What would your restaurant be?
If anyone has been watching Last Restaurant Standing on BBC America, you may have noticed that there are some really interesting restaurant concepts being tauted, including a really great-looking Ghanian one that I would like to try.
So, if you were to open a restaurant, what kind would it be and what would you offer? Casual? Upscale? Fast food, even? And if you are really imaginative, where would you have it?
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41 Comments:
My roommate and I have already figured this one out--Nacho Town. Not only gourmet types of standard Mexican nachos, but Italian nachos, Chinese nachos, veggie nachos, pretty much any type of cuisine, but in nacho form. We have a list of ideas for almost all "ethnicities" of food to turn into nachos. Dessert nachos included! We think it'd go over pretty great in a college town....
emes1 at 12:11PM on 03/06/08
Ohhh I spend so much time on this. Mine would be served dim sum style, with a steam cart, a cold cart and a frying cart, but it wouldn't just have dim sum, it would have all kinds of wonderful treats--Roasted Marrow bones, pates, anything with strange animal parts, beautifully roasted veggies. Think I could do a roasting cart?
I know it would be hard on the profitibility, because of waste and labor for that, but man, how hard is it to resist delicious looking and smelling things??
dagoose at 12:18PM on 03/06/08
Gastro-pub, here in austin.
renzata at 12:30PM on 03/06/08
Like I haven’t dreamed about this for forever. It would be a rustic bistro. It would serve things like beef bourguignon and cassoulet and my mom’s hassenpfeffer and mussles meuniere and goulash and osso bucco and rough pâtés* and crusty bread and stinky cheeses and apple tarts. We’d have a list of good wines at under $30 a bottle, even if that meant a much reduced profit margin (it kills me what the markup is in NY for a bottle of wine) and good solid beers. The kind of food I love, which is I guess, essentially the various soul foods of France, Italy and Germany.
It would have brick walls and a fireplace and the specials would be written on a slate board.
All I have to do is win the lottery and then beg Andree and Charlie Abramoff, the owners/chef/host of the since closed, awesome Café Crocodile (I went by there one day and it was just – gone. I was devastated.) to come out of retirement.
It would be so amazing. Just thinking about it makes me all happy and warm. Sigh.
*For the record, I hate pâté, but I seem to be in the minority so I'd include it on my otherwise perfect for MEEEE menu.
chisai at 1:07PM on 03/06/08
Casual Japanese restaurant near where I work - - between a major university and hospitals. It would serve ramen, udon, curry rice, etc. (comfort food for Japanese students) and sushi.
Cassaendra at 2:40PM on 03/06/08
I think that, since I can and do cook, but I prefer to bake, I would have to have a bakery. However, it wouldn't just be a standard bakery, it would be located in a nice re-modeled/updated old warehouse or mansion or someplace with a lot of historic background, which would be incorporated into the decor. On top of that, the palce would really be a place like a nice coffee shop, though the focus wouldn't be entirely on baked goods, or desserts, but on sandwiches like focaccia or ciabatta or rustic rye.
I know, I know - there are a lot of places like that in the world - but, there weren't any in a lot of the places that I have lived. Or now, they have all been shut down and turned into something like a mobile phone shop or a Starbucks. And having a nice place to read, do homework, chat with friends and family, who doesn't want something like that? Don't get me wrong, I frequent the local Starbucks (or Caribou) as much as lot of other people, but that's more for the convenience (travel time and money) than anything else, especially since I live in a suburb. But, it would just be nice to have that option. Plus, it would give me yet another excuse to try new things (like daily specials) and see how they work.
As for location? Just somewhere where there is a need for it, but ideally (and I am really dreaming on this one, I know) somewhere in Europe or Japan/Korea. You never know. It could happen. Stranger things have.
Traveller at 3:36PM on 03/06/08
closed
srhcb at 5:23PM on 03/06/08
Breakfast and Lunch Bistro. Homemade soup, salads, tea and pastries.
Open at 7 close at 3. Everyone who knows a good thing would want to go there and those who like crap junk food would never get it.
Prices would be insane but worth it.
I could make everything brunch sexy again.
JerzeeTomato at 5:41PM on 03/06/08
"Meat on a Stick" - the world's best yakitori shop, with a brilliant beer list. It'll be open only from 8 pm till 3:30 am. Also, if you order the weird stuff (chicken skin, gizzards, what have you), you get free beer.
lorelei76 at 10:19PM on 03/06/08
southern soul-food, just updated and lightened up. And it would have those old-school southern desserts. biscuits not from a bag/box/can.
beth1 at 10:33PM on 03/06/08
a twist on street food from india, basically a chaat stand.
all kinds of indian street food, counter style seating, fun, casual
browntown at 11:13PM on 03/06/08
I don't know if it's necessarily what I'd want to do, but the perfect restaurant for my town would be one that served regional favorites. Chicago and NY pizza, crab cakes, Kentucky hot browns, chicken and waffles...different regional sandwiches, soups, drinks, hot dogs...whatever passes for local casual cuisine that's not usually served in other parts of the country. Maybe one food item and one beverage item from each state, and if there are multiple favorites, change the menu on some scheduled basis. Nothing too complicated. No barbecue.
The reason I think this would be a winner is that if you walked down Main Street (and yes, the main street is called Main Street) and accosted a hundred random strangers and asked them "where are you from?" 98 of them would name a different city and state as their birthplace. And they all crave some specialty from "back home" that they can't get here.
So a restaurant that recreated those regional favorites would be a big hit with people who missed the food, and would be an interesting experiment for those who had never tried these odd regional things.
And of course, all that traveling and tasting I'd have to do would make for a wonderful tax writeoff.
A restaurant that I think would be fun would be one where the menu changed daily based on what was fresh and what I felt like making, with few choices, a small dining room, and high prices. It would fail spectacularly here.
Or an exclusive bakery, where I'd make several batches of bread each day, one or two standards, maybe. And then one or two on my whim. No special orders, you have to come in and get what's there. And then just sell the bread until its gone for the day or when I deem that the workday is done. Bucking the trend of bakeries being open early, maybe I'd schedule the day so that the bread would be available either at lunch time, or when people were going home from work.
dbcurrie at 11:53PM on 03/06/08
It would have to be a brewpub that features a number of beers that I brew. Everything about it would be seasonal and I don't mean the produce I mean the menu items. Hearty items like cassoulet, lasagna, wellingtons in the winter. The fall would have things like spit roasted game, wild salmon, braised ribs. Summer would see enchiladas, curries, tagine. And always beers that reflected the menu. Stouts and porters in the cold months with barrel aged barlywines for after. Dunkelweiss and hoppy IPA's when it's hot.
Yeah that sounds nice. Now I just need a lot of money and some wise fool to run it for me.
Bunnyman at 12:17AM on 03/07/08
MMMmmm....something with a homemade dessert focus.
JEP at 5:33AM on 03/07/08
Real North Carolina BBQ in the NY/NJ area... we DESPERATELY need an authentic southern BBQ restaurant here.
Either that or an authentic Mexican restaurant, which our area is seriously lacking also.
Southern_bella at 6:52AM on 03/07/08
I think there's a market for spud joint. With catchy names like "ciao bella" (Italian style) "spuds ahoy" (tuna mornay spud) and Jackie Chan (Asian style)
I have given this some serious thought.
choc_puddin at 4:40PM on 03/07/08
My 11 yo, who's reading over my shoulder, is urging me to let y'all know he wants a BEEF place.
Specialties would include grilled burgers, steaks, and a huge slice it yourself roast beef hunk in a center island that you can slice for sandwiches. Plus plenty of horseradish and worcestershire for all.
Moo.....!!!
apronlady at 5:03PM on 03/07/08
International Snackerie.
The best in sweet and savory snacks from around the world. Because everyone loves snacks.
unarata at 5:43PM on 03/07/08
I have often dreamed of opening a "gourmet-to-go" store. We have 1 or 2 in my area of the Philadelphia suburbs. The problem with the ones I have been to is they lack creativity and the menus never change. I would want to offer a selection of iced teas with natural flavors. No soda fountain! I would capitalize on the local fresh seasonal ingredients and offer soups, salads, fresh made breads, rolls and sweets. For those of you who were involved yesterday, you know I would make shrimp salad. Fresh tuna and chicken salad. There would be pasta dishes, roasted vegetables and grilled chicken, fish, sliced steak and my goodness, I can think of so many other options. THEN,,,,,,reality sets in and I remember I can drive up to Whole Foods and it is all right there. Oh well, a girl can dream, right?
crazyspice at 5:58PM on 03/07/08
A cosy coffee/tea shop with fresh baked pastries, soup and sandwiches, and a dinner entree' or two at night. A little hole in the wall that felt more like the extension of someone's kitchen and living room than a full-fledged restaurant. Everything would be homemade and feature some of the best local produce, meats, and artisan cheeses in the area; there would be floor cushions scattered around old comfortable couches; and great music would always be playing.
Ah, if only.
jenilowrance at 6:50PM on 03/07/08
It'd be a continental european style cafe. Where you can drink coffee, tea, juice, and wine at any time of the day without any fear of being socially frowned upon. Each drink comes with a couple tapas, and there'd be heavier fare available if wanted. It'd be the perfect place to chill with friends.
cafepeach at 7:55PM on 03/07/08
When I lived in Kenya my friend and I came up with a restaurant called "Tuli Tembea Tembea" which means "we walked and walked" in Swahili. Of course it would focus on the amazing Swahili foods we ate with menus printed in horrible English, the worse the better we discovered. With such a blend of Indian, African, Arab, and European dishes set in a tropical region, Swahili food was one of the original fusion cuisines. Amazing flavors... I miss it!
oregonpinot at 11:53PM on 03/07/08
@crazyspice......I've had a similar dream, but on a smaller scale. I've thought of Manayunk or New Hope/Lambertville or similar type of location. I'd love an upscale gourmet shop with some international products, great kitchen gadgets and cookbooks, a few fresh fruits and vegs, lots of cheeses, sausages, deli type meats and a few salad, soup and sandwich options which change everyday, including panini du jour. Different desserts each day, but just a few special selections. Teas & coffees, hot and cold. Ice cream and gelato in the summer. Bottles of wines and beer would be nice too, but not in good ol' PA. I'm not interested in a full scale restaurant, but dining areas inside and outside would be perfect. Casually elegant dining, and helpful, friendly shopping. Nice dream.
PerkyMac at 12:21AM on 03/08/08
an old fashioned dinner. The kind that you can walk in and have a full meal or just go in and have coffee and pie with a friend without garnering dirty looks.
huney_bumper at 10:03AM on 03/08/08
A dessert cafe, serving both plated sweets as well as simple but delicious pastries, tarts, cakes, muffins, cookies etc. Moderately priced and marketed toward a broad variety of tastes. Clean, modern design, with a mix of bright but tasteful colors in the chairs and lighting plus warm wood. The name: "Melle", from the Latin word mel, mellis ("honey")/mellitus ("honey-sweet" or "sweet as honey").
Failing that, a noodle shop - my boyfriend would handle the Japanese noodles (ramen, soba, udon, somen - you name it!), and I'd do the Italian. Plus, there'd be every other kind in between.
Or perhaps truly simple Italian place. People seem to have caught on to this trend, but I think it can be simplified further. It would specialize in central/south-central Italian cuisine. There might be a bakery or dessert cafe attached, too. Ah, too many choices!
emmab at 10:17AM on 03/08/08
I agree with someone else...closed! After years in the biz (and I do miss it) I could feel my blood pressure shoot up just thinking about going there again. But still......
Cary at 10:50AM on 03/08/08
A breakfast & lunch diner...possibly dinner eventually...with good comfort food, with a local touch....trying to procure as much of the food from local farmers & my own garden. I too have thought of this often.
I too spent 14 years in the busines.....and have spent the past 14 years or so out of the business as a cube dweller.....I miss it!
mepolo at 11:44AM on 03/08/08
A coffee house, serving excellent coffee and drinks, but with the main focus on baked goods of all kinds. A few sandwiches will be offered, and fruit salads, but mostly I'm thinking cookies, rolls, fresh baked bread, cake, muffins, and quick breads.
Christina at 12:56PM on 03/08/08
How 'bout a Jazz Bistro for lunch and dinner.It would have a piano bar for soft music at lunch and dinner then add a combo of the upright bass,sax and drummer for after dinner.A good soft,slow jazz singer on the weekends and this would be fantastic.The appearice would be upscale but casual with good low lighting.This would work just about anywhere.
GeneR46 at 3:10PM on 03/08/08
@PerkyMac: I love sharing my food with people. I find when I entertain, I smile all the time seeing how happy food makes people. To be able to share that with a larger audience would be an amazing experience. I have so many creations that my friends and family have enjoyed. Maybe I should write a cookbook? That is good sharing, right?
crazyspice at 3:41PM on 03/08/08
I have thought of this a lot - a 24-hour vegetarian joint, near a college I guess - with veg. food that wasn't quite "veggie junk/comfort food", but also not super-macrobiotic health food, nor upscale and expensive. We'd have things like great vegetarian chili and cornbread, mac and cheese, sandwiches, soups, as well as full dinner plates w/ e.g. tofu cutlet, vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, specials like tamales...lots of "naturally vegetarian" foods, rather than "look, I made this meat dish veg". It would be the kind of place you could take a meat eater and s/he wouldn't feel deprived - without overrelying on the "wow" factor of meat substitutes - just delicious food without a "healthy" focus, but that would still sometimes be healthy. Locally sourced produce, eggs, etc., wherever possible. We'd have breakfast all day, with an expanded weekend brunch menu, lunch versions of dinner plates, with the same lunch versions available from about 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Low-key, high quality food that would appeal to regular folks and families, vs. just the kids in their 20s or haute brunch crowds.
producestories at 6:05PM on 03/08/08
@Bunnyman - I'm coming to your place!!!
One of my innovations would be a bakery/cafe with brioche, croissant, pastries- in and take out. Wonderful salads, gourmet sandwiches, frites and fabulous desserts. Specials of the day at my whim. Soups, gratins, quiches. Wine, microbrews and the best espresso. Nouveau with a French flair, contemporary decor, eclectic music, occasionally live, later in the afternoon. Lots of local artists providing multi media pieces for decor and sale. Smallish and chic, where you want to hang out with your friends for hours but you can't because the waiting list is way too long.
frederika at 12:01AM on 03/09/08
I think I have you all beat. My concept is to renovate old abandoned churches into theme Mexican restaurants called "Ay Mi Dios". The decor would be Day of the Dead Style. Mmm hmmm. Genius.
cakespy at 3:06PM on 03/09/08
Mine would be closed too. With a side order of my ex-partner ripping me off to the tune of multiple thousands of dollars.
Not that I'm bitter.
maered at 4:48PM on 03/09/08
I've always liked the idea of running a bar that serves whatever I cook that day. Most often, something served from a big pot.
MargieinDallas at 4:56PM on 03/09/08
@crazyspice..........go for it! Opening a gourmet shop/restaurant takes capital, planning, resolving zoning issues, lawyers, accountants, suppliers..........shall I go on? But using your talent to create and write a cookbook and share your love.....wow! You should totally go for it if that's in your heart. What's your passion/theme?
BTW: To answer a question you asked elsewhere: I'm in the far NW suburbs of Philly - Perkiomen Valley, hence my "name". You?
PerkyMac at 5:29PM on 03/09/08
Californian Fusion..San Francisco
OR!
some kind of burger place..also in SF
all upscale stuff.. =D
Stankind at 12:19AM on 03/10/08
comfort food and home cooking all the way! sweet and sour brisket, roast chicken with tarragon and bread sauce, leg of lamb, noodle kugel, spaghetti carbonara, chicken matzo ball soup, roasted potatoes, very homey desserts like pumpkin spice cake, chocolate layer cake, cheesecake...
cybercita at 12:37PM on 03/10/08
I grew up in a restaurant. My parents and my mother's two brothers opened a restaurant/cocktail lounge in 1963, and I can tell you that operating a successful restaurant is about much more than the food, which is why I went to work for a newspaper (BTW: a newspaper is second on my list of businesses I never want to own.) When you think about restaurants, think about cooks calling in sick, wait staff calling in sick, health inspectors, liability insurance, the rising cost of food stuffs, and employees with their hands in the till. My favorite restaurant story involves a friend of mine whose parents also owned a restaurant: He was called out of bed to fill in for the breakfast cook who wasn't sick, but had been shot dead by his wife a few hours earlier.
hatlady at 12:54PM on 03/10/08
Peruvian bistro. Very few items on the menu. It would reflect a Limeño influence. You'd see typical items like sancochado, causa, empanadas, ceviche, quinoa, lomo saltado, ají de gallina and roasted chicken with screaming green salsa de ají.
Most recipes would be adapted from this.
Without funding from some wealthy patron, I couldn't afford a liquor license, so no chicha or pisco sours. That's life.
Susquehanna at 11:51AM on 03/12/08
@PerkyMac....All food is my passion, and I will never have a single theme. I guess that would make my cookbook a bit of a challenge! I will think on that. I am all over the threads tonight. I am trying to catch up with the interesting topics! I live in the Ambler/Montgomery County area.
crazyspice at 10:04PM on 03/13/08