Thursday, November 19, 2009

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

10 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY AT YOUR RESTAURANT

Quick steps for resturants to save money
By Lorri Mealey, About.com
See More About:restaurant kitchensrestaurant financesrestaurant problems
There are simple steps restaurants can take to save money.

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Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days. Restaurants are no exception. The good news is that there are a lot of quick steps you can take to save you money, either through cutting energy use or reducing spoilage. A lot of these tips are the same things your mom told you growing up.
1. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs. Subway recently switched all their light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs in all of their 2000 US franchise locations. Switching to an energy efficient light bulb can save up to $22 per bulb per year. This can add up to quite a savings over time. Also keep lights off when you don’t need them. If you don’t start serving lunch until 11 o’clock there is no reason to turn the dining room lights on until then.

2. Only run the dishwasher when it is completely full. This cuts down on water usage, soap and energy costs.

3. Soak the dishes. Rather than running hot water over them to loosen dried food, fill a sink and let them soak.

4. Install low flow faucets and toilets. This will save between 20 to 40 percent of water usage.

5. Turn down the thermostat. You can still be comfortable at 68 degrees rather than 72 degrees.

6. Switch from plastic to glass. Green restaurants have been following this tip for years. If restaurant uses disposable plates, flatware or cups, considering a one time investment for china, glass and silver. You will save on garbage (good for the environment as well as the restaurant budget) and save money over time.

7. Invest in energy efficient appliances. This is a lot easier said than done, especially in a sluggish economy. But consider that many states offer restaurants tax credits and other incentives for switching to energy efficient appliances. Plus, the savings on an energy efficient appliance can often pay for itself within a year or two.

8. Trim down your menu. Track sales of every menu item and remove menu items that aren’t selling. Also look for ways to cross utilize menu items, using one item for multiple dishes. This will help reduce food spoilage as well as keep food cost under control.

9. Take advantage of e-marketing. More and more people turn to Google to look for restaurants than the yellow pages. Take advantage of all the internet has to offer, from your own website to online advertising. Many companies offer inexpensive e-newsletters you can send to customers for a fraction of traditional prints ads.

10. Train your staff. Teach your staff to sort recyclables, turn off lights, let you know if there is a leaky faucet in the wait station. Ask them to bring in their own take-home containers instead of using the restaurant take-outs.

HOW TO SET UP A RESTAURANT BAR

The bar is a hub of activity for many restaurants.


For many full service restaurants . It is where patrons gather to eat and drink, while wait staff pick up their beverages and cocktails. The set-up of a restaurant bar depends on your restaurant’s size, theme and liquor license. Some bars are service only, meaning it does not serve customers directly; it is just for staff to order drinks. Other full service bars offer drinks as well as a limited or full menu. Bars may double as a wait station, where servers can pour their own fountain drinks or it may be strictly off limits to staff, except for the bartender.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 6-8 Weeks
Here's How:

1.

Check Your Liquor License

Liquor licenses vary and one license may cover all alcohol while others only cover wine and beer. If you are only serving beer and wine, a small service bar is more than adequate for your needs. If you plan to offer hard liquor as well as wine and beer, and are looking to expand business through bar sales, you should plan for a full service bar.
2.

Figure Out How Much Space You Have For a Restaurant Bar

Ideally there should be about two feet of space in between bar stools to accommodate patrons. This means if you want eight seats at the bar, you need an eight foot bar.
3.

Decide Where To Put The Restaurant Bar

A bar right at the entrance of a restaurant can do double duty as a waiting area. A bar in the center of a restaurant is easier for staff to access during the dinner rush. A bar placed at the back of a restaurant more intimate, away from the hustle and bustle of the front of the house. Decide which place is best for your bar.
4.

Stock Your Restaurant Bar With The Right Equipment

Bars need their own reach in coolers, ice bins, hygiene supplies, paper towel dispenser, liquor wells, glass racks, wine racks and dry storage. Coolers should be big enough to hold bottled beer, white and blush wines as well as back ups of juice, milk and other beverages used to mix drinks. A restaurant bar also needs a beer tower and a place to keep kegs cold. You may have to run beer lines from the walk-in cooler if your bar doesn’t have enough space for kegs. Bar floors should be covered with rubber floor mats for employee comfort and safety.
5.

Let Your Restaurant Bar Double As a Wait Station

Make your bar as self sufficient as possible. Outfit it with its own POS system, so that the bartender can take care of customer tabs right on the spot. An integrated POS also lets the bartender send food orders to the kitchen directly from the bar. Be wary of letting staff into the bar area, even if it is to use the POS system during a rush. Bartenders are typically territorial creatures and don’t like wait staff under foot. You may need to implement a rule that no wait staff is allowed behind the bar during the dinner shift (or whatever times you deem necessary).
6.

Set the Mood With Lighting

Lighting in the bar should be subtle. Not so dark customers can’t read the menu, but definitely not too bright. Recessed lighting and track lighting with dimmer switches allow you to control the light, adjusting it for the time of day.
7.

Take Advantage of Freebies

Your wine and beer salesperson can outfit you with free merchandise, like glasses, decorative mirrors, even those tacky neon lights that hang in windows. Find out what you can get for free before buying decorative items.

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