If you dream of running a profitable and successful restaurant without the grueling hours and massive overhead that drive so many such businesses into the ground, consider adding an all-you-can-eat buffet
A More Efficient Restaurant Model
Buffet dining turns the customer into waiter — a waiter you don't have to pay. When a healthy percentage of your clientele frequents the buffet instead of ordering off the menu, your need for full-time wait staff shrinks. The fewer people you have to pay, the wider your profit margin grows.
Food is cheaper when you serve it in bulk instead of preparing it to order. More food means that you can take advantage of wholesale rates to control your inventory costs.
Investing in Success
The return on investment you enjoy from your all-you-can-eat buffet depends in part on your ability to read the marketplace. Do some research to understand where there is need for a particular cuisine. Having the only taco bar or build-your-own-sundae counter in the area could bring in customers. Offering a different "theme" buffet every night can create predictable, consistent customers who look forward to your themed buffets. The flexibility of a buffet
model helps you to reach a larger audience by offering various cuisines such as Chinese, Italian, steak, or soup/salad.
Offer upscale choices to avoid the appearance of "cheap eats.” Choices such as fresh sushi, Mongolian fare cooked to order, and a fancy dessert bar can attract diners who might not usually frequent a buffet.
Practical Considerations
A buffet requires investing in a different layout than your typical restaurant. You will have to place hot and cold tables in central locations with plenty of space around each station, sufficiently far away from tables and booths to maintain customer privacy and avoid congestion. Each station must include the necessary equipment to keep up with health code such as heating elements, sneeze guards and other provisions to ensure fresh, hot food as well as a safe dining experience.
When you think about how an all-you-can-eat buffet helps you control restaurant overhead and maximize profits, it only makes sense to look into this model in more detail. So set out the plates, decide on the dishes and set your table for a more diverse business!
