Archive for the ‘Restaurant’ Category
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
by Jose L Riesco
When it comes to a restaurant development plan, the last thing on your mind should be the food. Rarely do failed restaurants serve bad food. When planning for the future of your project, you should make sure that you have twice as much cash as you had initially projected, a marketing plan that uses the best research available to compete with the best in the business, a stellar location, a lot of intestinal fortitude and the ability to give undivided attention.
A clear and comprehensive outline of your concept is essential when putting together a restaurant development plan. Incorporate your best marketing thoughts and ensure that you have a very clear cash flow projection.
Three very important elements of the marketing mix must be included in a restaurant development plan. You must determine an effective method of communicating your message, your specific or unique selling proposition, to your potential customer. Whilst you determine how to communicate the message, you must work out how to sell the product and finally determine how you can exceed the customer’s expectations through perfect delivery.
Financially, you must include thorough details within a restaurant development plan. Outline where your resources are coming from. Attach a well-written and comprehensive cash flow plan to back up your profit and loss statement.
Determine your demographic and don’t underestimate this important aspect of restaurant development. Not every style and classification of restaurant will work in every environment. An upscale sushi restaurant will likely not work in a low income, working class city suburb.
A restaurant development plan is not a set it and forget it proposition. One of the keys to long-term survival is to maintain a regular and consistent marketing initiative which will help to maintain growth, retain customers and constantly innovate. A fresh new plan should be created every six months or so, which will redefine goals.
Involve your staff at all times when compiling a restaurant development plan. A successful restaurateur has great people skills and you must utilize these when you deal with your employees. Always look for input and ideas and be sure to keep your staff on the same page when it comes to your strategic vision.
Above all, inject an element of flexibility into your restaurant development plan. Whilst you should have periodic major assessments, for example at a six-month period, you should also be prepared to adjust your plan at more frequent intervals, maybe even every 30 days, as you track sales and expenses.
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Saturday, June 13th, 2009
by Jane A Moore
Historically leather chairs were in the sole purview of the rich and famous or perhaps hidden away in private men’s clubs, the types of clubs frequented politicians, doctors and powerful business men. Thankfully those days are gone. Nothing quite adds a splash of class quite like leather bar stools, and now these chairs are affordable to all.
Today leather bar stools are becoming more and more common. They can be found in very average commercial ventures and middle class homes. In many ways leather furniture makes a lot of sense. Not only are these bar stools comfortable but accidental spills can very often be taken care of with a damp cloth. Leather is also very durable which adds years to the lifespan of your bar stool. There are definitely more inexpensive leather bar stool made with inferior or B grade leather but bar stools made with Grade A or first quality leather can look good for years.
The stools available on the current market are either the standard 30″ or the shorter 24″ styles. The height of the stool chosen is determined by the height of the bar or perhaps table that is to be serviced by the stools. The best choice for children would be the shorter 24″ stool.
Leather bar stools come in every color of the rainbow. I have personally seen natural leather, dark tan, black, silver, green, white, brown and blue stools. Made to order bar stools can be developed in any color imaginable. The legs of these bar stool are generally stained a complimentary color. However they can also be painted. Stools with metal legs are also available but less common.
These stools also come in a natural colored leather sling version which has a bit of a tex-mex aura. You can find stools with backs and arms, stools with only backs and stools without backs at all. Stools with a cushioned seat are generally more comfortable than those without but you might find that they don’t wear as well as the foam loses some of it’s form. The stool you chose is all a matter of personal choice.
Leather bar stools are easy to clean and, with a little care, these stools can last for decades. Generally a damp cloth is all that you need. If you see some wear and tear on the arms you might want to rub some protective oil on to the worn parts. Just make sure you wipe off any excess oil before anyone sits at the stool. To further protect your leather furniture you can spray a leather protector once per year. Leather furniture of all types, including stools seem to look richer as they age but it is best to do some preventative care. Whether they be for your home of business good quality leather bar stools are never a bad choice.
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Sunday, May 17th, 2009
by Mike Williams
If you want a delicious grilled T-bone steak, you have to start with the right meat. You could shop in the meat department of your local grocery store and hope for the best, but another alternative is to order you beef from an online store.
Online stores offer 100% guarantee on their beef and make sure that it is delivered fresh. The price is worth it, and often times they send free recipes with your order.
To find what you are looking for, you can google some key words or phrases in the search tool bar, try prime grade beef”, “choice grade beef”, or “premium hand cut steaks”. Dont forget to exam the cut of the meat and exam the guarantee that the company offers as well.
When comparison shopping, make sure you are considering meat that is the same grade. If you find something that is suspiciously cheap, it might be because it is a low grade of meat or it isn’t fresh.
There are three types of steak. Located on the upper back are the ribs, and on the mid-back are the short loin and loin. Rib-eye, rib roast, and back ribs are all located on the rib area. This is the least tender area. From the short loin come the T-bone, top loin, tenderloin and porterhouse cuts.
The Sirloin area is where we get the Sirloin steak and the Top Sirloin from. There are other steaks such as the flank, the round and the chuck, and these are generally tougher cuts of meat. The popular New York steak is cut from the T-bone area and is what we call a ’strip steak’. These are usually marinated to enhance their flavor.
The most tender cut, by a long shot, is the aptly named tenderloin. This area is also where we get the filet mignon, chateaubriand and tournedos cuts, but what these have in tenderness, they seem to lack in flavor. The rib eye or rib steak is not as tender, and as with any cut with strips of fat running through it, is more flavorful, making it a popular choice.
The key to finding the best steak is to find the right balance of both tenderness and flavour. Two good choices are top loin and sirloin; they are not as tender but have more flavour. When you choose one of these cuts, you dont need to marinate or cook the steak more than medium rare.
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
by Jose L Riesco
Do you want your restaurant to be a superstar? Successful restaurants don’t just happen, they take a lot of planning. A combination of factors is necessary to bring you success in this very competitive industry.
Successful restaurants are the ones that do a great job conveying what the dining establishment is about in all aspects of the business. There is an image that flows throughout the entire enterprise. Whether restaurant design, menu offerings, customer service, theme, or entertainment, they portray a clear vision of what makes their restaurant unique from all the others.
If you want to keep the clients coming back, you need to focus on what makes a successful restaurant different from all of its peers. Consider a number of different elements, such as an open style kitchen, great prices, extensive beer and wine lists, a creative menu, live entertainment, an interactive chef, or creative room design. Anyone of these elements will give you a winning edge.
There are some basic elements in the mix when it comes to deciding the fate of successful restaurants. Location, food quality, value, customer service, and overall atmosphere. These fundamentals are always judged by your customers and remain memorable.
All successful restaurants have behind them owners or a management staff that possesses certain characteristics necessary to achieve great things in the restaurant industry. All of those who run winning dining establishments are creative and flexible to adapt to change. They can work independently, but at the same time are comfortable with exercising authority and leading a team.
A fundamental requirement of a successful restaurant is the ability to retain customers. There are a number of ways to do this, but you must build relationships and excel in customer service. For example, greet your guests by their first name, always know their seating preferences and suggest favorite menu items. Take care of the little things and always show interest through active interaction.
At many successful restaurants, there is a focus on quality and cleanliness. These standards are practiced in all aspects of the restaurant, right down to how the servers are dressed. Restaurants that are thriving maintain consistency through staff training and excel in controlling costs.
A comprehensive marketing plan is an essential requirement for all successful restaurants. To begin, all restaurants must have an interactive website where you may browse the menu and place orders or reservations. An e-mail marketing program, delivering tips, items of interest and special offers is in place. Ride the wave of social networking, by having a presence on Twitter, Facebook and other trendy sites. A visible presence in the community is important and there a number of ways to achieve this, such as charitable event sponsorship, trade and business group membership, special event promotion. Overall, a healthy buzz is created that encourages people to want to attend.
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