Any disunity between the décor and the theme can create a mental dissonance that makes it difficult for your guests to enjoy their dining experience. Atmosphere helps define expectations for a meal. These are the most important issues to consider when striving for a cohesive visit. The Furniture What does your furniture say about your … Continue Reading »

You may not think that furniture can be a trending item when you look at local restaurants, but it is. Restaurants are always redefining themselves, and a change in décor often includes the seating arrangements and accommodations. Even in those restaurants that shoot for the “retro” look, you won’t find your parents’ style of restaurant … Continue Reading »

You want every guest that walks into your restaurant to enjoy their experience in such a way that they want to return. That means that you and your staff have to take a good look at what the customer sees, from the time they pull up to the time they depart. Staff training to ensure … Continue Reading »

Which kind of environment do you offer your customers? Is it the quaint, quick and friendly atmosphere of a small mom and pop shop or a high end, contemporary café with wifi and Italian names? Have you adopted easy chairs and couches, like a growing number of national chains or the diner-like stylings of a … Continue Reading »

If you run a higher end restaurant and your numbers have declined, it might be time to introduce a prix fixe menu. Even though people are more careful with their disposable income, they still want to enjoy a quality dining experience. Prix fixe offerings allow them to enjoy better restaurants on a budget. Industry numbers … Continue Reading »

For many entrepreneurs interested in the food service industry, the hardest decision is whether they want to buy into a franchise of go it alone. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at a few of each so you have some idea of what is in store down each path. Franchise Finesse When you … Continue Reading »

You have made it through the hurdles of financing, decided upon a theme for your new eatery, and now it is time to consider the décor. The first step is to figure out what kind of furniture you need, and how much room you have for it. Draw up a floor plan. Make room for … Continue Reading »

In a perfect world, your customers should never even notice when their table, or one nearby, is bussed. The staff should be able to glide in, clear and clean, and then disappear with a minimum of fuss. However, this takes a bit of planning and some practice. One of the more common problems with bussing … Continue Reading »

In a perfect world, your customers should never even notice when their table, or one nearby, is bussed. The staff should be able to glide in, clear and clean, and then disappear with a minimum of fuss. However, this takes a bit of planning and some practice. One of the more common problems with bussing … Continue Reading »