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Old 01-07-2012, 18:19
projekt
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Hi, I am just working on the idea of a new restaurant, which basically offers an alternative cuisine, for instance Portuguese, Belgian, Swedish...

As a customer, would this appeal to you? Also, what would you like to see from a restaurant that most do not offer already?

I would be grateful for any feedback,

Thanks, Adam
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Old 01-07-2012, 19:01
K's Kitchen
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Hi, I am just working on the idea of a new restaurant, which basically offers an alternative cuisine, for instance Portuguese, Belgian, Swedish...

As a customer, would this appeal to you? Also, what would you like to see from a restaurant that most do not offer already?

I would be grateful for any feedback,

Thanks, Adam

Cheaper prices, decent portions and most importantly - REAL MEAT!
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Old 01-07-2012, 19:03
K's Kitchen
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The economy in the state that its in - is ridiculous! I just DONT eat out or get takeaways anymore because of it! Sorry to say what I have said - but in all honest opinion.....wait til the economy is better before opening a new business - its just not worth the risk!
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Old 01-07-2012, 19:57
florene.t21
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Where will the restaurant be? I love Vietnamese food but have yet to find anywhere local to me selling it.

So open a Vietnamese restaurant in East Yorkshire near me and I promise to eat there twice a week!
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Old 01-07-2012, 20:09
AppleJuice:)
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Mexican. There's hardly any in UK.

Tacos, Buritos, Nachos.
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Old 01-07-2012, 20:35
breppo
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A cocktail bar where you serve Scotch eggs.
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Old 01-07-2012, 22:03
fast left
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what about these food trucks you see all around america? why not try something like that.cheap and less of a risk.
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Old 01-07-2012, 22:04
projekt
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Thanks for the replies, as nice as the coacktail bar idea sounds, it seems a bit too niche for me!

Isn't Chiquito's a Mexican restaurant, and I believe they're quite a big brand so the competition would probably be too much initially, and Vietnamese seems like a decent idea, but realistically would the market be there?

I also like the "real meat" comment, maybe cheap, "real food" is the way forward?

Keep the suggestions coming people, I'm grateful for them!
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Old 01-07-2012, 22:57
bikinikill
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I would be very interested in trying a new cuisine, and something European is a good idea, because while everyone "knows" Chinese food, Indian food etc, we don't tend to know the cuisine of places much closer to home!

Swedish food.. It's not my cup of tea a lot of the time. I don't really like dill, salmon or cardamom. And you'll get 'Ikea meatballs' comparisons!

I'd say deal with a cuisine that you know and are passionate about. That will come through in the quality of what you produce.
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Old 01-07-2012, 23:05
whoever,hey
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What about a new music venue aswell?
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Old 01-07-2012, 23:08
abarthman
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... Portuguese, Belgian, Swedish...
Well, Nandos do Portuguese food, Ikea restaurants do Swedish food and I'm not sure what Belgian food is - chips and mayonnaise, chocolate and waffles?

Open a Taco Bell franchise. There are only a few outlets at the moment, but, give it a few years, and they'll be on every high street.

I remember thinking the same when I first went to Florida and there were Subways everywhere.

Or a Krispy Kreme outlet in Scotland. Our nearest one is 200 miles away!
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Old 01-07-2012, 23:20
doom&gloom
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Mexican food no thanks, talk about ring of fire.
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Old 02-07-2012, 00:11
c4rv
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depends on your location and what food is already offered.

To the person saying that nandos covers all Portuguese food, you are selling Portuguese food very short.

And chiquitos is more tex-mex rather then mexican and its pretty standard chain stuff. Like saying frankie and bennys is italian.

As somebody else mentioned, restaurants are one of the hardest industries to succeed in and has one of the highest failure rates of any industry. Do you have any experience in the trade, managing or even working in a restaurant ?
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Old 02-07-2012, 09:42
big_hard_lad
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what about these food trucks you see all around america? why not try something like that.cheap and less of a risk.
I'd love to open a Food Truck. I wonder what the trading restrictions would be like on something like that in the UK....they seem to be a lot more relaxed about that sort of thing in the US.

Thanks for the replies, as nice as the coacktail bar idea sounds, it seems a bit too niche for me!

Isn't Chiquito's a Mexican restaurant, and I believe they're quite a big brand so the competition would probably be too much initially, and Vietnamese seems like a decent idea, but realistically would the market be there?

I also like the "real meat" comment, maybe cheap, "real food" is the way forward?

Keep the suggestions coming people, I'm grateful for them!
Yes, Chiquito's is a Mexican chain....but if you're doing good, homely, Mexican food, you could compete with them.

I think the most important consideration is the market that you're in. For example, someone said there aren't many Mexican restaurants in the UK....well, in Belfast we have Chiquito's for the standard chain fayre, we've also got a great local burrito bar that has two branches and another independent Mexican restaurant. The market probably couldn't take another.

There's no point opening a Swedish or Belgian restaurant in a town that has 4 or 5 of each already! Know what I mean?!
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Old 02-07-2012, 09:47
c4rv
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I'd love to open a Food Truck. I wonder what the trading restrictions would be like on something like that in the UK....they seem to be a lot more relaxed about that sort of thing in the US.
There is plenty of information online about obtaining licences for a pitch for food truck. Basically you can't just turn up and start trading. As you can imagine prime sites for a lot of money.

I should have mentioned having working in restaurant trade that its very hard to run your own place. You won't be getting any time off, the hours long and pay potentially crap. Do it if you love it but you will need to be really dedicated.
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Old 02-07-2012, 10:35
Utopian Girl
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A 'choice' of dishes for vegetarians. Plus, not all veggies like 'Goat's cheese' either, it's not just me. I'd stick to using cows milk version of cheeses as a rule - but then there are lactose intolerance diets too, I know.

But a few choices for veggies in general would be great - even meat eaters enjoy lots of them too. Sweetcorn fritters with chilli dipping sauce, a hot & sour Chinese style soup without the fish sauce etc, adding the choice of tofu if required, lots of Indian dishes are veggie & loved by most.
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Old 02-07-2012, 13:24
walterwhite
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BBQ for me. It's started to kick in in London but there are hardly any decent BBQ restaurants in the country other than London.
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Old 02-07-2012, 13:31
projekt
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I did think about a vegetarian restaurant, but I'm really not sure if the demand would be there at all. More vegetarian options can only be beneficial, I'm not a veggie but I've noticed that there's not much choice in a lot of the restaurants I've been to.

I understand about the Chiquito's thing, only thing is wouldn't it be difficult to compete when, in public perception, it's a Mexican restaurant?

Decent idea about Taco Bell, I'd have to say I agree with you, I'd imagine there is a lot of potential there.

I also agree with the point about Nando's and Portuguese food, it does sell "Portuguese" food, but basically is just chicken, and I'm not sure if many people would think it was a Portuguese restaurant.

In terms of experience, admittedly I don't have experience in the whole restaurant scene, but I am keen to open one and to learn as much as possible about it, obviously not just rushing into it without having a clue about what I'm doing.

whoever,hey - I don't see what's wrong with developing more than one business idea at once.
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Old 02-07-2012, 13:34
projekt
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Interesting suggestion about BBQ - is the demand there? I know a lot of people like the occasional BBQ dish, but would so many people go to a BBQ restaurant specifically? Genuine question, I really don't know how popular it is, and there's no real BBQ outlets locally to me so I've not really got a lot of info on it.
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Old 02-07-2012, 13:35
walterwhite
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Interesting suggestion about BBQ - is the demand there? I know a lot of people like the occasional BBQ dish, but would so many people go to a BBQ restaurant specifically? Genuine question, I really don't know how popular it is, and there's no real BBQ outlets locally to me so I've not really got a lot of info on it.
I think it's got great potential. The BBQ restaurants and food trucks that have opened in London have been very successful.

I'd eat it.
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Old 02-07-2012, 13:53
saladcream
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watch " diners drive ins and dives"

american dinners are so much better than english cafes. english cafs all have the same menu
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Old 02-07-2012, 16:58
doom&gloom
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Because of high immigration there are loads of towns developing their own ethnic areas, I bet in some you can make money opening a fried chicken place before 3 or 4 more open, once the competition comes in you can move to the next area of future urban blight.
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Old 02-07-2012, 17:39
halfacrown
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We have our own Fried Chicken chain here and they are much nicer than the well known international chain, http://www.herronscfc.com/index.asp. There is also a small converted pub near us who do brunches of tea and scones or mini fry up or bacon and syrup pancakes, lunch shifts the menu to Tapas menu and evening sees a shift to a wine bar, its a cosy wee place and the layout seems to work with all 3 functions and they are maximising their customer base, early shoppers and school run mums meet for brunch, office workers and afternoon shoppers make up the lunch customers and its busy at night with the wine bar clientele who want a quiet drink in nice surroundings.
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Old 02-07-2012, 17:46
degsyhufc
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what about these food trucks you see all around america? why not try something like that.cheap and less of a risk.
Funnily enough Food Network have just started to repeat their series about a Food Truck challenge.
And there are also programmes called Eat Street which is about Food Trucks throughout the US and Andy Bates' Street Food. This is a UK show which shows some food trucks but also many food stands at markets and festivals etc.
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Old 02-07-2012, 18:36
Pixie Queen
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What about a breakfast only menu all day every day?

Offer the Traditional British Cooked Breakfast with regional delicacies ie. black pudding, white pudding, ulster fry, lava bread and cockles etc. The North Americas' dream - pancakes with bacon and syrup. The continental - bread , cheese, ham and fruit. Not to forget eggs benedict or florentine. That sort of thing.

Most people I know secretly like to scoff cornflakes or porridge or boiled egg with soldiers at any time of the day ....

In fact I would love to go for poached egg on toast with the option on some great bacon after or before a night out.

You would have to use top notch sausage, bacon and other ingredients but I do think this is something to consider. I'm sure there is a sommelier who would be be able to advise of the wine to serve with each brekkie.
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