60+ Restaurant Survey Questions for Your NEXT BIG IDEA! [2025]

Hospitality isn’t just about giving people what they want; it’s about anticipating what they don’t yet realize they crave. – Danny Meyer

Did you know 60% of restaurants close within their first year? The difference between thriving and surviving often boils down to one missed opportunity: listening to your customers. Here’s the kicker—89% of consumers will pay more for better experiences (PwC), yet most owners still guess what guests truly want. You’ve poured your heart into your menu and ambiance, but if you’re not asking the right restaurant survey questions, you’re flying blind.

Think about it: What if diners secretly hate your signature dish? Or does your “fast” service feel sluggish to them? Worse—what if they’re quietly switching to competitors? This isn’t paranoia; it’s reality. Restaurants using customer feedback tools see 25-95% higher profits (Bain & Company), but generic surveys won’t cut it.

This article hands you 60+ laser-focused restaurant survey questions across 10 make-or-break categories—from menu psychology to hidden hygiene red flags. You’ll get battle-tested restaurant feedback survey templates (thank us later, SurveySlack users) and scripts that dig deeper than “How was everything?” No fluff. Just tools to turn silent critics into loyal fans.

In this post, we’ll cover:

• What is a Restaurant Survey?
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Customer Satisfaction
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Food Quality & Taste
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Service Speed & Friendliness
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Ambiance & Atmosphere
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Menu Variety & Innovation
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Pricing & Value for Money
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Takeout & Delivery Experience
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Cleanliness & Hygiene Standards
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Dietary Accommodations
• Restaurant Survey Questions For Technology Integration

Here we go!!

What is a Restaurant Survey?

A restaurant survey isn’t just a form—it’s your secret weapon to decode diner desires. By asking targeted restaurant survey questions, you uncover why customers rave about your garlic knots but skip your salads. Platforms like SurveySlack (a top online survey maker) let you create a survey in minutes, turning vague guesses into actionable data. Whether you’re tweaking menus or training staff, these insights stop you from flying blind. Ready to turn feedback into your next big win?

Restaurant Survey Questions For Customer Satisfaction

These restaurant survey questions measure overall happiness, loyalty, and likelihood of return. Use a restaurant questionnaire survey to identify what makes guests rave (“Your margaritas are fire!”) or rant (“The wait was brutal”). Perfect for spotting trends in your restaurant customer survey questions, like whether first-time visitors become regulars.

1. How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or colleague? (Scale: 0–10)
2. What’s the one thing we could improve to earn a 10/10 rating?
3. Did your experience match the expectations set by our marketing? (Yes/No + Why?)
4. How does our restaurant compare to [Competitor Name] in terms of overall experience?
5. What surprised you most (positively or negatively) during your visit?
6. Would you return if we offered a personalized loyalty discount? (Yes/No)
7. How well did we resolve any issues you faced today? (Scale: Very Poor to Excellent)
8. Which social media platform influenced your decision to visit us? (Instagram, TikTok, etc.)
9. Did our staff make you feel valued as a customer? (Yes/No + Examples)
10. How would you describe our restaurant in 3 words?

Why this matters: Identifies loyalty drivers, competitive gaps, and emotional triggers.

Restaurant Survey Questions For Food Quality & Taste

Your signature dish could be a hit or a hidden flop. Survey questions for a restaurant here reveal if the fries are gloriously crispy or tragically soggy. Include a restaurant survey questionnaire sample asking about ingredient freshness, portion sizes, and “Would you order this again?”

1. Rate the freshness of ingredients in your meal. (Scale: Poor to Exceptional)
2. Was your dish served at the ideal temperature? (Yes/No)
3. Which menu item exceeded your expectations?
4. Did any dish feel overly salty, spicy, or bland? (Specify)
5. How visually appealing was your meal? (Scale: Unappetizing to Instagram-Worthy)
6. Would you pay extra for premium ingredients (e.g., organic, locally sourced)?
7. Did the portion size match the price? (Yes/No)
8. How often do you crave our signature dish after visiting?
9. Were vegetarian/vegan options as flavorful as regular dishes?
10. What’s one dish you’d remove from our menu?

Why this matters: Highlights menu strengths, recipe tweaks, and pricing perceptions.

Restaurant Survey Questions For Service Speed & Friendliness

Slow service kills repeat business. Survey questions about restaurant staff performance uncover if your team is charm personified (“Our server was a gem!”) or needs retraining. Ask, “How long did you wait?” and “Did staff make you feel valued?”

1. How long did you wait between ordering and receiving your food? (Under 10 mins, 10–20 mins, etc.)
2. Did staff check on your satisfaction during the meal? (Yes/No)
3. Rate the attentiveness of your server. (Scale: Distracted to Highly Attentive)
4. Were special requests (e.g., allergies, substitutions) handled smoothly?
5. How friendly was the host/hostess during seating?
6. Did you feel rushed to finish your meal? (Yes/No)
7. Were drink refills offered proactively?
8. How knowledgeable was the staff about the menu?
9. Did the manager visit your table to ensure satisfaction?
10. What’s one service habit you wish our team would adopt?

Why this matters: Uncovers training gaps and operational bottlenecks

Restaurant Survey Questions For Ambiance & Atmosphere

Lighting, music, and cleanliness shape the vibe. Surveys for restaurants questions here expose mismatches between your Instagram aesthetic (“cozy rustic”) and reality (“why does it smell like bleach?”). Use a restaurant questionnaire survey to rate seating comfort and noise levels.

• How would you rate the lighting? (Too Dim, Perfect, Too Harsh)
• Was the music volume appropriate for conversation?
• Rate the comfort of seating. (Uncomfortable to Very Comfortable)
• Did the décor align with the vibe promised on our website/social media?
• How clean were the tables and floors during your visit?
• Was the restaurant temperature comfortable? (Too Cold, Ideal, Too Warm)
• How well does our ambiance suit [occasion: dates, family dinners, etc.]?
• Did you notice any distracting odors (e.g., grease, cleaning products)?
• How inviting was the entrance/waiting area?
• What’s one design element you’d add to enhance the atmosphere?

Why this matters: Links ambiance to customer retention and occasion-based marketing.

Restaurant Survey Questions For Menu Variety & Innovation

Even loyalists crave new flavors. Restaurant survey questions in this category ask, “What cuisines are we missing?” or “Should we go plant-based?” A restaurant survey questionnaire helps balance classics with trends (RIP, avocado toast overload).

1. How often should we introduce new seasonal dishes? (Monthly, Quarterly, etc.)
2. Which cuisine (e.g., Mediterranean, Asian fusion) would you like to see added?
3. Are our dessert options as creative as our main courses? (Yes/No)
4. Would you attend a monthly “chef’s experimental tasting menu” event?
5. How easy is it to find healthy options on our menu?
6. Do our dish descriptions accurately reflect what’s served?
7. Rate the balance of vegetarian/non-vegetarian dishes.
8. Should we offer smaller “tapas-style” portions for sharing?
9. Which trending ingredient (e.g., plant-based meat, CBD-infused) interests you?
10. What’s a dish you’ve never seen here but wish we offered?

Why this matters: Drives menu innovation and trend adoption.

Restaurant Survey Questions For Pricing & Value for Money

Overcharge, and they’ll ghost you. Restaurant customer survey questions here gauge if your $20 burger feels worth it. Ask, “Would you pay more for organic ingredients?” or “Are happy hour deals a steal?”

1. Do our happy hour deals feel like a genuine value? (Yes/No)
2. Would you pay more for ethically sourced ingredients?
3. How fair are our prices compared to portion sizes?
4. Which add-on (e.g., extra sauce, premium sides) is overpriced?
5. Should we bundle popular dishes into combo meals?
6. Rate the value of our kids’ menu.
7. Are our loyalty rewards worth the effort to earn?
8. How often do you use coupons/discounts when dining here?
9. Would you prefer dynamic pricing (e.g., cheaper lunches, premium dinners)?
10. What’s the maximum you’d pay for our most popular dish?

Why this matters: Balances profitability with perceived fairness.

Restaurant Survey Questions For Takeout & Delivery Experience

Messy packaging or cold fries = lost revenue. Use survey questions for a restaurant to ask, “Did your food arrive hot?” or “Rate our eco-friendly containers.” A restaurant survey questionnaire sample can reveal why DoorDash ratings are slipping.

1. How accurate was your order compared to what was delivered?
2. Rate the eco-friendliness of packaging.
3. Did the food arrive hotter/colder than expected?
4. How intuitive was the online ordering process?
5. Should we offer a subscription service for frequent takeout customers?
6. Were delivery fees and ETAs clearly communicated?
7. How appealing was the presentation of takeout food?
8. Did we forget utensils, napkins, or condiments?
9. Would you pay extra for priority delivery during peak hours?
10. What’s one feature missing from our delivery app/website?

Why this matters: Optimizes off-premise dining, a critical revenue stream.

Restaurant Survey Questions For Cleanliness & Hygiene Standards

Post-pandemic, diners notice sticky menus and grimy restrooms. Surveys for restaurants questions here ask, “How spotless were the tables?” or “Did staff follow safety protocols?”

1. How spotless were the restrooms? (Scale: Dirty to Immaculate)
2. Did you notice staff sanitizing tables between guests?
3. Were hand sanitizer stations easily accessible?
4. Rate the cleanliness of cutlery and glassware.
5. Did the kitchen appear visible and hygienic? (Yes/No)
6. How often were trash bins emptied during your visit?
7. Were staff wearing gloves/masks where appropriate?
8. Did you observe any pests (e.g., flies, rodents)?
9. How fresh did the linens/napkins smell?
10. What’s one hygiene practice you’d like us to adopt?

Why this matters: Builds trust post-pandemic and ensures safety compliance.

Restaurant Survey Questions For Dietary Accommodations

Allergy mishaps can go viral (not in a good way). Restaurant survey questions like “How clear are our allergen labels?” or “Should we add keto options?” ensure no guest leaves hangry—or worse.

1. How easy was it to identify allergen-free dishes on our menu?
2. Should we expand our gluten-free/vegan options?
3. Did staff confidently answer questions about ingredients?
4. Were plant-based dishes as flavorful as meat-based ones?
5. Should we label calorie counts or nutritional info?
6. How accommodating were we to your specific dietary needs?
7. Would you attend a monthly “allergy-friendly tasting night”?
8. Rate the variety of low-sodium/sugar-free options.
9. Did cross-contamination concerns affect your order?
10. What dietary trend (e.g., keto, paleo) should we prioritize next?

Why this matters: Captures niche audiences and inclusivity gaps.

Restaurant Survey Questions For Technology Integration

Clunky apps or QR code fails frustrate tech-savvy diners. Restaurant customer survey questions here ask, “How smooth was our online booking?” or “Would you use a loyalty app?”

1. How seamless was the QR code menu experience?
2. Should we invest in a custom app for reservations/rewards?
3. Did tablet-based ordering reduce wait times?
4. Rate the user-friendliness of our online reservation system.
5. Would you use a chatbot for instant answers to common questions?
6. How helpful are automated post-visit feedback emails?
7. Should we enable contactless payments at the table?
8. Did digital loyalty programs enhance your experience?
9. Would you prefer self-service kiosks for faster ordering?
10. What’s one tech upgrade that would impress you most?

Why this matters: Future-proofs operations and enhances convenience.

FAQs About Restaurant Survey Questions

Final Thoughts

We’ve unpacked 60+ restaurant survey questions across 10 make-or-break categories, from menu flops to hygiene blind spots. Each section, including survey templates and questions for restaurant surveys, arms you with cheat codes to loyalty.

Ready to turn feedback into profits?

Use SurveySlack.com—a powerhouse online survey maker—to transform these questionnaire for restaurant insights into sleek, actionable surveys. No coding. No guesswork. Just click, customize, and watch your reviews (and revenue) soar.

Your diners are talking. It’s time to listen—and leap ahead.