The Pakistani Spectator

Running a restaurant is very hard work. Designing the menu, training waiters, knowing customers, keeping an eye on competition, indulging in the day to day running of the restaurant, etc. And a restaurant owner must have qualities such as passion, dedication, determination, and motivation to ensure the continuous and smooth running of his business.

An important thing in running a restaurant successfully is the right setting of the price of food items. The problem is not with food being expensive, as long as the quality is great. However, average quality food with unreasonable prices is a sure way of losing business. A very important factor is the waiting time before customers are served food. Many restaurant owners have few waiters/waitresses working at a time to save labour costs. This is very detrimental if it means that customers may get annoyed due to long waiting times, because they may never return again.

The training of waiters is very important. From the ability to make customers order more to exhibiting good manners. Many times I walk into a restaurant, and the find the waiters cursing non-stop under their breath at customers. When they are walking in the kitchen, out of the kitchen, serving food, taking orders, etc. I wonder at the lack of training of waiters and how pathetic the management is. Also, one thing is assured. I never go back to the restaurant again. Customers make or break a business.

A very important factor is the quality of food. It must look good, smell good, and taste good. It should be something different from what other restaurants are offering. That is a great way of differentiating one’s restaurant from others, and thus attracting more customers.

One thing that is not paid attention to, and is given the least important is parking space. There are restaurants where the food is very good and the prices are very reasonable, but it becomes very difficult for families to come to the restaurant as there is insufficient parking. Many people, before starting a restaurant, plan and arrange everything perfectly but overlook parking space. This becomes a source of regret later.

Also, keeping the restaurant open as long as possible throughout the day and as many days as possible in a week is a significant part of earning customers, which then enables a restaurant owner to earn money. It is not so much about earning money in a restaurant business as it is about earning customers, because you want them to come again and again.

And of course, follow the 3 old rules of business - location, location, location. Make sure the restaurant is situated in a place which will attract a lot of customers.