You've got the food, the decor, and the marketing in place. Your restaurant has a solid following but there are still empty seats on a Friday night. Step up your game and make your restaurant stand out and fill up every single night of the week with these tips.

Don't take your server's skills for granted. They are the public face of your restaurant and should be knowledgeable, attentive to customer signals, and organized enough to deliver piping hot entrees, even on nights when the kitchen is a disaster. Hold a weekly meeting to ensure that they have what they need to get the job done right.

1. Discuss new and old menu items and provide samples

Talk about the food, the ingredients, and the mouth-watering adjectives to use when describing menu items. Restaurants are all about the enjoyment of eating. When your staff really understands what they are serving, they'll heighten anticipation, encourage return visits for more food exploration, and put the special into the house specialty.  

2. Review customer needs and signals to provide better service

Great service is made, not inborn. Ensure that your staff keeps a sharp eye out for closed menus and the empty glasses that signal that restaurant patrons are ready to order or they are in need of attention. Develop a backup plan during busy times to ensure that customer needs are always anticipated, rather than demanded. The idea is to make the occasional diner feel relaxed and happy enough that they'll soon be bringing in their friends.