Any ideas for opening a resturant ?

Question

Everything in General

Answer 1

Random drug testing for all servers.

Hire a great chef. Keep the menu simple. Keep everything clean so you don't have the Health Dept all over you. Hire people that are smart, clean and nice.  

Answer 2

how about total ala carte, mix and match, buy one egg, one slice of toast, one chicken wing, a  tablespoon full of baked beans, etc.  

beverages by the ounce.

weigh or count every item, or better yet, have the customer do it under the watchful eye of an electronic surveillance system.

can't miss.

I think that Noob's drug testing proposal was to ensure that the staff was under the influence.  Would provide some cheap entertainment as they mishandled orders, juggled trays and babbled incoherently.  Could draw a customer base equally entertaining.

Answer 3

I read one that said random drug testing for servers.  Hilarious!  Who are you going to get to work for you?

I also suggest only hiring people with a master's degree to do the dishes and you should have an electrician on staff just in case a light bulb burns out.

I was one of, well one, drug free people at my restaurant.  Although I was going to school to be a pilot.

Guess what, that 35 year old taking your order at the high end restaurant down town, his life didn't turn out exactly like he planned.  Let him have one of the few joys left in his life.

Answer 4

I have managed a number of restaurants, as well as pizza parlors, and they have ranged from ok, to multimillion a year places. The key to success is to give people more then they expect.

The overhead in food is little compared to most businesses. I worked a pizza parlor in NH, we had Kyle Petty call us and tell us it was the best pizza he ever had, why, because it was huge. We filled the special pizza up huge, mostly with veggies, so when I hand over the pizza box, and you need two hands to hold it, you're happy.

Theme places are ok, but they loose their luster quick, you need to cater to the average man. I worked a place in Mass that had cheap breakfasts, you could get two eggs, toast, home-fries, for under $3.00, and people loved it.

So if you want a good restaurant, concentrate on the food, not the theme, and cater to the average man, there are millions of us, as apposed to the 1 or 2% that can afford to blow $500 on a meal.

Answer 5

How about Loose Meat sandwiches like on Roseanne?

Answer 6

Try to make it unique but simple and cost effective(If there are other pizza places in the area, for example, don't serve pizza). Keep the portions generous( as you can) and the prices fair( you will want everyone to be happy and make a good profit too). Make sure your staff is trained( I hate to go to a place and get into an argument with the staff) make sure the place is kept clean. If you can, include a "walk to window", so people who walk by with pets or strollers can easily order food, and have an outside area where people can eat,but someone from your staff can keep an eye on it, so that people arent harrassed by panhandlers. In time, try to get on here:

http://www.fox.com/kitchennightmares/

It will do you real good to have your place judged by a professional( though he can be a jerk) and if your place is good, think of all the free advertizing !^_^ good luck

Answer 7

Do thorough research before you even think about opening a restaurant & have a better than basic knowledge of health & safety in food & the workplace.

Answer 8

I always thought itd be neat to go old school:

Saw dust or peanut shells on the floor.

Juke Box.

A soda Jerk (who actually mixes up flavored concoctions)

And the waiters/tresses would take your order on a chalk slate.