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Tips for Restaurant Success in 2011

  • Yasmin Coles
  • February 22, 2011

Admit it — you want to open some form of restaurant in the future.  Or at least an eatery, a catering business, a classic diner, or maybe an ice cream shop.  It feels great to dream of the things we love, and food is a universal passion.  And what can be a better business than food?  Food makes people happy and food is a basic need.  Food also has a vast room for creativity and innovation.  So I wouldn’t be surprised if many people want to open their restaurants someday, as likely inspired by the heightening popularity of chefs, foodies, and of course, reality TV shows.

We have to admit as well that the industry recently went through tough times.  The good news is that even in the dark moments, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  And that particular light is coming.  With the growing food trends, the power of the social networks, and yes, the marriage of celebrityhood and the world of cuisine, the best time to finally open that restaurant is that near future. You just have to be smart about it. The restaurant industry can be brutal, so you will want to research as much as possible before jumping in.

So what are you waiting for?  Read up on the following tips to secure that restaurant success this year.

1) Be trendy — but not too much.  Here’s the thing: industry projection shows that food trucks are getting more and more popular than the usual bricks-and-mortars businesses.  And we all know why.  Food trucks, albeit the fact that they have been around for many years, reflect the consumer lifestyle today.  We are very mobile and we want value for our money.  Food trucks tend to specialize as well, from your regular Asian noodle truck to the pulled-pork mobile.  So this means you do not have to go to Chinatown to have Chinese food— and you’re getting your food for less.

Does this mean that you should stay away from the usual diners?  Not really, but the food truck trend is already an indicator of the changing consumption preferences.  This shows that you have to be aware how lifestyle changes can also affect market demand.  Keep in mind though that even though people are flocking to food trucks, there is still that significant percentage of the population who would rather sit down in a nice room with great food on the table.  These are the things you need to think about.

2) Take advantage of the social network.  Many people these days read reviews and recommendations from people in their Twitters and Facebooks.  Websites such as FriendsEat, which is connected to vast social network, can also greatly impact your market presence and business.  These social networks are your direct vehicles to your customers.  You can simply make a profile and make it effective.  Be active in updating your menu and your daily specials.  Connect to other users.  In this day and age, people are changing their daily language, and the best way to get ahead is to be part of these worlds.

3) Embrace food trends.  Food trends emerge for a reason and it is indeed helpful if your restaurant is always on its toes for the best ones.  Remember the healthy menu options?  Well, at this point they are here to stay.  This does not mean however that you should stop cooking your own food.  If steak is your specialty, it does not hurt to vegetarian or vegan selections on the menu.  If people are into frozen yogurts or fried ice cream, it does not hurt to offer those as well.  People will always want something current and you can take advantage of the fact.  Besides, once the trend dies down it does not have to cost much to change the menu.

4) It is usually about the service. It is not enough that your waiters look good and have smiles on their faces.  They have to be mind readers.  The first important point is to never underestimate a diner.  Always anticipate the diners’ needs.  For instance, a business person spending some time in the restaurant will probably not want to be interrupted hence some private time should be anticipated.  Approach only when called.  However, there are diners who may feel more enthused if the waiter spends more time by the table.  With logical (yet delicious) recommendations, the diners will tend to say yes and want to try everything on the menu.  Always be responsive to your diners’ needs, and again, do not underestimate them.  Remember — that weird looking kid in the corner who only orders ice cream might be a blogger.

5) Make your restaurant interesting.  Whether you want to run a fine dining establishment or a small cafe, there should be always something interesting in your restaurant.  Hold theme nights and host performers on special occasions.  There are also the usual expectations these days, usually in the form of making your restaurant technology-friendly (Wi-Fi, anyone?).  Open a chef’s table or you can use iPads as your menu tablet.  With all the gimmicks and the technology, you are bound to come up with creative ideas.  Of course, to prevent any major fail, make sure that these interesting features are appropriate to your restaurant and business.

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