Each person in the restaurant had their tools that they brought to work with them. The chefs had their own knives. Any restaurant owner will tell you not to invest big bucks in kitchen cutlery since it would disappear out the back door. Better for chefs to bring their own. That's why communism doesn't work. If you don't own it you don't care about it. We had several hispanic kitchen workers and they brought some of their own ingredients from home to add to staff meals. They'd cook a traditional Italian pasta dish but add jalapenos and some corn tortillas on the side.
Servers made sure they had a corkscrew and plenty of pens. One young server had several pens he got from a pharmaceutical dinner advertising a vaginal estrogen tablet, Vagifem. He enjoyed asking customers to sign their credit card receipt with a Vagifem pen. Another server who was prone to spilling had all the latest portable spot removers. He was like a walking washing machine.
Me? I always had another pair of shoes in the office to vary the sore spots on my feet and during the December holidays I also kept a pair of slippers on hand.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Should I Stay or Should I Go Now
Ever walk into a restaurant for the first time and wonder if you made a mistake? Some things can tip you off and some things are pointless to ruminate on.
Pointless stuff would be the dining room population. If the place is empty that doesn't necessarily mean it's not good. Maybe you're having lunch at 2 and you've missed the rush. Maybe it's the final of American Idol and the usual diners can't wait for the Tivo'd version.
Stuff you should pay attention to are glassware. Are the glasses unpolished...especially wine glasses in a place with a good list.
What's the letter grade from the Health Dept? You don't have to be perfect to get an A so if it's anything less I'd walk out. Although to be fair to fellow restauranteurs you can get less than an A if you're obnoxious to the inspector. Did you know you can ask to see the most current Health Dept report? My husband says C stands for Chinese. Still...if it's less than an A I'd go elsewhere.
Take a look at the bathroom. Is it stocked with supplies like soap, paper towels, toilet paper, seat covers, etc. and what's the general cleanliness? If it's Christmas week and things are a little messy cut them some slack but if it's a disaster...guess what...so is the kitchen and take your business elsewhere.
Were you greeted at the door and did someone ask for your drink order within a reasonable amount of time. Still waiting after 15 min? Unless you're in the mood for a 3 hr. meal take your business elsewhere.
If all the preliminary signs look good you can't really predict whether you'll like the food. You'll just have to try it.
Pointless stuff would be the dining room population. If the place is empty that doesn't necessarily mean it's not good. Maybe you're having lunch at 2 and you've missed the rush. Maybe it's the final of American Idol and the usual diners can't wait for the Tivo'd version.
Stuff you should pay attention to are glassware. Are the glasses unpolished...especially wine glasses in a place with a good list.
What's the letter grade from the Health Dept? You don't have to be perfect to get an A so if it's anything less I'd walk out. Although to be fair to fellow restauranteurs you can get less than an A if you're obnoxious to the inspector. Did you know you can ask to see the most current Health Dept report? My husband says C stands for Chinese. Still...if it's less than an A I'd go elsewhere.
Take a look at the bathroom. Is it stocked with supplies like soap, paper towels, toilet paper, seat covers, etc. and what's the general cleanliness? If it's Christmas week and things are a little messy cut them some slack but if it's a disaster...guess what...so is the kitchen and take your business elsewhere.
Were you greeted at the door and did someone ask for your drink order within a reasonable amount of time. Still waiting after 15 min? Unless you're in the mood for a 3 hr. meal take your business elsewhere.
If all the preliminary signs look good you can't really predict whether you'll like the food. You'll just have to try it.
It's been grand
Earlier this year we closed our doors and became another restaurant statistic. I run through the woulda coulda shouldas and don't see anything major we could have done differently. Minor tweaking but nothing that would have made a positive cash flow. We were located in an aging downtown that was in the process of being revitalized but not fast enough to keep us alive. And then the recession hit. A double whammy. We closed in February and our rent was going to go up 20% in March.
It's a relief to be out. My feet don't hurt anymore and although we lost beaucoup bucks the hemorrhaging has stopped.
Speaking of hemorrhaging.... Someone else has taken over the restaurant with a different concept. Less expensive menu and a busy catering business on the side. I have a good friend who owns a business across the street and she tells me she has known she has esp since she was a child. When we owned the restaurant she told me she sometimes saw a spirit in the dining room who was dressed as a banker. (We were located in a former bank) She said he seemed benign and was monitoring the premises. Now that the new owners are in whatever spirits are present are disturbed and she sees the restaurant's windows covered in blood.
It's a relief to be out. My feet don't hurt anymore and although we lost beaucoup bucks the hemorrhaging has stopped.
Speaking of hemorrhaging.... Someone else has taken over the restaurant with a different concept. Less expensive menu and a busy catering business on the side. I have a good friend who owns a business across the street and she tells me she has known she has esp since she was a child. When we owned the restaurant she told me she sometimes saw a spirit in the dining room who was dressed as a banker. (We were located in a former bank) She said he seemed benign and was monitoring the premises. Now that the new owners are in whatever spirits are present are disturbed and she sees the restaurant's windows covered in blood.
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