80 Restaurant Survey Questions to Improve Guest Experience

Let’s imagine a scenario. 

A restaurant business was once booming, with tables full, reservations stacked, and glowing word of mouth. But lately, the crowd has thinned.

Is it the new menu? A dip in service quality? A competitor offering better value? Without asking your customers directly, you’re left guessing.

That’s where a smart restaurant feedback strategy comes in. With the right questions asked at the right time, you can uncover what’s working, what’s broken, and what will bring guests back again and again.

In this blog, we’ve compiled 80 expertly crafted restaurant survey questions categorized by dining experience, food quality, service, atmosphere, pricing, and more to help you gather meaningful feedback, improve operations, and boost customer satisfaction in 2025.

What is a Restaurant Feedback Survey?  

You can’t always please every customer, but you can give them an easy way to share what they liked and didn’t quite hit the mark before they post it on public review sites. A restaurant survey lets you collect honest feedback about your service, food quality, and overall experience. Using tools like TheySaid, you can even include open-ended and closed-ended questions to uncover new ideas for improving your diners’ experience and your menu offerings.

Benefits of Restaurant Surveys 

There are plenty of reasons why you should take guest feedback on various aspects of the restaurant. Here are some of them: 

Provides hidden insights: Guests don’t always complain during their visits, but surveys offer a safe space for honest feedback that helps you identify hidden gaps in the restaurant’s service.

Improve customer satisfaction: Seeking guests’ feedback and then acting upon it shows that their opinions matter, increasing customer satisfaction and building trust.

Identify and resolve issues quickly: Surveys give guests a direct channel to share concerns before they vent online. This allows you to respond and fix problems in real time, protecting your reputation.

Understand customer preferences: Better understand exactly what your customers prefer, be it food, service, or ambiance, which ultimately improves customer experience.

Strengthen customer retention: Guests who see that their voice matters are far more likely to return and bring others with them.

Related read: 50 Best Customer Feedback Questions

Key Statistics on Restaurant Feedback 

1. 94% of U.S. diners check online reviews before choosing a restaurant.
   Source: GloriaFood
2. 32% of customers will stop doing business with a brand they love after just one bad experience.
   Source: PwC
3. 84% of guests leave restaurant feedback at least occasionally, with over a third doing so frequently.
   Source: Toast POS
4. Responding to customer reviews leads to better ratings and increased customer advocacy.
   Source: Harvard Business Review
5. Restaurants with unique offerings see higher customer retention rates.
   Source: GloriaFood

Related read: 70+ Guest Satisfaction Survey Questions, Benefits & Insights

80 Proven Restaurant Survey Questions for Real Insights 

General Restaurant Experience Questions 

These questions aim to gather information about demographics and top-level impressions of your guests’ overall experience to build a foundation for more profound questions. 

1. What age group do you belong to?
2. How often do you visit our restaurant? 
3. Where did you hear about us? 
4. Was it your first time visiting our restaurant?
5. What were the two main highlights of your visit? 
6. How far did you travel to visit us? 
7. How likely are you to revisit us? 
8. Would you recommend us to friends or family?
9. Did you use any discount or special offers? 
10. What’s one thing we could do to make your experience more enjoyable?
11. Would you like to join our loyalty program or mailing list?
12. Do you have any additional comments or suggestions for us? 

Pro Tips for Using These Questions:

• Start with 1-2 general questions. 
• Use NPS to measure loyalty. 
• Use logic branching ( if a customer scores low, trigger a follow-up question)

Dining Experience Questions 

These questions are about the atmosphere, service quality, and overall comfort. They help create a welcoming environment, encouraging repeat visits and positive word of mouth. 

13. Are you satisfied with our seating arrangement? 
14. Do you agree that the dining area was hygienic and well-maintained?
15. Did you move through the restaurant easily? ( e.g., to the restroom)
16. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the overall dining experience?. 
17. Would you like to dine with us based on your experience? 

Tips for Restaurant Owners:

• Identify bottlenecks like long wait times.
• Check how the ambiance affects comfort.
• Focus on seating and cleanliness.

Food and Drinks Experience Questions

These questions help evaluate whether the food and drinks meet your customers’ expectations in terms of taste, quality, and variety.

18. How would you rate the taste of our meal?
19. Was your meal cooked to your liking? 
20. Was the meal portion served satisfactory? 
21. How would you rate the variety of drinks available on our menu?
22. How would you rate the variety of food available on our menu?
23. Is there anything you’d want to see on our menu that’s missing?
24. Did the restaurant accommodate your dietary preferences and restrictions?
25. How would you rate the presentation of your meal? 
26. Was the menu easy to understand?
27. Did your food arrive at a reasonable temperature? 
28. Do you feel the food offered good value for the price you paid?

Service and Staff Experience Questions 

Service and Staff experience are the major drivers of restaurant customer satisfaction. These questions help you identify areas where your team needs training and support.

29. Were you greeted by staff upon your arrival?
30. How would you rate the speed of the service?
31. Did the server clearly explain the menu or offer any helpful suggestions?
32. Did your server check in during the meal to see if you needed anything?
33. Did you receive your bill on time? 
34. Did the manager visit your table to check on your satisfaction?
35. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the service throughout your experience?

Booking and Reservation Experience Questions 

A smooth booking and reservation experience sets the tone for the entire dining process. These questions help identify any frictional points to improve customers' convenience.

36. How easy was it to make a reservation with us? 
37. Did you receive confirmation for your reservation promptly?
38. Did the website or booking platform work smoothly?
39. Which method did you use to book? (phone, website, app, walk-in)
40. Was the staff aware of your reservation upon your arrival?
41. Did you find your table ready at a reserved time?
42. Did you experience any confusion or delays upon arrival?
43. Was it easy to cancel or change your reservation?
44. Do you have any suggestions for us on how to improve our booking and reservation process? 

Recommended read: Winning Best Practices for Customer Satisfaction Surveys [2025 Guide]

Payment and Pricing Experience Questions 

These questions help restaurants assess whether their pricing feels fair and the payment options are convenient for guests.

44. Was the payment process smooth and efficient?
45. Were multiple payment methods accepted (cash, card, mobile, etc.)?
46. Did you receive a clear and accurate bill?
47. Was the experience worth the price paid? 
48. Was the POS (point-of-sale) system fast and reliable?
49. Did you charge any unexpected fees? 
50. Do you have any feedback on our pricing or payment experience?

Tips for Restaurant Owners:

• Keep payments quick and flexible.
• Avoid billing surprises.
• Align pricing with customer expectations.

Technology and Equipment Experience Questions 

These questions help restaurants understand if their tech tools are user-friendly, efficient, and reliable during service.

51. Was the ordering system easy to use? 
52. Did the Wi-Fi meet your expectations (if available)?
53. Did you face any technical issues while ordering or paying the bill? 
54. Were the displays, lighting, or equipment in good working condition?
55. Were restroom facilities clean and functioning properly?
56. Was the air conditioning/heating comfortable?
57. Did any equipment or furniture seem broken or outdated?

Takeout and  Delivery Experience Questions 

These questions help restaurants understand if orders are accurate, timely, and if food quality holds up outside the restaurant, leading to better customer retention.

58. How easy was it to place your takeout order? 
59. How long did you have to wait for your takeout order to be ready?
60. How would you rate the freshness of food? 
61. Was the website or app user-friendly?
62. Was your food packaged securely and appropriately?
63. How would you rate the timeliness of your delivery?
64. Did the delivery person act professionally?
65. Was your takeout order ready when promised?
66. Was the pickup process smooth and organized?
    

Competitive Positioning Experience Questions 

These questions help gauge customer perceptions about pricing, quality, service, and overall value compared to other dining options.

67.  How does our restaurant compare to others you’ve visited recently?
68. What makes you choose us over nearby alternatives?
69. Are there features or offerings from competitors you wish we had?
70. In terms of food quality, how do we compare to competitors?
71. What do you think sets our restaurant apart?

Loyalty and Return Visit Experience Questions 

These questions help restaurants understand what encourages guests to return, what could be improved, and how likely they are to become regular customers.

72. How likely are you to dine with us again?
73. What would make you more likely to return?
74. Have you visited us more than once?
75. Are you aware of our loyalty or rewards program?
76. If yes, how satisfied are you with it?
77. What kind of rewards or incentives would interest you?
78. Would you recommend our restaurant to others?
79. Have you already recommended us to friends or family?
80. What could we do to encourage you to visit more often?

Recommended read: Customer Experience Survey: Elevate Your CX Game with Smart Strategies

What are the Ways to Take Restaurant Feedback? 

One of the best ways to stay on top of the restaurant pulse is customer feedback. Their feedback is very important to help the restaurants serve them better. There are numerous proven methods to gather restaurant feedback effectively:

Email or SMS Surveys 

Send a short survey link after a customer dines in or orders online.

Example:

“Thanks for visiting[Restaurant name ]! Got 30 seconds to tell us how we did? Take our quick survey: [link]”

QR Codes on Tables or Receipts 

Provide customers with a QR code to scan to access the online survey while seated. Example:

A small card on the table says: “Help us improve! Scan this to share your thoughts.”

On-Site Tablets or Kiosks 

Install a tablet near the exit for a quick 1–2 question survey.

Example:

“How was your meal today?” [😊 😐 😞] – Tap to answer before you leave.

Printed Comment Cards 

For older or traditional diners, physical cards with open-ended questions can still work.

Example Questions:

“What did you enjoy the most today?”

“What could we improve?”

Online Feedback Forms 

Embed a feedback form on your website or on order confirmation pages.

Example:

After someone places an order for delivery, “Let us know how we did!”

Social media polls  

Use Instagram Stories or Facebook polls for light-touch feedback.

Example:

“Which special should we bring back next week?”

Loyalty Program Feedback 

Send exclusive surveys to loyalty members. Ask about rewards, visit frequency, and overall satisfaction.
Example Questions:

“What perks would you like to see in our loyalty program?”

“What motivates you to keep coming back?”

Mystery Diners (Secret Shoppers) 

Hire anonymous diners to evaluate your restaurant using a structured checklist. 

Tip: Rotate mystery diners quarterly to keep feedback current and surprise-free.

AI-Powered Feedback Tools (e.g., TheySaid)

AI tools like TheySaid can automate survey flows and even analyze responses in real time.
Example:
Instead of a static form, customers get a conversational survey like:

“Hi Sarah, how was your experience with our new brunch menu today?”

Timing Your Survey for Optimal Results 

When you ask for feedback, it can be just as important as how you ask. The right timing ensures you capture fresh, honest insights that truly reflect your guests' experiences. Here are key moments to consider:

Immediately after the meal  

Collecting customer feedback right after the dining experience via comment cards, tablets, or a quick question from the server captures the fresh insights 

Within 24 Hours 

Sending a digital survey by email or SMS within a day of the visit increases the chance of thoughtful responses without the details being forgotten.

Avoid Busy Moments 

Don’t ask for feedback during peak dining times or when guests are clearly in a rush. This can lead to rushed or incomplete responses.

Regular Follow-Ups 

Consider sending feedback surveys every few visits or once a quarter for loyal or repeat customers. This helps you track trends over time without overwhelming them.

Create your restaurant feedback survey with TheySaid 

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to start gathering real, honest feedback from your guests. TheySaid makes it super simple to create restaurant surveys that actually feel like conversations

Create questions in seconds, customize everything

Start with AI-suggested questions or write your own. Then tweak the look and feel with your branding, fonts, and colors, so it feels like part of your restaurant, not some generic form.

Share surveys wherever your guests are

Stick a QR code on the table, send a quick link after checkout, or pop it into a confirmation email. Whether they dine in or order out, you can collect feedback effortlessly.

Instant insights, no spreadsheets

TheySaid turns responses into clear, actionable summaries. This allows users to spot trends, flag issues, and get recommendations without sifting through rows of data.

Turn honest feedback into five-star experiences. Create your restaurant feedback survey with TheySaid today.

Key Takeaways  

• Proactively collecting feedback through surveys helps you resolve issues before they hit Yelp or Google.
• Ask questions across every touchpoint: dining, takeout, booking, payment, service, and ambiance for a 360° view of the customer experience.
• Combine rating scales, yes/no, and open-ended questions to capture both measurable data and unique guest insights.
• Send feedback forms right after the visit or within 24 hours to get fresh, honest responses.
• When customers see you making changes based on their suggestions, trust and loyalty go up.
• Use specific survey responses to recognize top performers and coach team members who need support.
• Run surveys regularly to spot patterns, monitor improvements, and keep raising your service standards.
• Tools like TheySaid turn guest feedback into clear insights—no spreadsheets or manual sorting needed.
  

FAQs

How often should I run restaurant surveys?

Monthly or quarterly surveys work well for trend tracking. You can also trigger surveys after specific actions, like a reservation or delivery.

How long should a restaurant feedback survey be?

Aim for 5–10 questions. It should take no more than 2–3 minutes to complete. Keep it short and focused to encourage more responses.

How do I measure customer satisfaction in my restaurant?

Use CSAT (Customer Satisfaction Score), Net Promoter Score (NPS), and regular surveys. Monitor trends over time and tie feedback to staff training and service quality.

How can market research surveys help restaurants grow?

They reveal gaps in service, menu ideas, target customer segments, and competitive advantages fueling smarter marketing, pricing, and expansion strategies.

Can I use surveys to train my staff?

Yes! Sharing real feedback helps staff understand what’s working and where to improve. Use it for recognition and coaching.