During this pandemic, it’s important to keep your patrons safe. Masks and social distancing remain essential, but another great way to protect visitors to your restaurant is to reduce the number of places in your restaurant that can be touched. Although we hope that visitors to your restaurant would wash their hands thoroughly and stay home when they are sick, it’s impossible to guarantee. Here are a few great ways to reduce touchpoints at your restaurant to keep it as safe as possible:

Rethink Your Menu

A classic reusable menu can be a bit too risky during these times, so it’s a good idea to look at other options, such as a QR code or a paper menu. With a QR code at each table, customers can scan it on their phone cameras, and it will bring them to an online menu that they can use to order. This reduces the need for physical menus that could potentially spread germs.

Another menu option is single-use paper menus if you want to avoid the use of digital menus. You should also  have a few of these on hand even if you do choose to implement digital menus, just in case a customer does not have the technology to access it. Just be sure that your restaurant has enough paper menus to go around and that there is a recycling system in place after use.

Invest in Contactless Payment

There’s a number of options for touchless payment terminals your business can utilize to avoid having to touch credit cards and reduce the amount your employees are handling cash. These systems allow customers to scan their own credit cards, without any of your staff having to handle it. Some systems even allow customers to pay completely on their phones, without needing to use any physical aspects.

Many systems also use a touch screen in which they can leave a tip and sign off on the purchase without needing to use a pen, just a screen that can be easily wiped down between uses. This way, your guests can pay safely and efficiently. Additionally, you can send receipts through text or email instead of print receipts.

Encourage Online Orders

Online ordering and payment can avoid a number of different touchpoints, and allow for better social distancing if customers can just grab their takeout orders and go. They can place an order, pay, and let your staff know they’ve arrived to pick up their order all online. This not only prevents excessive touchpoints, but it also makes your takeout process more efficient and prevents crowding around the takeout counter. You can offer curbside or contactless pickup so customers can choose to avoid any interaction or physical contact for maximum safety and convenience.

Install Automatic Hand Sanitizing Stations

Having automatic hand sanitizing stations throughout your restaurant is often an effective way to encourage cleanliness from customers and staff. It’s a good idea to have these set up near bathrooms and doorways, after customers may have interacted with high touch areas. You may even choose to put one at the entrance and ask all of your customers to sanitize upon entering. This is a great way to get ahead of the potential spread of viruses in your establishment.

Contact Avery Restaurant Consulting

During these unpredictable times, Avery Restaurant Consulting is here to guide your restaurant with our knowledge and experience. Give us a call today at (617) 970-8566 or fill out a contact form to get started today.