The restaurant experience is about so much more than the food. It’s everything from the buzz and the decor right down to the glassware. Serving wine, beer and water in exquisite and beautiful glassware is something your customers will love. And distinctive glassware makes a bold impression that means your tables always look polished and professional.
Still not convinced? These are the benefits of buying handmade glassware for your restaurant.
Why glassware matters
You can drink Merlot from a Mason jar or Chardonnay from a coffee cup. It’ll get you tipsy, but you won’t get the best out of the wine. The shape, size, and feel of the glass itself all contribute to the tasting experience. There’s a reason why Belgian ales, single malt whiskies, and the finest XO cognac are all best experienced in bowl-shaped glasses.
Investing in handmade wine glasses elevates the experience of drinking anything from a house red to vintage champagne to another level. Beverages become part of the big event, reflecting your brand aesthetic and commitment to outstanding service. It’s an investment that will repay itself time and again.
First impressions count
What do you want your customers to see when they walk through the door? Tables set with sparkling glassware – polished to perfection and perfectly aligned – create a fantastic first impression. You’re sending a clear message to customers (and restaurant critics and inspectors) that you’re serious about your wines, beers, or other beverages.
Stunning glassware sends a subtle message to your diners. It tells them that they’re in safe hands and they can trust you to deliver an exceptional experience. What’s more, those beautiful handmade wine glasses deserve a special bottle of wine. Gorgeous glassware tells your customers that your restaurant is the place to explore the wine list and order something special beyond their usual price range.
Everyone loves to feel special
If you’re serving a tasting menu with a paired wine flight, handmade glassware takes the experience from standard to stand out. Start by investing in some premium red wine glasses and champagne flutes and keep them ready for when a customer buys a high-end bottle or for that celebratory fizz.
You don’t have to make the experience feel elitist. Upgrading your glassware will make every customer feel special. And that’s a powerful incentive to keep them coming back for that same amazing experience time and again.
Taste the difference
Enjoying a glass of wine – or beer or boutique mineral water – engages all our senses. Not just its aroma and flavour, but the feel of the glassware in our hands. The way the wine catches the light and gurgles as it’s poured into a beautiful piece of stemware. Exceptional customer service is all about raising expectations and delivering the best possible experience every time you pour a glass.
Bespoke glassware matters because it’s specially crafted to ensure that the ethanol vapours from the wine connect directly with our smell receptors. The human nose can detect over 10,000 scents, so a properly designed wine glass allows us to enjoy every complex sensation.
A larger bowl means the aromas of a full-bodied red hit our smell receptors full on. A smaller tulip-shaped glass will concentrate the ethanol molecules and focus the bouquet of a delicate white. It seems the right glass is about much more than social etiquette – it really can deliver a better tasting experience.
Start your collection with the perfect handmade wine glass. Make sure it has a delicate stem, tapered bowl, and a thin rim, and you’ll make every glass count.
Create theatre
Your front-of-house team is dedicated and hardworking, and they love to impress. Whether you’re serving the finest ales, vintage wines or the sexiest cocktails your mixologist can deliver, handmade glassware is designed to provide the wow factor.
Sit down with your staff and take a taste test. Which glasses deliver the best all-around tasting experience for every beverage? Producing a serious piece of stemware that perfectly pairs with your customer’s choice of drink creates the theatre that customers love – and makes them happy to leave a tip.
Impact your bottom line
If you’re thinking of upgrading to handmade glassware, measure beverage sales before and after. You should start to see a positive impact on your bottom line that will more than repay the initial investment. For example, pairing premium wines and stemware is another opportunity and incentive for your front-of-house team to upsell.
At Pyramid Glass, we’re one of the UK’s leading glassware retailers. We’ve brought together a stunning selection of glassware from Europe’s finest designers so you can find innovative, functional, and striking pieces that will impress your customers. Shop our collection or contact us today. We’ll be happy to help you find high-quality and unique glassware for your restaurant.