Im a owner of a restaurant and having a bit of problem with the chefs ,need some help.

Question

im a owner of a restaurant ,100 covers ,5 chefs .i'm trying to improve the food quality and bring some new recipes but the problem is with the chef. The laziest part of our chef is that they stick to what they have learned from foreign chef and rarely adventure in new dishes , once you make remarks or scold them for some reasons, they do not deliver the goods properly ,instead they will remain their position or will boycott the work in some way or other.

i'm tired telling them.

is there any other way how to deal with this situation?

please help!

thanks

Answer 1

Run an ad in the paper looking for new chefs.  That might just light a fire under them.  My first thought is....if you are the owner, do something about it.  Don't settle for things at YOUR restaurant not being the way you want them.  

Answer 2

Take him out. I'm Italian, I am the best chef in the world! Would you like to hire me? I know how to cook everything! I use my imagination.

Ciao

Answer 3

Fire the lead, fire all five of them if thats what it takes. It's your restaurant! bring in a good chef who wants to take the food in the same direction as you do. Don't let a stubborn chef's ego run your restaurant into the ground.

My family's restaurant had a stubborn, territorial pastry chef for 15 years who made the same desserts year after year. Despite repeated customer complaints and the loss of business they kept her and the same 20 year old creme brulee, bread pudding, and lemon pot de creme recipes. Finally they fired her and brought in a creative, talented pastry chef who earned them a reputation for fantastic new desserts, and the house is packed every day of the week.

You run the show! you absolutely can not put up with insubordination from your kitchen.  

Answer 4

Hire the kind of chef you need. And slowly weed out the least adventures ones. I think the other chefs will come around.

Answer 5

I own 2..one cafe,,one fine dining...

When I worked as the chef...there was no problem.

But I do understand what you are going thru.

Bring in some new blood and have them compete for their jobs.....unless they own the place(which they do not)..then they need to do what you want..not what they think is best...

You need to let them explore..and value their opinions...but its still your place....

Take control.

Answer 6

have you made the new dishes for them to taste? If you are only meeting with them and discussing things, they may not with to try, but if you give them the opportunity to taste the new dish or see you make it = that it is easy to make, you may get more interest.  In the end, they are professionals at what they do, but you own the restaurant.  How about a contest between the five of them that whoever makes the best version of the new dish gets a bonus check? If they get to modify trhe foreign recipe, that will give them a sense of ownership on the recipe and something to be proud of.

Answer 7

Offer them a financial incentive.  Perhaps some sort of a contest who makes the best new dish and then have it rated and winner gets $500

Answer 8

They sound like they think you won't fire them...they should be more respectful to you.