Culinary Cues

APRIL 15, 2023

My town leaders, bless their hearts, try to figure out ways to strum up cash flow for small businesses. It’s early spring, mud season as it is commonly called, and they are putting in a Yeoman’s effort at organizing another restaurant week. Please don’t ask us to take it on the chin.

Seasonal Menu 458

Seasonal Menu Café Point of Sale Social Media 458

7 Shifts

DECEMBER 18, 2019

It’s December, and the air is seasoned with the scent of cinnamon, spice, and everything nice. With dinner prep taking place in most restaurants from noon on, you’re open anyway—and the more diners you can attract to buy lunch, the more profitable you become. Want to capture the hungry, back-to-school lunch crowd for January?

Specials 362

Specials Food Truck Seasonal Menu Social Media 362

Culinary Cues

APRIL 23, 2022

The cost of raw materials seems to always go up, most ingredients that restaurants use are highly perishable, customer volume is less predictable than we would like, seasonal differences in quality are quite significant, the supply chain is out of step with demand, and waste seems to be a real problem in many operations.

Food 392

Food Seasonal Menu Waste Point of Sale 392

Culinary Cues

OCTOBER 24, 2022

More than anything else, when I was in restaurant kitchens I looked forward to planning and testing the next set of menu changes. A stale menu is not cost effective, ignorant of quality issues with ingredients, uninspiring for employees, and just plain boring. Winter is, by far my favorite season to plan menus.

Seasonal Menu 316

Seasonal Menu Front of House Presentation Menu 316

Culinary Cues

JULY 12, 2020

Sure, the restaurant has been offering take-out options for the past six weeks, but it’s not the same experience for the cook. They are pointed to their table and reminded to wear their mask until fully seated, told that the menu is on line (no more physical menus here), and that the server will take their order shortly.

Front of House 414

Front of House Back of House Dine-in Food Truck 414

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 29, 2022

With close to two-thirds (63 percent) of Americans now ordering takeout at least once a month , and most of this group ordering online, restaurants are looking for unique ways to win guests through digital channels. When a guest orders directly with a restaurant, they are opting in to share all their data with that establishment.

Ordering 189

Ordering Online Ordering Email Marketing Seasonal Menu 189

7 Shifts

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

The ripple effects of the pandemic continue: the National Restaurant Association finds that off-premises dining continues to happen much more frequently than before, with 66% of consumers more likely to order takeout in 2023 than they were before the pandemic. ChowNow ChowNow is a customized online ordering app for restaurants.

Management 367

Management Management Operations Mobile Ordering 367

7 Shifts

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

The ripple effects of the pandemic continue: the National Restaurant Association finds that off-premises dining continues to happen much more frequently than before, with 66% of consumers more likely to order takeout in 2023 than they were before the pandemic. ChowNow ChowNow is a customized online ordering app for restaurants.

Management 352

Management Management Operations Mobile Ordering 352

7 Shifts

AUGUST 2, 2024

The accounting process will seem less daunting once you understand what you need to do, know, and watch out for. By tracking metrics like customer retention and employee turnover rate, contribution margin, and menu item profitability, restaurant managers can identify each area’s strengths and what areas need improvement.

Point of Sale 397

Point of Sale Inventory Seasonal Menu Cash Management 397

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 22, 2024

Nowadays, running a successful restaurant takes more than great food and good service. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you could be losing out on potential customers. .” Photos of your menu items, ambiance, and even happy customers will give potential guests a glimpse of the dining experience you offer.

Book 195

Book Marketing Email Marketing Social Media 195

7 Shifts

JANUARY 31, 2024

The best restaurant managers take customer service a step further, recognizing regulars and personalizing service for a more memorable guest experience. Accounting & finances Many owners—who take the initiative to fund and start the restaurant —expect you to keep the business open and profitable.

Management 397

Management Management Kitchen Safety Front of House 397

Culinary Cues

MAY 19, 2022

This was “order/fire” time. By 6:15 the crew had pushed through about 40 orders with relative ease. The printer was dropping orders at a frenzied pace as the early birds left and tables were quickly turned. Jake called out: “Ordering, three filets mid-rare, 2 strips rare, a sole Veronique, three etouffee, two feature apps.”

Seating 385

Seating Dine-in Seasonal Menu Leadership 385

7 Shifts

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Making Your Resume Stand Out. What those technologies are completely depends on the role, but here are a few of the more popular examples: Servers and front-of-house roles tend to familiarize themselves with point-of-sale (POS) technology, scheduling software , online ordering integrations, and perhaps even reservation software.

Front of House 370

Front of House Back of House Kitchen Safety Food Safety 370

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 22, 2021

That's where proper holiday work scheduling comes into play — and with the right combination of tools, organization, and communication, restaurants and their teams will soar through the holiday season with more ease than Santa on his sleigh. Table of Contents. Need a Holiday Work Schedule? Gathering Employee Availability & Feedback.

Seasonal Menu 370

Seasonal Menu Hiring Reference Mobile Ordering 370

Culinary Cues

MAY 19, 2021

So, I thought I would take a little trip down nostalgia lane and address the things that I remember and miss. The banter in the kitchen, at least until it gets out of hand, you know that competitive chatter that pushes everyone to step up their game, is somehow refreshing. Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things.”.

Seasonal Menu 416

Seasonal Menu Take-out Consumer Goods Food Order 416

7 Shifts

MAY 31, 2021

Inventory was ordered based on par levels, which are set based on sales forecasts, which are in turn determined by how many guests you'll serve and what they'll order. Purchasing & Ordering. Nestled under the umbrella of restaurant financing are the practices of purchasing and ordering. Operations Management.

Operations 363

Operations Inventory Hiring Customer Service 363

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 1, 2021

Just a few short years ago, customers paid for their meals in cash or credit cards, orders were totaled on analog cash registers, and customers called restaurants to place orders over the landline phone. The New Norm: Text to Order. These solutions work in tandem, making it easier than ever for customers to order and pay.

Ordering 180

Ordering Technology Mobile Ordering Online Ordering 180

Culinary Cues

DECEMBER 1, 2019

In preparation for the holiday gift giving season it was somehow decided that it was appropriate to recognize those private businesses within your community by stopping in to say hello, thank them for all that they do, and spend a little money. Every year, this weekend is the official time to celebrate small businesses.

Small Business 421

Small Business Customer Experience Customer Service Seasonal Menu 421

7 Shifts

JANUARY 26, 2021

million out of work, it was nothing short of devastating. Ordering online, paying with mobile phones, scanning QR codes for a menu, and a ton of takeout, are just a part of dining out now. With mobile ordering, there are no menus to pass out and back around, no germed-up credit cards to swipe, and no cash to handle.

2021 370

2021 Front of House Social Media Mobile Ordering 370

7 Shifts

AUGUST 4, 2020

It’s no surprise the food industry leaves behind a large footprint—and while much of the supply chain is inevitable, there are many innovative and simple steps we can all take to reduce waste and our own carbon footprint. Add small signs at self-serve stations to ask customers to consider the environment and take only what they need.

Food Supply 300

Food Supply Waste Seasonal Menu Equipment 300

7 Shifts

AUGUST 19, 2020

This takes your attention away from your core management responsibilities—plus a continuous stream of new, untrained staff can lead to mistakes and poor guest service. In order to help new staff learn the ropes, you need to create a comprehensive restaurant staff training manual. Even your most seasoned staff can forget things.

Training 370

Training Kitchen Safety Customer Service Food Safety 370

7 Shifts

MARCH 10, 2021

The fact that 60% of restaurants fail in their first year and 80% close within five years of their grand opening is an indication that few have what it takes for long-term success. If you want to open a restaurant , or if you're going to take a fresh look at where you are in your journey as a restaurateur, you must develop a business plan.

Management 370

Management Management Small Business Email Marketing 370

Culinary Cues

MAY 15, 2021

If the stakeholders in this important industry do not take the opportunity to learn from the lessons encountered, then a return to those exciting decades of growth and media glory will be difficult to envision. In recent years landlords have leveraged their lease power to eventually drive restaurants out of business.

Customer Experience 397

Customer Experience Cash Management Customer Service Front of House 397

7 Shifts

JULY 24, 2020

While you must follow the strict guidelines to ensure the safety of your staff and customers, that’s not to say you can’t take advantage of an empty restaurant to improve your knowledge of restaurant management, running a business, and creating a recipe for success when you eventually get back to business as usual.

Book 370

Book Management Management Restaurant Law 370

7 Shifts

MARCH 16, 2022

In order to deliver on both these accounts, it's critical to cultivate an environment where people — customers and staff alike — want to be. If a staff member is going through a messy break-up or is in the thick of exam season, encourage as harmonious a work-life balance as possible. Acknowledge Your Employees.

Front of House 370

Front of House Back of House Communication Customer Service 370

7 Shifts

JANUARY 23, 2020

As you plan out your concept, location, menu, staffing, and marketing, take a read through the advice left by hundreds of restaurateurs to ensure you’re set up for success in 2020. Educate yourself on costs, hiring, and the market you are in before taking the leap. Are you opening a restaurant in 2020? Congrats! ??

2020 335

2020 Hiring Cash Management Education 335

Culinary Cues

MARCH 30, 2020

To fail to do this will simply perpetuate the labor challenges that plagued us before the virus. [] CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT: In order to address the labor issue above, we may very well need to reconsider our restaurant concept. Let’s start from scratch and build a menu with these critical factors in mind.

Small Business 363

Small Business Food Supply Food Truck Healthcare 363

7 Shifts

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

The cost of goods sold (COGS) is a restaurant metric that shows you the cost of all ingredients used to prepare a menu item, including the food, beverage costs, and other direct expenses. It represents everything it takes to get a meal on the table, from the raw ingredients like meat and vegetables to the packaging for takeout orders.

2024 195

2024 Seasonal Menu Inventory Audits 195

Culinary Cues

MAY 16, 2022

But when this occurrence takes place with a team, the results can be magical. She had to handle eight different menu items on those cherry red flat tops and high BTU burners and called out orders to each station on slower nights. Shawn would call out orders and set up plates for the other line cooks.

Café 355

Café Front of House Point of Sale Back of House 355

Modern Restaurant Management

AUGUST 25, 2020

With outdoor dining occupying the foreground, and bars and indoor dining taking a back seat to consumer preferences, it begs the question: what happens when it gets cold? So, what are some additional ways restaurant operators can swing with the seasons and make additional revenue? One key to making this a success is marketing.

Seasonal Menu 197

Seasonal Menu Outdoor Customer Service Catering 197

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Have you ever walked into a restaurant, excited for a great meal, but the server can’t answer your questions about the menu? Without the right training, even the best menu or ambiance can fall short due to poor service, leading to dissatisfied customers and lost revenue. Let’s say you run a fast-casual restaurant.

Training 195

Training Kitchen Safety Food Safety Customer Service 195

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

With 59 percent of customers hanging up after calling in and waiting for a minute or less, according to Linga, restaurants are missing out on a lot of business. menu, hours, etc.), or place an order (for take out). What Is the Difference Between an Out of the Box Solution and Custom?

Reservations 179

Reservations Online Ordering Loyalty Program Book 179

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

But while some may predict a future with burger-flipping robots, it’s hard to imagine tech taking the place of a skilled line cook, experienced server, or seasoned marketer. Enter digital tableside ordering. For fast-casual or QSR brands, digital tableside ordering is equally beneficial.

Technology 225

Technology Loyalty Program Fast Casual Email Marketing 225

Culinary Cues

DECEMBER 12, 2020

Walking up the cobblestone road that leads to the church and taking in the beauty of the French countryside is truly a spiritual experience. Many visitors would in fact be encouraged to walk through the gardens in between courses to take in its beauty and aid in digestion of the multiple courses to come.

Fine Dining 362

Fine Dining Back of House Dine-in Presentation 362

7 Shifts

MAY 23, 2024

That said, we've compiled some of the best techniques for increasing restaurant sales and taking your business to new heights. Once in your customers' hands, this piece of paper can directly influence what your diners order and how much they spend in one sitting. When done right, menu engineering can grow your sales by as much as 15%

Social Media 195

Social Media Loyalty Program Email Marketing SEO 195

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 20, 2023

In order to achieve long-term success and build essential brand credibility, restaurants must cultivate meaningful experiences and relationships to help drive growth and expansion. According to research, the majority of customers are interested in ordering seasonal items. The industry is projected to reach $1.2

Customer Experience 197

Customer Experience Innovation Social Media Seasonal Menu 197

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 11, 2021

According to the National Restaurant Association's 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry report , 70 percent of consumers reported they would likely take a table outside if the conditions were right. Here are some of the ways restaurant owners can leverage a holistic and data-driven POS system to optimize their outdoor dining operations.

Outdoor 197

Outdoor POS Front of House Seasonal Menu 197