food and atmosphere in the rest of the establishment. It is also a place where servers demonstrate their knowledge of service standards and etiquette. Table settings, for example, send a message to the customer about the type of service they can expect from the staff. A simple table with no silverware is an indication of a casual environment, while a fully set table indicates that the customer can expect more formal service.
For customers seeking a private dining experience, many restaurants have a separate section of their restaurant that can be reserved for groups of up to 12 diners. These private rooms are usually hidden behind orange curtains and offer a more intimate dining experience than the main dining area. This is the ideal spot to host a family-style meal or a special occasion.
For larger groups, Gabriel’s in Manhattan has a large private dining room that can accommodate up to 40 people. This elegant space is furnished with repurposed subway tile floors, gorgeous wall sconces, hanging light fixtures, floor to ceiling windows overlooking State Street, and rustic mirrors. They also have a beautiful Brand Van Egmond lighting sculpture in the room and stunning floor to ceiling black and white photos of Paris that transport guests to another time.
Outdoor Seating
The outdoor dining set-up wasn’t supposed to be a permanent thing. It was a slapdash, short-term solution cobbled together to help restaurants safely eke out some revenue during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. But as restaurateurs reopen, many are establishing outdoor seating areas that rival their dining rooms for space and ambiance.
One of the best ways to add value to your outdoor seating is by providing a view. This will attract customers and encourage them to stay longer. Another option is to bring outdoor cooking equipment like grills or pizza ovens onto the patio, which will attract customers and promote impulse purchases.
Another way to add value is to use your outdoor seating area for live music and other events, such as trivia nights or food trucks. This will increase customer loyalty and give your restaurant an extra revenue stream.
Make sure your outdoor seating is properly protected from the elements, particularly during inclement weather. Aside from a solid awning, you can also add heaters or even put up an entire tent to ensure your guests are comfortable. Lastly, don’t forget to clean your outdoor seating regularly to avoid attracting bugs and rodents. In addition, you should always keep your patio fully stocked with pest control supplies like fly traps and bug zappers. This will minimize the risk of insects and rodents entering your restaurant and damaging or contaminating food.