Karaoke Forums

I think ML may be talking about good food quality in a satisfying quantity at a reasonable price.  For a lot of people, great tasting food but in small portions and at a higher price won't do.  The taste is there but not the value (bang for the buck so to speak).

well we have our share of franchise chains in the area that offer just that, I guess we need a point of difference

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

One of the two "Tony's Baltimore Grille" is still there in Atlantic City.  I've no idea who runs it as my mom sold it not long after my dad's death.  The fact that they kept the name indicates how popular it was (and continues to be I suppose--I've not been back there since 1988).  He also owned and operated the "Paddock Club" on Atlantic Avenue and I can clearly remember listening to the musicians and singers that would appear there; one especially was a singer named Skippy Devine (a local favorite) whose theme song was "Red Roses for a Blue Lady"---I must have quite a long memory to recall that.

We have a million restaurants here and probably have gone to at least half of them, (yeah, we eat out way too often).  I have to agree with what almost everyone said--service, food, value & atmosphere are all components.  But food and service I think have to BOTH be there to keep me going back.  I can't stand lack of quality of either one.  And I can't stand this new thing I've seen lately where the wait person doesn't write down your order and tries to memorize it only to come back and ask you again and again.... or worse, get it completely wrong and you have to wait for them to re-do it.  They should treat you like you are their ONLY customer cuz more than likely you'll keep coming back for more.

Entertainment is a nice bonus.   We like to go to restaurants that offer karaoke or have a Mariachi band that sings table to table or anything that makes the whole experience even better.  I remember when I was single there was a restaurant that had a phone on every table with a number above your table.  If you eyed a hunky guy a few tables over, you could call him on the phone and chat a little.  There was also sort of an "announcer" who would take messages for people.  For instance, if so-and-so at table 3 had the hots for the chick at table 6 but was too shy, he'd call this guy and he'd announce it over the PA for the girl to call him, .  Needless to say, the concept was geared towards single people.  

Now, what can you make your hook? I can't tell you.  I think a successful restaurant is one whose reputation stands the test of time.  It has to be consistently great in every way and put the customer first.  That's true of any business, though.  Maybe you should put suggestion forms and ask your customers what they think.  What do they want to see?

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OMG I love that singles idea what a great concept and I could see us doing a night like that.
But it would have to be a specialty night

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

One sign of good service is if the waiter stays polite and friendly if you ask for something to be cooked a little longer, substituted because the order was wrong or some such mistake was made.

the manager has a staff meeting on friday to discuss service. Until that issue is resolved I cant move forward. Not saying we provide appalling service we dont, but we have to ensure all sections of the whole are working 100%
This of course includes the menu.
Then we can work on the ambience. At present it is an outdated hotel dining room. Far too big under normal circumstances yet the extra room is required for special occaisions.
I am leaning toward more modern colours and screens that will allow us to screen off much of the area when necessary, giving the feeling of intimacy.
The carpet is abominal and has to go.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

People come back for the food....you see many places where people, week after week show up to wait in long lines for a table, and then wait another hour or more for their meal.....that's not good service. Luly is the only one that mentioned "Circus", and I always see the food critics giving a grade for food, and another for circus......service doesn't seem to get scored by them.....must be a distant 3rd.....

on the contrary I have been reading a UK website where the public critique the restaurants
Service in many cases is the number one deciding factor
The food can be adequate even good but its the service in the UK that will make or break

having been there I can understand that...there is no service at the average place you walk into off the street, therefore if you were to book and pay better than average prices for a meal over there then service would have to be paramount

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Vicki, is the general concensus that your place is having problems with the service and atmosphere?  Not so much a problem with the food?

thats a hard one to answer Don. I think the concensus is that it is inconsistent and the decor is old
www.hotelash.co.nz

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

So maybe you want to update the decor and make things a little less formal to appeal to a younger more modern clientele? I'm just guessing here.  It does look like a very nice place though!  :)

it is a nice place, and yep decor desperately needs updating
But I believe we need to delve deeper.  Its just a matter of researching so as the decisions made are informed rather than knee jerk

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Good service can be found with a waitstaff that is not overworked. Between 4 and 6 4-tops per waitperson. And I prefer assigned areas of the restaurant so they are not running themselves to death between tables.

Dimmer lights can not only increase the feeling of intimacy, during a rush it will increase your table turns because after the meal people will leave. Bright lights are for kiddie restaurants.

If you want to build the crowd based on hotel guests, decorate to their taste. If it is blue-haired old ladies, stay away from chrome and glass. The Clearwater Gardens name is scrumptious if you are going to keep it.

Stay consistent in developing an ambience--if the decor is blue and green, don't print menus in red because red ink was on sale at the printer.

Advertise. If nobody KNOWS it is a nice place, it doesn't really matter if it is nice anyhow.

If you are pursuing the conference trade, how about a Grand Re-Opening? Invite the Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau en masse (depending on size) and a few choice honchos separately.

If any of these ideas help, send money, please.  LMAO

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[glow=darkorchid]Musica delenit bestiam feram[/glow]

Ok, one more thing...get more and better mention of the restaurant on the website! There is no mention of it on the Facilities page, only...
"Sky TV in Turf Sports Bar, Lounge and accommodation rooms"

From the Information page...
"Our Restaurant is regarded as one of the best in our District."
By whom?


Ok gotta get ready for work now.

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[glow=darkorchid]Musica delenit bestiam feram[/glow]

I looked at the site and saw nothing wrong from the pictures that is.... Looks fine!!!

For myself the most Important aspects as to this subject are:

(1) Great Food.

(2) Great Service....As in - The waitstaff....Do they make sure you never run out of tea or whatever you are drinking?? How is there over all attitude...Is it very pleasant and nice??? or bland and or cranky???

If they are pleasant and nice and make sure we are satisfied with our meal and are making sure we have what we need.....As in asking several times...How is your meal?? can I get you anything??? waitstaff should never let the customer run out of tea or what ever the customer is drinking and must always be nice and helpful.

(3) Price.....The food must be Great and at the same time not be too expensive!!

example:
venue x ....Has chef's who are pro's at what they do and the menu is full of exotic items and the cost of one meal per person is $200 which includes the best service money can buy.....But the food although exotic as it is...It isnt very good!!!

venue o ....Has Great cooks/chef's and has the same exellent service as venue x But!!! instead of the meal costing $200 per plate per person and the food not being good as like venue x....Instead venue o has Great food exotic or not....and it only cost between $17 to $25 per plate per person!!!!!

Between venue x and venue o:

We will visit venue x ...one time per year!!!

We will visit venue o ...once to twice per week or atleast twice per month!!!


(4) clean....The place we continue to go back to on a regular basis is like the venue o example and is always very clean!!!!!!!


Hope this helps in some small way.  

Oh and I do agree about the bright lighting thing....I want to take my wife somewhere where the lights are dim with a candle on the table to have that Romantic type setting.  :drool:

Now if it is Breakfast or mid day lunch then the bright lighted area is fine.  :)

I have to disagree with that.  The food can be total crap, and people will keep comming back if they think they are getting a value.  Every noon, in my town, McDonnalds is packed inside, and 15+ cars in the drive thru.  There is a DQ 1 block away, that grills their burgers, and makes a decent meal (for fast food), and they by far kick McD's butt.  But it cost about $1 per person to eat at DQ, and therfore they do about 1/8 the biz McD's does.

Again, there is no ONE thing that will make a resturaunt, but ONE thing can break a resturaunt.

Hey Anthony....your on to something there!! Micky D's Has a play ground for the kids!!

Vicki....If they install a play ground for the kids like Mcdonalds did for fast food, then maybe your place will draw the family crowd!!!  The kids will bug there parents to death!!!! Saying....I wanna go there cause they got a play ground!!  LMAO

Gigi I lubs you  :hug:  there are some great points there. And yeah there definately will be a relaunch. They have been guilty of having all lights blazing which puts some off dining. Harsh lighting doesnt favour older women.
lmao having said that the last time I did a gig in the restaurant was halloween as you probably recall...I insisted on the lights being dimmed and the candles lit on tables. Our bloody wine waiter spilt a tray of drinks all over a lady because she moved quickly trying to manoever into position to read the menu in dim light

It was a bit of a disaster

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

yuk children!!!
Sweety you had some great points in the post before this was just about to copy and paste...but we have a mcds, we have other children friendly restaurant that allow the little horrors to roam wild and scream at the top of their lungs disturbing the diners...we dont wish to compete for that trade.

My gut feeling is we do take the whole fine dining thing away and reduce the price of meals and make it better value for money.
Our main point of difference between us and anywhere else in the district is the beauty of the garden outside. I would like to carry the garden inside as well. We call it the Clearwater Garden Restaurant, so why not foliage insded as well.
Jesse what the pics dont show is the bright red carpet is threadbare and clashes terribly with the wine coloured walls.
It is also lifting around the dance floor area and is stuck down with duct tape

kinda ruins the look  LMAO

Thank you all, I am gaining such an insight into how people regard dining its fabulous I appreciate the input from you all

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."