Why Restaurant Lighting Affects Your Per-Head Revenue

Restaurant Business with Fexingo: Food Service, Hospitality, and Independent Operators · Jul 3, 2026 · 7m · transcript

Episode 90 of Restaurant Business with Fexingo explores how lighting design directly impacts customer spending and table turnover. Lucas and Luna break down a 2024 Cornell study showing that dim lighting increases average check size by 12 percent but reduces table turns by 8 percent. They discuss real-world examples from chains like Darden Restaurants and Shake Shack, and contrast the strategies of fine-dining spots like Eleven Madison Park versus fast-casual operators. The hosts also touch on how lighting affects staff efficiency and tip averages, and give practical advice for independent…