When searching for an appealing Italian restaurant in Salt Lake City, my approach was to begin by attempting to search for options online that might fit my needs. Because I was not familiar with the area, I turned to Bing Maps, although I know it could also have incomplete information. Regardless of how much I might enjoy a restaurant, if it is not available on Bing Maps I will not be able to consider it as an alternative. My choice of a restaurant, therefore, does not depend only on my “preferences.”
Eventually, I settled upon Tuscany (2832 E 6200 S) although Primo (4699 Highland Drive) and Olive Garden (2272 S 1300 E) were both close runners-up. I eventually settled upon Tuscany because of its attractive ambiance, positive reviews, and early opening time. Tuscany’s website featured an easy to find menu with a relatively short list of tasty looking items, which helped me avoid decision fatigue. Olive Garden is a chain that I have been to numerous times and would have been a similarly easy choice, but today I preferred the novelty of a local option. Tuscany seems like a middle ground between the reliable but uninteresting Olive Garden and the local and unfamiliar Primo. Although I suspect it may have smaller portions and perhaps worse prices than the other options, today I think I would prefer to make that sacrifice.
The aspect of Tuscany which finally pushed me over the edge and confirmed that I would be selecting it as my choice is its ambiance! From its website I could get a sense of the menu and general aesthetic, but once I viewed the photographs available on TripAdvisor my mind was set. The restaurant is situated in an old vine-covered building with a sharply steeped roof. The dishes seem to be portioned conservatively, but are presented astonishingly well on plates designed to appeal to the eyes as much as the tongue. Sure, the appetizers might cost $20 each, but their visual appeal seems to justify that price. Overall, if I were to visit Tuscany I do not expect to leave feeling entirely full and satisfied, but rather yearning for an opportunity to return and experience the restaurant for a second time.
The consumer decision-making process is a framework that most people use when acquiring goods or services. I applied the first three stages of the consumer decision-making process to order Italian takeaway in Salt Lake City, Utah, without any impact from targeted advertising. Through the steps of this process, one can demonstrate how a consumer behaves when presented with the task of choosing an Italian restaurant for takeout.
At this point, I realized I wanted Italian cuisine and desired the ease of ordering takeaway. As such, I began the first step of the consumer decision-making process: “need recognition” In addition, I realized I had preferences for the sort of Italian cuisine, the eating experience, and the price range I was prepared to contemplate. I began my investigation in the second step, which is an “information search ” My investigation began with a broad web search for “Italian restaurants in Salt Lake City.” This preliminary search produced a list of Italian eateries in the metro area. I also made a point of searching for restaurants on Instagram.
In the third step, “evaluation of alternatives”, I analyzed several characteristics of the Italian restaurants I discovered. These characteristics included the menu prices, the availability of delivery services, and the atmosphere. I found that Instagram was especially useful in determining the latter, as the photos were more likely to be candid than those on the restaurant’s website. I also considered consumer feedback and ratings to assess the quality of their service. Following my research, I discovered numerous Italian restaurants, such as “Valter’s Osteria” and I was especially impressed by “Osteria Amore.” It served both Northern and Southern Italian cuisine, which suited my tastes. Judging by the establishment’s well-curated Instagram account, the restaurant also featured a lovely interior design and a welcoming environment (Osteria Amore). Finally, the price range was within my budget, making it an appealing option.
To conclude, the consumer decision-making process taught me the value of comprehensive research when making decisions, especially in a new location. In the fourth step of the consumer decision-making process, I decided on “Osteria Amore” as my preferred Italian restaurant for takeout. In my situation, I valued the ambiance of the restaurant and a relaxed eating experience; nevertheless, another customer may make their choice based on convenience of location or any other characteristic. Consumer preferences might differ, and what appeals to me may not appeal to another.
Hi Taylor sorry I submitted my whole individual response to the prompt under your answer. But, I see that we had similar ways of picking a restaurant. I too, love when a restaurant has a good ambiance. Especially if I am going to dine there on a date or with friends. I like the overall feeling or mood a good pretty setting can put you in. And for me it makes the meal feel worth it if it tasted great and it was a either fancy, cozy or pretty looking inside. I also looked up restaurants on their instagram. I feel like it helped to really see the current status of what’s going on in the spot and any new foods or recent foods that were posted. I understand you completely especially your closing statement. I too prefer the feeling of wanting to go back to a restaurant to experience it a second time. That’s how I feel about a breakfast place I found in Vegas. It was off the strip so the prices dropped which was great. Not only was the price range satisfying but the food was really great. It is still my favorite place to eat french toast and banana nut muffins. The food was so fresh that when I did go back to Vegas my second time I made sure to go back and eat again. And I can honestly say the food was spot on the second time too.