Robots in our restaurants, is this the wave of the future? A mechanical engineer, Deepak Dekar thinks so. Sekar, founder of Casabots in San Francisco thinks so. He has developed a robot that can make salad supposedly faster, safer and more efficiently than humans. Sekar also says robots won’t take human jobs, because there are some things they won’t be as good at. I’m not so sure I agree with that or that I want a robot preparing my food. Read on to see what you think of his plan.

Key Takeaways:

• Since human hands don’t touch the food, there’s less chance for foodborne illness to occur, he claims
• Once a customer programs the robot to make his or her salad, prep time is about 40 to 50 seconds
• robots wouldn’t be good servers; they don’t have the human touch. Robots will be good for doing more menial tasks.

“Sekar says robots will become increasingly affordable over time”

http://www.restaurantnewsresource.com/article90917.html

With so many options as far as restaurants these days it can be hard to choose. But, understanding the marketing for it can be even harder. Knowing what outlets and how to utilize them is a big part of the ball game. Talking with some experts we learn that social media and being involved in the restaurant world around you will give you some amazing ideas on how to promote your business.

Key Takeaways:

• With 60% of new restaurants failing within the first year of opening, sustaining a restaurant can be a continuous battle
• But customer experience and customer service remain fertile opportunities for standing above the mass of competitors.
• Value that drives loyalty starts with creating a reason for one additional visit.

“Too many restaurants care too little about retention, placing much emphasis on outbound marketing and the attraction of new customers, with comparatively little attention paid to keeping the customers they’ve already paid to get.”

http://buildfire.com/restaurant-marketing-ideas/

Day after day, you strive to satisfy customers at your restaurant by delivering quality service and delicious food but how do you achieve that? Whether you implement a no cell phone policy to eliminate distractions, set stricter attendance guidelines for the undependable or enforce a behavioral plan for employee disagreements, making sure your staff stays on track will allow you to focus on other areas of your business. Touch base with each employee for a one-minute-meeting. Giving staff the opportunity to find out the expectations for the day, and give you the chance to set goals for them. Set up a weekly or monthly challenge for hostesses, cooks and wait, staff. This will also allow you to share your expectations for your employees, whether discussing prep for the upcoming holiday season or how to manage time more efficiently.

Key Takeaways:

• making sure your staff stays on track will allow you to focus on other areas of your business.
• Always document any disciplinary measures and keep in a confidential employee file.
• Your team will follow your example — make sure you make the most of it.

“”Your staff is the backbone of your business. Their behavior impacts how your business runs. But, as the boss, you’re responsible for making sure their behavior doesn’t negatively affect your business””

http://www.foodservice.com/blogs/show.cfm?contentid=103914