I had a pizza delivery at my house last week but, sadly, the Caesar salad we had ordered was missing. No big deal, we had plenty of salad in the refrigerator and were happy to have our pizza. We needed to eat quickly to get to a basketball game. A half hour later the doorbell … Continued
The best management teams are balanced, cover each other’s blind spots and use their time wisely to make outstanding decisions. On February 7, I volunteered along with a group of restaurant industry professionals to staff and judge the 2012 Dallas Regional Texas ProStart Restaurant Competition. The event was sponsored by the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association and Texas … Continued
Last week, I had the opportunity to dine at Café Des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the flagship of Chef Thierry Blouet’s empire. I didn’t realize it would also be an opportunity to witness exemplary teamwork. Chef Blouet’s award-winning restaurant offers a spirited competition for high standards between food and atmosphere, with service not far … Continued
How to Keep Marginal Employees From Going Bad – View Source Article (PDF Format) Restaurant Startup & Growth – November 2010 by Matthew Mabel The true test of a great manager is the number of employees they have turned around, not the terminations. You can fire all the people you want, but you are not … Continued
The idea of building a business through great customer service is not selective. It does not discriminate, devalue customers’ opinion or take away their options. The dining survey and commentary organization, Zagat, now owned by your friends at Google, recently published “The 10 Most Controversial Restaurant Policies.” “No substitutions” was one of them. Split charges … Continued
One Night Only – View Source Article September 7, 2011 By: Jeffrey Yarbrough, Matthew Mabel It takes a lot of skill to be a successful professional nightclub and bar owner. It’s unlikely that you are going to be both an expert in your core profession and an expert in booking live talent. Still, you need … Continued
Pour Systems for the Real World – View Source Article May 2, 2011 By: Matthew Mabel – Night Club and Bar Magazine Balancing Cost Control With Staff Relations and Guest Experience Makes the Most of a Pour System You are an experienced industry professional. You know how to control your pour costs: use recipes; train, … Continued
Make Your First Time Manager Read This – View Source Article (PDF Format) Restaurant Startup & Growth – April, 2011 Matthew Mabel Moving into your first restaurant management position can be a daunting transition. And if it’s at one of the top restaurants in your area, that just ramps up the pressure. Just ask Vianei … Continued
How to Conduct an Effective Weekly Operations Meeting – View Source Article (PDF Format) By Matthew Mabel The weekly operational meeting is an absolute information and innovation machine – the most valuable time for your restaurant in the whole week. It is a time devoted to the issues surrounding how your business can increase its … Continued