Just read an article in Nation’s Restaurant News about the state of restaurants in the U.S. and it appears that independent restaurants closed the most, while chains kept rather level.
This could be sending a message to the small and independent restaurants that we all love the most. They can include a pizzeria, bistros, the many chinese and mexican restaurants, to fine dining establishments, among others. It is brutal out there and restaurants need to adapt to this economy or they will be left behind. I do not like chain restaurants that much, they tend to be cookie cutter in atmosphere and in food. However, if the article is correct they are not suffering as much as your local restaurants are. I think it could be perception, this is only my opinion of course. When a family, a couple on a first date, retirees, friends, and others go out to eat they look at what they have in disposable income to spend and many choose a chain just because they “think” it is less money to dine there. Well, it often is not. Also, do you really have an enjoyable experience at a low to mid price range chain?
Now there are high end chains that are very good, Morton’s comes to mind among others. However, I am zeroing in on family restaurants with more low to mid range pricing. What consumers need to know is that most small restaurants are priced in the low to mid price range and offer a better dining experience and a personal one at that. However, while they know how to cook great meals, many also lack marketing knowledge or a budget to do so. Some are also mismanaged and this is where some of the problems are as well.
While some of the independents need to address advertising, marketing, and promotions, they also need to look at not only the front of the house, but the back of the house as well. What can you do? When thinking about dining out, go to the Internet and pull up your local restaurants, look at their menus and hopefully they will have their current pricing. From that you will have an idea of not only what you would like for lunch or dinner before you go, but you can also add it up and compare that to a chain. If they do not have a website or the website does not have a menu (bad move on their part), call them up and ask for them to scan a menu and e-mail it to you or fax you a copy.
You will find that you do not always have to dine at a chain and you should have a more enjoyable and relaxing dining experience. If you like wine with dinner (most reading this do!) and you choose to stay home thinking the wine at the restaurant will be over priced, see if they have their wine list online too or call them up and ask for a copy. Many restaurants will even allow you to bring in a bottle of wine for a small charge, you should ask about their “corkage fee” policy. Most restaurants these days should have wines by the glass and works quite well with various courses. If they do not – they should, and not the house wine either but a nice selection of wines by the glass.
Bottom line, our local restaurants at all price levels need our support to stay in business. Please choose your local restaurants when you can. You will also be contributing back to your local economy, keeping your restaurants and all their sub-industries in business, and will help keep your local community employed.
Do not stop going to your favorite chains if you really like them, just think about all the other choices you have as well.
Nation’s Restaurant News full article.
Cheers then Enjoy!
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