The Last Oysterfest

So sad the last party in Buckheads East Village before they tear it down. Anyway oyesterfest ruled and Buckhead has not seen I party like this since St. Pattys day of 94. But thanks to Ray Lewis for ruining the fun for the rest of us.Here are some vids of the party and from inside the Lodge at East Village Grille  [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeCQpZTal2c]   [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtGn601bHpI][youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t9gAC0GvuE][youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6-OEsxE1QE] Some one made this so I felt compeled[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jgsUmN2Wm8]  

Tom Bianco saved Macaroni Grill $1.7 Million per year

Want to find out how Tom Bianco saved Macaroni Grill $1.7 Million per year just by changing one operational procedure? Call now and I will tell you 404-547-9668. Hi, My name is Tom Bianco, I love food, and the restaurant business and helping restaurants grow their business. My concept is simple: Give people what you want and you will get what you want. The hospitality business is one of the easiest businesses to get into; the problem is it is one of the hardest to stay in. Every day I see concepts that are dead in the water before they even lay the first brick. In this business it is what you don’t know that will kill you. But luckily for you, you found me and I am here to help you succeed. My Philosophy is simple. There are two things, traffic and sales. Increase your traffic and increase your sales. Every food service establishment is different. It is that difference that makes the difference. All have a USP/UVP, Unique Sales Proposition and a Unique Value Proposition to offer their customers. What is yours? Don’t know? Do your customers, bet they don’t either. I can show you yours and how to drive new and repeat traffic to your store using it. I have been in the restaurant business for over 15 years as an owner and consultant and have helped dozens of operations improve there operational efficiency, lower costs and increase sales and I can help you to. If you have any questions or comments about our products or services or would like to engage in an initial free consultation please contact me at 404-547-9668. You may also contact us by e-mail at: tom@atlanticconsultinginc.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Check out some of my testimonials: “Tom is a true talent at growing business” “he doubled business from $10k to $20K per week just by implementing one marketing concept” Mike Giovine-Wing Factory-Atlanta “Tom showed me how I should stop working in business and start working on my business, sales have jumped 30%” Linda Terral-Oterrals-Atlanta “I would have never gotten off the ground if Tom had not helped with the set up of my bar” “Surfer” Dave Showenburger – Cherries Egor City “Tom has got the know how to get it done” Scott Denny-The Palm Restaurant-Atlanta

Great Hot Dogs

ou know I love hot dogs and there are lots of great ways to prepare them. There are also lots of great places to get them, like the Varsity, where you can get a chili cheese dog or Sonic and get a Coney Island dog. Heck even Rally’s and Checkers is not bad. But I wanted to talk to you about convenience store hot dogs. Yes the kind on the roto grill See every Friday night I head out to see the team I help coach, the Riverwood Raiders. I don’t have time to get to the school and ride with the team and since they have no stadium this year, I have to meet them wherever they play on game day. Most teams have a pregame meal and this year they are lucky to have Roasters Chicken and Ribs cater the pregame. So by not being there I have to grab some thing on the road. Needing a paper to check out who is playing and to see if Dearal Maxie picked us to loose, I stop at the local QT if I can find one. If not I am in trouble. QT does a great job and the dogs are only .99 cents. But I was thinking what other convenience stores have really good dogs? Most stores let them dry out, get overcooked, and nasty. The Chevron next to North Spring High School sure does. So I got to thinking and could only come up with one, a little place in Brookhaven. The Mom and Pop Food Store. Now there is no Mom and Pop, well not any more. It is run by two Indian Guys and they take pride in there Dogs. 1. They always have some on the roto grille and 2. They are always cooked just right, see they rotate them. We all know how good they are so we all eat them and then they don’t go bad. And they don’t go bad because they take care of them so we will eat them. See how that works. Give people what they want and you get what you want. But the great thing about them is not the dogs themselves, but the fresh salsa the guys make every day. Fresh Tomatoes, Onions, and Jalapenos chopped up and in the chiller waiting to be put on a dog. Fresh every day. Now I know you are saying Salsa/Pico on dog, what? Yes, Yes, Yes. It is that good. I have at least one a week and a coke. I have no idea what they cost, like $1.25 or some thing. But they are good. So the next time you are in Brookhaven go see the guys at the Mom and Pop food store on Dresden Dr. You won’t regret it.

Fox Sports Grille

The next big sports theme! First it was The Lodge at EVG and $3 Cafe, then Frankie’s at the Prado. In the Late 90’s it was ESPN zone. Now it Fox Sports Grille. When you walk in and the huge 600 sq ft reception area meets you with marble floors and hip décor your saying, this ant your daddy’s sports bar. I was meeting some people there so I walked in to the bar not really interacting with the host staff but they were in full command. Semi-standard restaurant tables and bar stools accompany a host of comfy lounge chars along with bench sofa for kicking back. Two dinning rooms, one accompanying there bar and the other in a separate room that can be converted for private parties are tastefully decorated. It looks more like an upscale restaurant than a sports bar. Plenty of large HD Flat screens, but no big screens to detract from the décor, which is a different approach than most sports grills, but here it really works and who needs it. You can see every game from anywhere. The service is efficient an attentive. I was most impressed with the kitchens ability to turn and not burn the food out. The BOH put it on the rail and the staff got it out. There were seven of us, three of us ordered the mix green salad that, arrived minutes after we ordered. Mixed greens accompanied with tomatoes, red onions, and croutons your typical salad done up a little. I got ranch dressing on the side; ask for more because the 1.5 oz ramekin is way to small to cover the average size salad. The ranch dressing is good and seems to be house made, or at least house constructed. I ordered the Prime Rib French Dip, and FF, it comes with a variety of side options, Au ju, and a very good horseradish mayo, also house made, but I got the FF. The portions over all I thought were a bit undersized for the price, but the French Dip was as good as it gets. My wife Kim, She sells wedding favors, Got the Chipotle BBQ Sandwich, she said it was very good, but I bit to spicy, she is pregnant so she may be a bit sensitive right know. I was starting to get very impressed with the décor, food, and service, but they had one major flaw. Bathrooms, they were just inconceivably messy, and they had a bathroom valet. I was at the UGA game the night before and the bathroom, although not as nice, were cleaner than the one today, sorry big time NO NO in my book! That’s scary. Hey do this fire the bathroom valet cause he is not doing anything and hire someone to clean the facility every thirty minutes. Other than that its cool. Next time. We will hang in the bar and stay a while

Remember Why You are Here

Every day you need to stress the importance of the guests your staff and how it affects your establishment Guests, and that is what they are, guests, not patrons or customers. 1. Our guest is the most important person in our business. 2. Our guests are not dependent on us. We are dependent on them. 3. Our guests are not an interruption of our work. They are the purpose of it. 4. Our guests do us a favor when they come in. We are not doing them a favor by waiting on them. 5. Our guests are parts of our business — not outsiders. 6. Our guests are not just money in the cash register. They are human beings with feelings, just like us. 7. Our guests are people who come to us with their needs and wants. It is our job to fill them. 8. Our guests deserve the most courteous attention we can give them. They are the lifeblood of this and every business. They make it possible for each of us to receive a pay check. 9. Without our guests we would have to close the doors of our restaurant. If you forget these simple things, your guests will forget you.

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