Sure, aiming for a low food cost percentage is important, but if that's all you're focused on, you could be missing out. After all, you can't deposit percentages to your bank account....more >>

Working on a great team can be the best part of any job. A team full of A-players makes work fun and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true....more >>

While many factors impact restaurant success, according to the most successful independent restaurant operators on the planet, at or near the top of the list is a restaurant's unique CULTURE! That's because a restaurant's culture affects everything. Quality, consistency, cleanliness, timing, hospitality, essentially everything that touches the guest AND EMPLOYEE experience. The reality is that restaurants with anything short of a strong, positive culture are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to not only creating loyal, repeat guests but, just as important, loyal, engaged employees too....more >>

A Virtual Gold Mine... A restaurant's general ledger (GL) can tell management a lot they need to know about their business. Yet many restaurant owners don't look at theirs very often, and even those who do may not be getting everything out of it that they could....more >>

Due to the highly visible nature of the Server position, the Server Training Mock Service Report compliments the Server trainee's final written test to provide additional verification that key aspects of the training program have been met....more >>

Long time RestaurantOwner.com member Michael Passalacqua tells us what it was like to close his 5,000 square foot, full service Italian restaurant for 6 full weeks and then reopen to a whole new world. He shares what he and his staff did to open new sales channels, stay in touch with his customers and navigate a very rigid and at times dictatorial state government....more >>

"Ouch!" How many times during a shift do you hear that phrase (or something more profane) uttered by one of your kitchen staff. While the hazards of restaurant work are not on par with firefighting or construction, each day restaurant workers negotiate sharp knives, hot burners, and slippery surfaces in a hectic environment....more >>

Danny Meyer credits the success of his numerous restaurants to one simple concept: hospitality is everything. Hospitality is a powerful component in getting repeat business and building a stellar reputation within the community....more >>

Take the opportunity to recognize one of the most important days in your customer's life. Your acknowledgment and invitation will be appreciated and you have an excellent chance of having one of the most profitable marketing activities you've ever undertaken....more >>

"Hi, welcome to Bob's Grille. Is this your first time?" is a common greeting used by lots of servers. Sure, it's said with good intentions, but regulars could feel slighted, or worse when asked if it is their first time.- The quality of a server's greeting can set the tone for the entire meal, so it's VERY important to get it right. This training video will give servers a simple, yet powerful way to discover if someone is a first-time guest in a way that won't risk offending your regulars. This one, simple question will help servers make more personal connections, delight their guests and earn bigger tips....more >>

What attitudes are common to top performers, and how do you identify them in prospective hires? And does it really matter when you are just trying to fill positions? It might matter more than ever....more >>

The last place you want leaks to occur is in your cash flow. If you think you'll be able to spot these leaks without knowing what to look for, you might be in for a rude awakening. On the surface, they can be very small and escape detection and if enough of them develop, they can bleed your restaurant dry. No place is this more true than in your food production process....more >>

80% - 90% of restaurant marketing budgets are spent trying to get a new customer to visit for the first time. This is the least effective place to spend your money. Find out what marketing techniques are working in the most successful restaurants in the country....more >>

Combine these words and terms to create a magnetic recruiting tool tailored to the position....more >>

Training is the primary way restaurant owners and managers equip, empower, and motivate employees to create the experience that guests are seeking....more >>