RestaurantThing Information

This restaurant has no windows and lighting is an issue. We want a comfortable atmosphere with lighting that helps relieve the cave-like feeling the restaurant has with no windows. This is a high quality restaurant, so dim lighting is usually wanted, but we don’t want the lighting to be too dim. any suggestions?

Your best option is to get light switches with adjustable brightness. Older customers might prefer a little brighter light so they can read the menus, while the younger customers might want dimmer lights to set a more romantic mood. In either case, I’d say you can’t stick with one brightness setting, and must adjust as needed or if a customer makes a request.

I have been to Paris and I saw some ad for a Peruvian restaurant in the Latin Quarter once. I’ve heard/read that the French don’t like to go to places that specialize in cooking what they can very well make at home (I understand that). Just out of curiosity, what chance would a restaurant that specializes in Panamanian cuisine stand?

I’m part Panamanian, and I can tell you that even in Brooklyn, New York where there are a lot of Panamanian immigrants and their families, there are not that many Panamanian restaurants per say. Panamanians are so diverse as a people. My family for example came from the West Indies and then went to Panama to work on the canal. So my grandfather grew up on traditional west indian foods as well as spanish food also. I think if a Panamanian restaurant would want to be successful in the latin quarter in Paris, it would have to be very unique. But it would also have to define what Panamanian cuisine is. A lot of more spanish-speaking countries have cuisines that are more popular than others, (mexican, cuban, puerto rican, dominican, and peruvian) I think Panama is a wonderful and diverse place and I think with a good chef, and an interesting concept many people would go lining up for a taste of Panama.

Hope this helped.

I am opening a new restaurant with my cousins and in doing so we were considering a variety of marketing plans. I would greatly appreciate any ideas of how we should market this restaurant.

Location is in suburbs of Detroit Michigan.
our Menu options are Gyros, italian beefs, chicen wings, seafood, fries, etc. Things of that sort.
Its more of an Order-to-go type restaurant.

Do the leg work!!!
People love to think they are getting a deal. Marketing costs should be considered in your budget. You can look at public sources on what the major corporations use. There are different approaches, but when starting a Resturaunt you are going to want to POUND the name out there. I would start off, after opening with coupons. Pass them out yourself at first or hire a couple of kids to help you. Put them on every door and car in at least a 3 block radius. I am not familiar with detroit so, I am not sure how the city is set up, but Printing, and the % discount will go into your marketing budget. I would also try to find a local radio station and GIVE them food everday for a couple of days straight. Go by and drop it off around lunch time, and listen to them for plugs. Go to all the local offices and make sure they have your menus. get the menu out there,. Have the owners, give away food to their friends in the nieghborhood, via a business card or something of the like. Don’t give up after a few weeks. Put your name in the yellow pages, and go to the internet and register your company with Yahoo, google, google earth, tom-tom, city search, and anything you can think of to give it a GPS location and and internet presence. More and more poeple use the interenet to find delivery services or places to eat. Check out the chamber of commerce and see if they have any packages and programs that you think will benefit you. After you are open for a month of so, plan a GRAND OPENING where you will provide entertainment, and giveaways. you can go to local businesses to co-sponser your GRAND OPENING and help with other products to give away other than food. Coozies are good and cheap to give away, as well as Ink pens. those are tradional "inside the box" methods. So think of some "Outside the box:" ideas. Send press releaseses to all the local media, and if there is anything exciting you can offer they might actually print a story about you. Good Luck

I am considering a job at Friendlies Restaurant. Anyone who works there and can tell me what they get paid and how much you make in tips. Also how well you like the job.

Wow!!! I miss Friendly´s! I used to work for one in Rochester, New York, in the early 80´s. Depends what you think of as good money. I loved it. I worked the breakfast shift, and made pretty good money. (about $25 – 50/day it was better than I had been making at a department store).

I moved out of their area 23 years ago.

They closed down that store about ten years ago.

I miss fish-a-ma-jigs. And Reese´s sundaes.

I am looking to intern with a restaurant. My only problem is I don’t know which to intern with or how to find out if they have an interning program. I really need help in finding a internship in order to graduate from college next year and for the experience of how to run a restaurants, because that’s the career I would like to pursue. I want to become a Chef and own a Restaurant. Please anyone if you can help please let me know thanks.

First check with the college you are attending because they probably have a list of restaurants that you have to or may choose from.

If not, check with the famous restaurants (Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Broussards, Commander’s Palace, and Galatoire’s). Also Tujaques. All except Commander’s Palace are in the French Quarter.

The Hotel Le Pavillion employs interns from an international hotel management program and they may be able to help you: www.lepavillon.com

Also re-post your question in the New Orleans section of the Travel category to get more responses from locals.

Good luck!