You are considering opening a restaurant, but you are unsure of what type of food to feature and a theme. Try to feature something unique to your area. Choose the basic theme, and then add your own ideas and and decor for an interesting mix. Your decor and style should match your menu items.
Restaurants are usually placed into three groups:
1. Fast Food - Economy
Fast food restaurants usually have drive through windows or take out counters and offer food items that are pre prepared, or limited items that can be prepared quickly. So long as you don't have a franchise, you can incorporate your own theme into this concept with your unique flavors and decor. These are American favorites. With hardly a moment to spare these days, fast food is a necessity and large profits can be made in a short period of time.
2. Mid Scale
Mid Scale restaurants offer good value meals in a casual atmosphere, and can be full service, buffet, or a limited service restaurant where the customers order at the counter and the food is delivered to them at a table. Non franchised mid-scale restaurants can reflect your theme, ideas, decor and uniforms. Typically, start up costs are more than fast food, so it takes a bit longer to recap
your investments.
3. Upscale
Upscale restaurants provide elegant ambiance and full service with high priced cuisine. Upscale restaurants often incorporate a professional designer to create the look and feel of the restaurant, and multiple chefs to design a menu with unique cuisine. Again, the look and feel of the restaurant should compliment the fine cuisine.
- Asian Cuisine - Specialize in Oriental food service.
- Breakfast Restaurant - Offers good value breakfast in a casual atmosphere.
- Dry Restaurants - Do not serve liquor.
- Casual Dining - Offers casual dining at good value in a family type of theme.
- Coffee Shop - Offers coffees, teas, and sandwiches, pastries and other light take out type of meals.
- Concession - Temporary locations such as sporting events, beaches, fairs or other temporary type of engagements. The menus are limited to pre-prepared foods and snacks.
- Delicatessens - Offers take out pre-prepared types of food items such as salads, sandwiches, soups.
- Ethnic Restaurants - These restaurants offer regional ethnic dishes.
- European Restaurants- Usually specialize in French, Italian, Spanish, etc. cuisine and can be a mid range or upscale establishment.
Typically, these take the most investment, but can have huge returns if you find steady clientele.
Restaurants are usually placed into three groups:
1. Fast Food - Economy
Fast food restaurants usually have drive through windows or take out counters and offer food items that are pre prepared, or limited items that can be prepared quickly. So long as you don't have a franchise, you can incorporate your own theme into this concept with your unique flavors and decor. These are American favorites. With hardly a moment to spare these days, fast food is a necessity and large profits can be made in a short period of time.
2. Mid Scale
Mid Scale restaurants offer good value meals in a casual atmosphere, and can be full service, buffet, or a limited service restaurant where the customers order at the counter and the food is delivered to them at a table. Non franchised mid-scale restaurants can reflect your theme, ideas, decor and uniforms. Typically, start up costs are more than fast food, so it takes a bit longer to recap
3. Upscale
Upscale restaurants provide elegant ambiance and full service with high priced cuisine. Upscale restaurants often incorporate a professional designer to create the look and feel of the restaurant, and multiple chefs to design a menu with unique cuisine. Again, the look and feel of the restaurant should compliment the fine cuisine.
- Asian Cuisine - Specialize in Oriental food service.
- Breakfast Restaurant - Offers good value breakfast in a casual atmosphere.
- Dry Restaurants - Do not serve liquor.
- Casual Dining - Offers casual dining at good value in a family type of theme.
- Coffee Shop - Offers coffees, teas, and sandwiches, pastries and other light take out type of meals.
- Concession - Temporary locations such as sporting events, beaches, fairs or other temporary type of engagements. The menus are limited to pre-prepared foods and snacks.
- Delicatessens - Offers take out pre-prepared types of food items such as salads, sandwiches, soups.
- Ethnic Restaurants - These restaurants offer regional ethnic dishes.
- European Restaurants- Usually specialize in French, Italian, Spanish, etc. cuisine and can be a mid range or upscale establishment.
Typically, these take the most investment, but can have huge returns if you find steady clientele.
John Park
Chef John Park has been a chef for over 20 years and serial entrepreneur. Having opened more than handful of restaurants, Chef John also spends his time consulting for various food service restaurant equipment stores
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