31 Survey Questions for Restaurants to Boost Customer Feedback

Takeout & Delivery Feedback Survey

Why & When to Use

Takeout and delivery are like wildcards—out of sight, but not out of mind. Getting customer feedback for restaurants on off-site experiences uncovers hidden speed bumps, from soggy fries to lukewarm soup, that don’t emerge in the dining room.

You’ve got one shot to make your takeout diner’s day. Send your survey fast—immediately after order completion—via a push notification from your delivery app or a QR code printed right on the receipt. This is your moment to find out what really happens between the kitchen and the customer’s couch.

Spotting opportunities to improve packaging, delivery friendliness, and order accuracy matters even more when first impressions are literally taken home.

Great ways to deliver your survey include:

• Following up with a push notification post-delivery
  
• Including a feedback QR on takeout packaging slips
  
• Sending a short SMS with the survey link right after drop-off
  

Ask about details—the small things make or break the experience. Reliable takeout means repeat orders and stronger online ratings.

5 Sample Questions

1. Was your order packaged securely to prevent spills or damage?

2. Did the food maintain an appetizing temperature upon arrival?

3. How accurate was your order compared to what you placed online?

4. How would you rate the friendliness and professionalism of the delivery driver?

5. What could we improve to make your next takeout or delivery experience better?

Implementing mobile survey apps in restaurants enhances customer feedback collection by offering convenience, real-time data, and higher response rates. (superorder.com)

Menu Development & Preference Survey

Why & When to Use

The menu is your love letter to guests' taste buds, and a restaurant questionnaire can spark game-changing innovation. Want to know if your vegan burger is a hit? Need inspiration for your next seasonal lineup? Ask away!

Food trends change faster than TikTok dances, so it’s smart to survey your regulars before launching new dishes or revising the menu. Detailed answers here guide which classics stay, which trends to chase, and how to price new creations just right.

When to send menu surveys:

• Prepping for a big menu refresh
  
• Before introducing new specials or a seasonal twist
  
• When contemplating adding plant-based or allergen-friendly items
  

Let guests help build your menu—it grows loyalty and ensures you always serve up what diners crave.

5 Sample Questions

1. Which of our current dishes would you like to see offered in new flavor variations?

2. How important are plant-based or vegetarian options to you when choosing a restaurant?

3. Rank these potential new entrées from most to least appealing.

4. What price range feels fair for a premium signature entrée?

5. Are there any cuisines you wish we would feature in future specials?

Customer Loyalty & Rewards Program Survey

Why & When to Use

Loyalty programs aren’t just about collecting points—they’re about forging a reason to return. Gather customer feedback for restaurants about your rewards system to learn what’s working and what leaves them hanging.

After a guest redeems their first reward, it’s time to strike with a finely-tuned survey. This feedback helps adjust tier values, ease of use, and the very perks that make diners come back for more.

Prime moments to send:

• Directly after a customer cashes in points
  
• As part of a regular loyalty email campaign
  
• In-app messages targeting frequent diners
  

Keeping your rewards relevant—and hassle-free—turns casual patrons into devoted fans.

5 Sample Questions

1. How easy was it to understand our loyalty program’s earning rules?

2. Which reward tier offers the most value to you?

3. Have you ever abandoned points without redeeming them? If yes, why?

4. What additional perks would motivate you to dine with us more often?

5. How likely are you to refer a friend to our loyalty program?

Effective customer loyalty surveys in restaurants should include clear, concise questions that assess satisfaction, preferences, and areas for improvement, ensuring actionable insights. (surveymonkey.com)

New Concept or Location Feasibility Survey

Why & When to Use

Dreaming of a hip new spot across town or a total theme makeover? A smart restaurant survey questions regulars about their wish lists can help you skip the costly guessing games.

Before you sign a lease or order a single neon sign, run a feasibility survey to verify demand, aesthetic preferences, and optimal locations. The secret sauce? Getting this crucial intel early, during the planning stage, when pivots are cheaper and easier.

Ideal times for this survey include:

• Site selection for a new branch
  
• Testing appetite for new dining formats (think fast-casual vs. full service)
  
• Before investing in major décor rebrands
  

When you invite future guests into these decisions, you gain loyal supporters (and occasional hype squads).

5 Sample Questions

1. Would you visit a fast-casual version of our current restaurant in your neighborhood?

2. Which of these décor styles aligns most with your dining preferences?

3. How far would you be willing to travel to dine at our proposed new location?

4. Which meal periods (breakfast, brunch, late night) would you like us to serve?

5. What is the single most important factor that would persuade you to try a new restaurant?

Health & Safety Perception Survey

Why & When to Use

Even the tastiest dish won’t win over diners if they can’t trust your hygiene. Post-pandemic, health and safety have taken center stage in every dining experience. A strong dining experience survey here reassures guests and exposes areas where your message—or process—is missing the mark.

Deploy health and safety surveys quarterly or after any significant protocol update. Guests’ peace of mind is priceless, and their feedback will help you tune your cleaning routines and communication.

Effective launch windows include:

• In the aftermath of policy changes
  
• Following health inspections
  
• As part of routine satisfaction audits
  

Guests who see sharp staff hygiene and crystal-clear communications become vocal fans (and advocates).

5 Sample Questions

1. How confident are you in the cleanliness of our restrooms and common areas?

2. Did you notice staff following visible hygiene practices (handwashing, gloves, masks)?

3. Are table surfaces sanitized to your expectations between seatings?

4. How clearly did we communicate our health and safety measures?

5. What additional safety steps would make you feel more comfortable dining with us?

Post-Event or Catering Satisfaction Survey

Why & When to Use

Events are high stakes! Weddings, corporate dinners, quinceañeras—the memories (and the photos) last. Post-event surveys reveal what rocked and where you could spice things up next time.

Send your survey within 48 hours of any large function. Curry favor with event planners and guests alike by showing you care, and by racking up ideas to turn "good" into "mind-blowing."

Top moments to send your survey:

• Hours after a wedding or celebration wraps up
  
• During your thank you follow-ups post-corporate gathering
  
• After each recurring event you cater
  

Questions should touch every facet: food, timing, staff, and ROI. The more you learn, the more you impress every guest on their big day.

5 Sample Questions

1. How satisfied were you with the menu customization options for your event?

2. Did our staff meet your expectations for professionalism and responsiveness?

3. Were the portion sizes adequate for your guest count?

4. How would you rate the overall value received for the event’s cost?

5. What could we improve to make future catered events exceptional?

Restaurant Survey Best Practices: Dos and Don’ts

To make your surveys work harder than your busiest shift, there are a few golden rules. Best practices for restaurant customer surveys can transform decent data into delicious insights—and spark major loyalty wins along the way.

Dos to maximize results:

• Keep surveys short and sweet (5–8 questions is the right flavor)
  
• Use clear, consistent rating scales (such as Yes/No or 1–5 stars)
  
• Personalize invitations with the guest’s name and preferred channel
  
• Offer small incentives—think discounts or freebies
  
• Always close the feedback loop quickly to show guests you care
  

Please don’t:

• Write double-barreled questions (“How did you find our service and bathrooms?”—pick one!)
  
• Bombard diners with too many surveys
  
• Ignore or hide negative feedback—address it fast
  
• Request more personal info than you need
  
• Delay your follow-up—a speedy thank you goes a long way
  

Timing, channels, and testing are key:

• Match your delivery channel (email, SMS, QR codes) to your audience’s habits
  
• Test multiple subject lines for email surveys to boost open rates
  
• Track and optimize send timing based on customer response trends
  
• Reward loyal respondents and acknowledge input visibly (maybe via a “guest wall of fame”!)
  
• Refine your question list often to keep it fresh and relevant
  

Smart surveys are more than checkboxes—they’re an invitation to join your restaurant’s evolution, and the fastest route to delighting every guest who walks in, orders out, or celebrates big with you.

A great restaurant doesn’t rely on luck—it listens, learns, and leads. From the warmth of dine-in to the thrills of takeout and the detail of special catering events, surveys keep you sharp and your guests smiling. Next time you serve up something new, make sure your questions are as tempting as your appetizers. The results (and rave reviews) will speak for themselves.