Archive for May, 2006
May 31, 2006 at 12:19 pm
· Filed under Article, Restaurant Review
excerpt:
"There is no hard science about restaurant criticism because it is, without doubt, subjective. After all, I'm just one mouth, not a sample group.
So the criteria I use to evaluate a restaurant aren't exactly quantifiable. My mission isn't to score a restaurant like the College Board scores SATs.
Instead, I try to give a hint about what to expect at a given restaurant, and how high a patron's expectations should reasonably be."
source: "No hard science, but here's how I review a restaurant" by Tucker Shaw (Denver Post, May 31,2006)
This is another article about how a professional restaurant critic goes about reviewing a restaurant. It is a good reminder for restaurant owners. Michael Bauer, critic for SF Chronicle, published a more specific list earlier this month.
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May 29, 2006 at 9:10 am
· Filed under Article, Demographics, Magazine, Research
excerpt:
"…RESTAURANT HOSPITALITY recently commissioned consumer research to provide original and actionable information about consumer usage and ordering habits that you can take to the bank.
The research captured consumer frequency of eating at full-service restaurants on weekdays and weekends; how often they eat at your restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner; the types of restaurants they've eaten at in the past six months and what makes them want to return to a restaurant.
…We, the editors of RESTAURANT HOSPITALITY, hope that this consumer research will give you a better insight into dealing with customers. We're convinced that it will confirm information that you may have already believed in your mind, while also revealing areas of opportunity that you may not have known existed. Use this information wisely and watch your business grow."
source: "What Your Customers Want" (Restaurant Hospitality, July 2005)
Note: Restaurant Hospitality offers a free magazine subscription and newsletter.
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May 28, 2006 at 5:50 pm
· Filed under Advice, Blog, Equipment
excerpt:
"ServU Blog Central is an archive of the latest developments in restaurant equipment and supplies, bar equipment and bar stools and supplies. Below are some of the latest blog entries that our staff has put together for your reading…"
link: The Restaurant Guru (provided by Serv-U)
note: pre-2005 posts can be found here.
Here are titles of past blog posts:
- Pinholes/corrosion in your stainless steel sink?
- Is There Value Buying Scratch and Dent Equipment?
- How Much Ice Do You Need Per Day?
- Cleaning Wood Furniture
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May 27, 2006 at 8:26 pm
· Filed under Customer Service, Free, Reference, Training, Waitstaff
excerpt:
"This guide has been developed by Visa in order to provide service staff with guidelines and suggestions aimed at increasing service standards and gratuities.
This guide runs through a series of service techniques and standards, and makes useful suggestions that are easy to implement and may increase the level of ‘fun’ you have during your career. While the guide may seem a little weighty, any one of the suggestions offered, once implemented, could have an immediate impact on the quality of service you offer and the financial benefits you may receive."
source: "Restaurant Staff Service Tips" by Douglas P. Fisher (Visa Canada, 2003)
This is a free 31 page reference guide for restaurant waitstaff that was sponsored by Visa. Here is some information about the author:
"Doug was the 1997 and 2001 recipient of the Award for Excellence in Management Advisory Services from Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI), an organization representing the leading foodservice consultants from more than 39 countries."
Here are additional free waitstaff resources.
Note: In addition to their free content, many of these sites also promote waitstaff training services and instructional materials.
Read the rest of this entry »
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May 26, 2006 at 10:19 am
· Filed under Advice, Free, Newsletter, Tools
excerpt:
Sign up for our free Tip of the Week and receive the free 34-page E-Book: 489 Ways to Cut Costs in Restaurants, Cafes, Hotels, Clubs & Bars and access to 10 free Profit Calculators.
link: ProfitableHospitality.com
Note that the ProfitableHospitality.com site is another fee-based membership site and most links on the site will lead to a login page for members. The "Tip of the Week", free E-Book, and profit tools are free features of the site.
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May 26, 2006 at 2:11 am
· Filed under Advice, Free, Web Site
excerpt:
"SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. More than 10,500 volunteer counselors provide individual counseling and business workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Counselors work with entrepreneurs through every phase of their entrepreneurial venture: generating and assessing ideas, preparing a business plan, raising capital and managing the operations and finances of the growing venture.
SCORE has assisted more than 7.2 million Americans with online and face-to-face small business counseling. The SCORE Association was formed in 1964."
link: SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) – Counselors to America's Small Business
SCORE provides free counseling to restaurant owners through many different channels (email, telephone, one-on-one sessions). There are also a lot of free resources available at their web site.
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May 25, 2006 at 2:20 pm
· Filed under Advice, Marketing, Newsletter, Web Site
excerpt:
"Early every Tuesday morning we email a free, short tip, technique, or strategy about low-cost ways to market your restaurant.
These free valuable tips are saving other restaurant owners money every week. Sign up now and start receiving your free "Restaurant Marketing Tip of the Week" every Tuesday morning.
The tips are short, to the point, and cover a wide range of subjects."
link: Tip of the Week from MarketingYourRestaurant.com
Note that the MarketingYourRestaurant.com site is a fee-based membership site and links on the site will lead to a login page for members. The "Restaurant Marketing Tip of the Week" is the only free feature of the site.
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May 22, 2006 at 1:24 pm
· Filed under Advice, Web Site
About.com is a New York Times Company that allows experts write articles, collect content, and create resource sites on specific topics. About.com's Restauranting site has information on a variety of topics, from naming your restaurant to hiring a lawyer.
excerpt:
"Restauranting is an intense and competitive business. To succeed, a restaurateur must develop a marketable concept, select a key location, obtain funding, monitor budgets, and hire outstanding chefs and waitstaff. This site will provide you with direct details and resources to be a successful restaurateur."
link: Restauranting
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May 21, 2006 at 10:48 pm
· Filed under Media
If you are not able to attend the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant-Hotel/Motel Show 2006 in Chicago, then you can listen to the Podcast Grill:
excerpt:
"This year is a show you will not want to miss. The NRA (National Restaurant Association Show) is the largest that it has ever been! What even more awesome is that we will be live on the show floor hosting and posting our podcasts.
Ten exciting episodes with wrap-ups and so much news you won't want to miss it."
link: Podcast Grill
The NRA also has a site with reports from the 2006 Show in Chicago with interviews, video, exhibitor index, and more:
link: The National Restaurant Association Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show
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