Patrons: Who comes and why?

What ages can a restaurant aim to most likely appeal to, and how?

In order to know how to design a restaurant a company must know who they want to attract and then they can design around those needs. Younger families may want a place that easy to control small children, like a booth that they can contain children in. Couples may also be looking for a place that has smaller tables or booths.

Chili’s attracted mainly young and middle aged families to the eating areas (with booths and tables and a nice sit down feel) and younger couples to the bar areas. Training table also had a sit down feel with tables and booths, as well as interaction and attracted families and patrons from about 20-30. Paradise was a more in and out quick bite or get something to go feel and thus wasn’t as family friendly, but had younger individuals, couples and groups, probably ranging from 17 to 30.

Therefore:

Over all people that restaurants should focus on are younger but old enough to support themselves. In more specific user groups: Places that aim to attract families should focus on the experience eating and create an atmosphere that is more of a sit down, those focused on a quick good meal should create something that is easy to move through but doesn’t necessarily need to be comfortable for long times.