You know an idea is a “thing” when Harvard Business School commissions a study. An often-quoted Harvard research project claims positive Yelp reviews can increase sales by up to nine percent! The study, among others, also calls into question the reliability of reviews in Yelp, Zomato, Zagat, MenuPages and similar sites.  Many restaurateurs agree that review sites are […]

Many restaurateurs are always looking for the next big thing to drive traffic for the long haul.  Hey, who doesn’t want to catch the next culinary wave before it becomes “a thing?” The trick is identifying what truly is a trend… and what are simple stunts or fads.  Chef Andrew Hunter explains during this Wing It! […]

Large restaurant chain storefronts seem to be popping up everywhere.  And many offer great food, decent service and competitive prices — once the hallmark of the “local joint.” But independents fear not!  There are ways to compete — with solutions that are literally as close as your neighborhood.  Chef Andrew Hunter, who consults with restaurants large and […]

Mother’s Day remains the busiest holiday for many restaurants.  And while buffets seemingly rule the day, the National Restaurant Association says 62 percent of mom’s day celebrations feature casual dining versus just 15 percent with buffets. Dinner also is the favorite time for celebrating — not brunch! This got us thinking that some restaurants might […]

Chef Andrew talks about how to write menu descriptions that build an appetite!  A few simple tweaks to a boring menu description can drive a sandwich’s popularity and profit.  

The Super Bowl has become a favorite traffic-driving event for restaurants. But many fans crave comfort food that has a little more creativity than pizza, chips-and-dip and burgers. So, check out a few profitable ideas below that will break the routine and rev up your crowd.

Surveys find that delicious meal options play a large role in recruiting new students to a college or university.  The tremendous growth has now created a $17 billion industry focused on feeding students! Below are four trends that are driving the growth, according to market research firm Datassentials.  What’s happening at your campus dining facilities?

Using locally produced ingredients has been a hot trend in the restaurant industry for the past few years.  But many operators are still not convinced that the benefits of “local” outweigh the perceived extra costs and logistical challenges. Of course, no one model fits all.  Different restaurants have different needs to meet their customers’ desires, […]

Many restaurant managers often wonder if their menu designs are doing the job to inspire consumers on which dishes to order. There’s little doubt that the choice of fonts, colors, photos and the overall layout have an impact.  The challenge, however, is many of these factors are somewhat subjective based on personal preference! But recent […]

Want a simple business driver for your restaurant? Display all those beautiful sandwiches, sides and drinks by posting some simple photography on Yelp, Facebook, your own website and other online locations. Customers are drawn to visuals when searching for a new place to eat. Yes, the old cliché “we eat with our eyes” has some […]