The Benefits of Running a Family-Style Restaurant
These days, it seems like there are more types of restaurants than one can count. There are brew pubs, which serve craft beer and bar food. There are fusion restaurants, which serve creative cuisine combinations. Then you have your diners, fast-casual places, and sushi bars. If you're thinking of opening a restaurant, what direction should you go? One good option is to stick with an old stand-by: opening a family-style restaurant. Here are a few benefits of going this route.
You can keep the dishes pretty basic.
At a family-style restaurant, you generally want to keep the dishes pretty simple because they need to appeal to all ages. Kids tend to be less adventurous eaters. Your menu can be mostly items like burgers, pasta dishes, and sliced meats with sides. Your chefs can throw in a creative or experimental dish here and there, but that won't be the predominant focus. With a more basic menu, your chefs and cooks can really focus on perfecting the dishes they make. It's often easier to find staff that can prepare this type of food well, too, which makes hiring easier.
You can be open shorter hours.
Nobody expects a family-style restaurant to be open until 1 or 2 am. You can open for lunch, and then close by 9 or 10 pm if you wish. You could probably even close earlier on weekdays without disappointing anyone since few customers with children are going to come dine after 8 pm. Shorter opening hours make it easier to schedule staff. They also reduce the hours your staff have to work, which makes for happier staff and lower labor costs on your end. With shorter opening hours, it is also easier to schedule services like plumbing and cleaning. You can have the professionals come in when the business is closed.
You don't have to get a liquor license.
Some family-style restaurants have liquor licenses and serve alcohol, but it is completely normal expected for you not to get one. This can save you a lot of money, since applying for a liquor license is costly in many states. It also means you won't have to hire bartenders or worry about bar-related issues, which can be a breath of fresh air compared to other restaurant concepts.
If you want to open a restaurant with easy scheduling, shorter hours, and a simple menu, then go for a family-style concept. There are plenty of families out there who would be glad to dine with you.
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