In today’s experience economy, eating out isn’t just about filling your stomach, it’s about feeding your soul (and your social media feed). For restaurateurs, this means thinking about more than just epic plates of food to keep customers coming back for more. To uncover insights into how both owners and guests view the dining experience, Eat Out and payments innovator Yoco teamed up to conduct a Restaurant Experience Survey. Here’s what it found and how Yoco can help.

Attracting new customers

According to the survey, restaurant owners say word of mouth, social media marketing and online reviews are the three main ways they attract customers, followed by events and promotions, such as happy hour.

Diners agree that word of mouth is king, with over 80% saying they would try a restaurant based on a friend or family recommendation. However, more than 70% say they’d be influenced by good online reviews. The survey also found that promotions and special offers work well, particularly in the off-peak season, and that ambience is of particular importance.

Download the full report here.

What’s driving the dining experience?

Getting people through the door also means keeping up with the latest trends: trendy diners want to be where the newest and latest experiences are on offer. The survey showed that trends include health-conscious meals, immersive dining experiences and locally sourced ingredients.

Diners in Gauteng appear to value experience the most, including unique dining experiences and special tasting menus, while the Western Cape is more about local sustainability, indigenous ingredients and sustainable practices. Health-conscious menu options were also more popular in Gauteng (46%) than in the Western Cape (38%).

Brewing more than coffee

A coffee chain that fully understands the experience brief is Platō Coffee. One look at their Instagram page shows a light, bright, cohesive aesthetic that’s welcoming, modern and easy on the eye. Their café locations are mostly in lifestyle centres and popular areas, with the focus being on serving expertly crafted premium coffee blends while establishing good relationships with the communities in which they operate. Platō staff are also a key ingredient to ensuring an experience that lives beyond the cup, with employees chosen specifically for their kind and friendly demeanours that make customers feel welcome and special.

Great technology enhances the experience

Once diners are through the door, it’s time for the next step. For customers to have an exceptional dining experience, all aspects matter, from seamless service to accurate orders and fast, flexible payments. That’s where the Yoco ecosystem steps in, allowing restaurateurs to streamline operations and focus on what matters most: their guests.

The blue Yoco card machines, called Khumo, for example, are designed not just to take payments, but to help a restaurant grow. With smart features like instant payouts, one-touch tipping and digital or printed receipts, teams can offer guests the fast, personalised service they expect, without skipping a beat.

Beyond the bill, Yoco makes managing a restaurant easier too. Every Khumo and Khumo Print device comes with free point of sale software built in. That means restaurateurs can manage their menu, track stock in real-time, and cash up in seconds, all from the same device used to save orders (no physical writing record needed) and take payments. “I like that Yoco is integrated with our POS system. I love that it’s always working, whether we have loadshedding or not. I also love the people that work there, and I’m impressed by their customer service that is always personal and always available,” says Pieter Aucamp, manager at New York Bagels in Cape Town.

Yoco also makes powerful data easily accessible, with real-time reporting and insights. It allows for the monitoring of sales performance and products, tracking of staff efficiency, and comparing progress over time to make smarter, more informed decisions. All of these insights help a restaurant owner to stay agile and responsive to customers' needs.

And with the ability to sell everywhere, from the table to takeout and even online via payment links, invoices, and e-commerce integrations, Yoco ensures the dining experience extends beyond the plate, offering guests a frictionless experience, wherever they are.

Yoco’s recently released report, Yoco Exchange 2025: Beyond the Swipe, shows just how beneficial this is for restaurateurs. It was revealed that merchants using Yoco POS software in the food and beverage industry saw a 41% increase in their revenue in the last 24 months. Restaurant owners say that what makes the Yoco POS software so powerful is that it’s managed from one Yoco Account and built into the smart-card machines. Their newest POS solutions, Counter and Table by Yoco, are only the start of their ever-evolving journey to empower more restaurateurs and other business owners to work more smartly.

Capital that keeps up the heat

Behind every seamless experience and standout dish is a business owner juggling staffing, supplies and strategy. That’s where accessible funding solutions, like Yoco Capital, can make a meaningful difference.

Whether it’s hiring extra staff or fixing or replacing critical equipment, having quick access to working capital allows restaurant owners to plan with confidence without disrupting their day-to-day cash flow and never allowing diners to be inconvenienced.

Capital can also unlock improvements that customers notice. For example, upgrading to a more efficient point of sale system can reduce wait times and streamline payments, contributing to a smoother, more enjoyable experience for diners.

Instead of navigating traditional loan hurdles, restaurant owners can act quickly on growth opportunities with this instant cash-advance option available to businesses powered by Yoco. By bridging the gap between ambition and execution, tools like Yoco Capital help restaurants focus on what matters, and that’s delighting customers.

In today’s dining landscape, success lies in delivering great food but also in creating moments that are shared, remembered and returned to. From ambience and storytelling to seamless payments and operational excellence, every element contributes to the experience diners want, and can turn first-time guests into loyal fans.