Tips for choosing a restaurant and points to consider for a successful business dinner
business meetingChoosing a restaurant for a business dinnerbusiness entertainment
Business dinners are a great way to entertain clients. What kind of restaurant you choose will greatly affect the reputation of your clients toward you, your organization, and your company. In this issue, etiquette consultant Ms. Hiroko Nishide gives us tips and tricks on how to choose the right restaurant for a successful business dinner.
What is a business dinner? How is it different from business entertainment?
The word “entertainment” means “to entertain a guest. It is generally used in business situations to entertain business partners. On the other hand, “kaishoku” means “to have a meal together. Both are used to express gratitude for past business contacts and to entertain others with the aim of maintaining a good relationship in the future.
The ultimate goal of entertaining and business dinners is to continue to have a good relationship. To that end, be sure to choose a restaurant that will make the other party comfortable and happy. Be aware that the restaurant you choose will be evaluated as your company,” says Nishide.
What is the first thing to clarify when you are put in charge of selecting a restaurant?
How do you start when you are entrusted with the responsibility of setting up an important business dinner?
The first step is to determine the budget. The budget you set will determine the prestige of the restaurant. Then, it is a good idea to choose a restaurant with a private room so that you can talk without worrying about your surroundings and still create a special atmosphere. If the room is a tatami room, it is difficult to stand or sit on the floor, so it will be appreciated if you choose a restaurant with a sunken kotatsu table or a Japanese-style room with tables,” he says.
What information do you have about the person you are dealing with that will help you choose the right restaurant?
It is also important to reflect their preferences when choosing a restaurant. What information should you know about your guests?
At a minimum, you should ask about their food allergies, food items they are allergic to, and any food items they are not fond of. Even the finest cuisine is meaningless if the guest does not enjoy it because of allergies or dietary restrictions (salt, sugar, etc.), or because it is something they do not like. In addition, it is a good idea to ask about their favorite cuisine, ingredients, beverage preferences, whether they smoke or not, and if they will be coming in a company car, whether they have parking space. If it is difficult to ask, it is smart to ask through a secretary or a junior staff member. Of course, if you can ask them directly, that is also OK.
Set-up time for business dinners
When we think of business dinners, we tend to think of the dinner table, but is lunchtime acceptable?
The recent trend is to have fewer business dinners in the evening, as people think of the evening as a time for enjoying their own private time. As mentioned earlier, the purpose of a business dinner is to continue a good business relationship. Since the time of day at which the dinner is held does not determine the rating, there is no problem with having the dinner at lunch time. It is safe to assume that the time of day is irrelevant. Also, since before Corona, it has been popular among London businessmen to have business meetings at afternoon tea. Many men also like sweets, and since champagne and other alcoholic beverages are available, I recommend afternoon tea as an option for business dinners in the future.
How do I choose a restaurant and how do I make a reservation?
When actually choosing a restaurant, what other factors should be considered in addition to the private room?
There are two points to consider when inviting guests. One is accessibility, such as being close to a train station. Choose an area that is easy for guests to get to. The second is to choose a restaurant of a higher rank that you would not normally be able to visit. If you choose a restaurant that is a bit of a treat or a popular restaurant where reservations are hard to come by, I think you will give the guests the impression that they are being treated with care.
To ensure the success of a business dinner, it is also important to make a preliminary inspection of the restaurant before making a reservation, if possible.
Especially if it is the first time to use the restaurant, it would be a good idea to visit the restaurant as a regular customer to preview the restaurant, if possible,” he says. In addition to the taste of the food, you can check whether the restaurant is easy to find, whether voices are not leaking from the private rooms, the location of the restrooms and smoking areas, and the attitude of the staff.
What if you don’t have time to visit the restaurant, or you can’t make a reservation, or some other reason that makes a preliminary inspection difficult?
In that case, you can just call and ask. It is not a bad idea to ask a lot of questions before you visit the restaurant, as it will help you decide whether or not to make an appointment. The restaurant’s response at that time will also be a criterion for judgment. It is a good idea to check the types of drinks and food, the timing of serving the food, the time it takes from the start of the meal to the end of the meal, the clientele, whether the private rooms leak sound, and whether umbrellas are available for rent or not,” he says.
Once you have found a restaurant that meets your budget, food taste, and comfort level, it is time to make a reservation. What information should you give the restaurant?
I think the restaurant will understand if you tell them the date, time, number of people, private room reservation, course, and any food items the guests are not allowed to eat, as well as that it is a business dinner.
Secrets to a Successful Business Dinner
Naturally, a business dinner does not end once the reservation is made. We also asked about the things you need to know in advance to ensure that your guests have a good time.
To have a successful business dinner, it is important that the guests enjoy their time with you. Communication is very important for that. To make a good first impression at a business dinner, be sure to communicate carefully in advance by e-mail or other means. In addition to the date and time, the name of the restaurant, its official website address, and directions to the restaurant, if the location is not easy to find, you should also indicate landmarks and directions so that you do not get lost. It is also a good idea to add, ‘We look forward to seeing you on the day of the event.
We also asked about the reception on the day of the event.
There are different styles of welcoming guests. In general, it is fine to wait in a private room at the restaurant. If you want to be more courteous, you may wait for the customer in front of the restaurant 10 to 15 minutes before the appointed time. However, some customers may want to make a phone call or send an e-mail before entering the store, or they may want to go to the restroom. If you are going to wait in the store, it is a good idea to let them know so they can be prepared. Even if your behavior seems polite at first glance, keep in mind that some people may not like to be held up early, so it is important to choose the appropriate response depending on your relationship with the person you are meeting.
The success or failure of a business dinner depends on careful advance preparation. To this end, research on the guests and the restaurant is extremely important. In particular, there are many things you cannot know about a restaurant without actually visiting it, so be sure to make a preliminary inspection as much as possible. Then, send an announcement e-mail the day before the event. The more time and effort you put into preparing for the event, the more enjoyable and rewarding it will be for both you and your guests.
Interview and text by Yoshiko Tezuka
Illustrations by Tomoko Shinozuka
Hiroko Nishidethree
We spoke with…
Manner consultant. He has taught manners to actors, athletes, and celebrities in NHK historical dramas, movies, and commercials, and has also covered the manners of the Imperial Family. She has also supervised and written more than 100 books, which have sold more than 1 million copies. The know-how that Ms. Nishide imparts can be easily incorporated into daily life and work, and is popular for its highly convincing content.
For more information about Ms. Hiroko Nishide, please visitOfficial Siteand,InstagramThe information is updated as needed on the following website.
