The importance of food presentation has been made apparent as years gone by with the rise of social media and its impact in the perception of the restaurant itself.
An excellent dining experience these days are no longer only determined by the taste of the food but also its presentation. Food presentation has become one of the factors that determine the success of a restaurant furthermore in the age of Instagram and social media marketing. Though the need of a good food presentation are not only based and dependent on social media such as Instagram, it has been added to a variety of reasons of why it is important. Here are some the importance of food presentation in the success of your restaurant business and food presentation ideas that you should implement.
Related:5 Best Food Presentation Techniques
Importance Of Food Presentation
Apart from social media exposure, there are certain reasons why food needs to be presented well in your restaurant. The visual aesthetics of your food is the first aspect that give customers idea of what their entire food experience is going to be like in term of taste and feel. Here are why the importance of food presentation is repeatedly highlighted and become an utmost necessity in restaurants.
1. It Impacts How Customers Make Their Choices
Perception is a key aspect of a successful dining experience. Believe it or not, apart from taste, customers are dependent upon their sight to judge their food and whether it is worth spending their money for even before tasting it. A good food presentation gives the impression to customers that the food you are serving them are of a high quality that takes a lot of effort to make. This claim can be supported by a survey that served two exact same dish, the only difference is that one is presented well. The study found that most people willing to pay more on well-garnished dishes as they find it to be tastier.
2. It Is Important For Restaurant Marketing And Exposure
You should not only focus on how your restaurant look but also how the food you are serving look. The biggest mistake you can make in the age of social media is to not maintain the aesthetics of your food presentation. When one customer loves your food presentation, they are more likely to take a picture of it and post on Instagram, this in turn open doors and opportunities for your restaurant to appear in front of new people and also stay relevant to your customer base.
There are no reason for people to not share and like what they find visually pleasing. This will definitely act as a free marketing for your restaurant where others see food through each other and not you. Upsell your restaurant on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram by using your social media channels and customer base.
3. It Communicates The Quality That Your Restaurant Brings To The Table
Food presentation psychologically communicates how the quality of your restaurant is. It is a signifier of the experience level and expertise of your kitchen staff. Bad food presentation reflects a disorganised and unsanitary kitchen with subpar food quality.
4. It Helps Elevate The Entire Dish
A good food presentation is determined by the proper and measured combinations of elements consisting of the food itself, sauces, garnish and the sides. These combination and ingredients that make up a good food presentation not only add but also elevate the quality and taste of the dish. Different kinds of sauce and garnishes add a different flavour and texture on the dish making the entire food presentation not only visually pleasing but tastier as well.
Essential Food Presentation Tips to Keep in Mind
Food presentation is not just an art form but also made up of science to make your dish and the perception of it more tasty and delicious. Here are some food plating ideas for restaurants you should start implementing in your restaurant.
1. The Shape of the plate
Different shapes suit different foods. Round plates are suitable for wholesome, hearty foods and help to portray familiarity whereas Angular plates give the food a sleek, smart and modern look and used to present modern desserts or savoury food items.
2. The Size of the Plate
Plate size is another factor that is of prime importance in food presentation. The size of the pate must be well thought of, as too small a plate will make the food look cluttered while too huge a plate will make the quantity feel scarce. The plate size must also be supportive of the design. For example, if there are a lot of elements and you are planning to place them vertically, a smaller plate must be chosen but not too small, as some white spaces at the boundary would be needed.
One of the main factor that plays utmost importance in food presentation is the plate size. Using a plate that is too large will make the quantity of your food feel scarce and not enough whereas a small plate will make the food look cluttered and messy. Remember to implement white spaces as boundaries and if there a lot of elements that you are planning to place vertically, choose a medium sized plate.
3. Colour of the Plate
Colour psychology is not a myth. Just as how the colour of the restaurant’s interior affects the entire vibe and feel of the dining experience, the colours of your plates does too. Different colours send different messages to the psychology of your customers. Out of the colours, you should always remember to not include blue in any of your dinnerware as it activates diet and controlled eating senses in human psychology. You can never go wrong with white plates as they accentuate the variety of colour in your dish and elevates it. For a more contemporary and powerful feel you can opt for black coloured plates.
4. Where On The Plate Should You Place Specific Foods
Different kind of ingredients belong in different spots on a plate. You can follow the clock method in presenting where main ingredients such as chicken or ribs are placed between 3 and 9 on the imagined clock, starchy carbohydrates like fries and potatoes between 9 and 12 and vegetables between 12 and 3.
5. Implement Odd Numbers of Elements on the Plate
There is a trick where you can put food such as shrimps or scallops in odd numbers to create an illusion of extra quantity while making it easier to plate at the same time.
6. Proper Garnishing
Despite the fact that we have highlighted the importance of visual aesthetic on a plate in this whole article, you should not only use a garnish for beauty purposes only. You should make sure your garnish compliments your dish in terms of flavour, texture and amount to bring out the best of the dish not only visually but also taste-wise.
Implement this food presentation technique and do not be afraid to experiment with it in different ways and witness for yourself how your restaurant will get more of customers, customer experience and popularity.
Related:How To Set Yourself And Your Table For The Perfect Dinner
If you are looking for quality tableware that could aid you in making the best food presentation for your restaurant, Kopin Tableware is the way to go! See the products that we offer here!
