Are buffets profitable for restaurants? They certainly can be but you do have to go about it in the right way. Many customers love being able to get their food quickly when they come in. They may not have very much time or they may have small children that aren't good at waiting. They also like to have a huge selection of foods instead of having to decide on a certain plate off the menu.
It is important to offer the very best foods to your customers for a buffet and quick appetizers. They will be looking for homemade mashed potatoes and fresh baked bread. If you take short cuts to save time and money on such items chances are they won't be coming back. Why should they pay money for food that isn't exceptional? You also need to make sure the food on display is fresh and that there is plenty to choose from.
Prices are a number one complaint of customers though when it comes to a buffet style restaurant. They want to price to be parallel to the types of foods that will be offered. Keep this in mind when you are planning your menu as well as setting the prices you are going to charge. A buffet can be a good choice for families but they still need to be able to afford the asking price to enjoy it.
Consider offering a variety of prices on the buffet depending on what time of day it is. Weekdays may be cheaper than weekends if you offer something extra on the weekend such as steak or prime rib. You should charge less for children and for the elderly than you do for adults that come in to eat. This is a great way for the entire family to get a meal they can afford at your restaurant.
You definitely need to make sure you have reliable staff with a buffet too though. They need to keep their eyes open for spills and for empty containers of food on the buffet line. They also need to keep plenty of plates and silverware stacked up. They can clear away plates from the tables and even help families get everything to the table.
It does cost plenty of money to set up and operate a successful buffet restaurant, that is for sure. Yet if you go about it correctly you will be able to make much more money than you spend. Don't be afraid that your guests are going to eat more than they pay for it as that rarely happens. It is somewhat of a trick I guess you would say though as many of them think they definitely ate more than what they paid for.
Do your best to keep the cost of your food items low, but at the same time don't sacrifice the quality of what you offer. You can compare prices from different providers to see who can offer you the best prices. You can also buy in large quantities to get discounts. You may get more of a discount if you pay by check when your supplies are delivered instead of waiting for an invoice to be sent to you.
Do all you can to keep your other sources of overhead income low as well. They include wages, utilities, paying for the building, dishes, and decor. You will need to have a good estimate of how much you can afford in each of these areas. Make necessary adjustments accordingly in order to get the most benefit from it. You definitely want as much of the money that you bring in to stay available to you as possible.
It is important to offer the very best foods to your customers for a buffet and quick appetizers. They will be looking for homemade mashed potatoes and fresh baked bread. If you take short cuts to save time and money on such items chances are they won't be coming back. Why should they pay money for food that isn't exceptional? You also need to make sure the food on display is fresh and that there is plenty to choose from.
Prices are a number one complaint of customers though when it comes to a buffet style restaurant. They want to price to be parallel to the types of foods that will be offered. Keep this in mind when you are planning your menu as well as setting the prices you are going to charge. A buffet can be a good choice for families but they still need to be able to afford the asking price to enjoy it.
Consider offering a variety of prices on the buffet depending on what time of day it is. Weekdays may be cheaper than weekends if you offer something extra on the weekend such as steak or prime rib. You should charge less for children and for the elderly than you do for adults that come in to eat. This is a great way for the entire family to get a meal they can afford at your restaurant.
You definitely need to make sure you have reliable staff with a buffet too though. They need to keep their eyes open for spills and for empty containers of food on the buffet line. They also need to keep plenty of plates and silverware stacked up. They can clear away plates from the tables and even help families get everything to the table.
It does cost plenty of money to set up and operate a successful buffet restaurant, that is for sure. Yet if you go about it correctly you will be able to make much more money than you spend. Don't be afraid that your guests are going to eat more than they pay for it as that rarely happens. It is somewhat of a trick I guess you would say though as many of them think they definitely ate more than what they paid for.
Do your best to keep the cost of your food items low, but at the same time don't sacrifice the quality of what you offer. You can compare prices from different providers to see who can offer you the best prices. You can also buy in large quantities to get discounts. You may get more of a discount if you pay by check when your supplies are delivered instead of waiting for an invoice to be sent to you.
Do all you can to keep your other sources of overhead income low as well. They include wages, utilities, paying for the building, dishes, and decor. You will need to have a good estimate of how much you can afford in each of these areas. Make necessary adjustments accordingly in order to get the most benefit from it. You definitely want as much of the money that you bring in to stay available to you as possible.
