Eating Out

dvdfan · 16-07-2006 11:48PM #1

Hi,

I run a cafe and just want everyones opinions on what they think cafes are missing these days or point out cool things youve seen in some cafes. Hoping to get a few ideas where i can improve on.

Any suggestions, comments like "i hate getting my potatoes served on a seperate side dish" or general things like appearance and personailities of the staff, music, plate servings, prices, size of meals, your favourite meals that never seem to be available, anything or any comment or suggestions are welcome good or bad.

Im referring to your run of the mill 9am-6pm Cafe serving breakfast, Lunch, Sandwiches, Desserts, Drinks & Salads. Nows your chance to get your opinion across

antSionnach · 16-07-2006 11:58PM

space. its all about space. this evening i was in tribeca in ranelagh. FFS if there werent so many seats maybe peoples elbows wouldnt have to touch...

RoadSweeper · 17-07-2006 12:03AM

a decent portion of food. normally you get a tiny portion that would fill you for 5mins.

Wertz · 17-07-2006 12:07AM

Manners of staff. I don't go back to places where I get treated as if I'm some kind of incovenience in the staff's working day.

I know it's old news but it's the basic thing that so many places like shops and restaurants seem to be forgetting about lately...

SpAcEd OuT · 17-07-2006 12:11AM

I like a place that serves good smoothies

ODS · 17-07-2006 12:13AM

Wireless broadband free of charge; Cafe Java's are setting the trend on this one - ie a half-decent cafe, unlike Mc Ds or Bewleys Naas Rd, and are free

Soya milk for lattes and the like - im always amazed by the amount of people who either have lactose allergy or are avoiding it.

healthy & tasty options. In this country we seem to treat vegtables, salads, etc as if they were a punishment. Tip; unless your shopping organic, get your vegtables at Lidl as they are much fresher + better quality than tecsos, dunnes etc imo.

Smoothies are always good and rarely available - or overpriced:(

Decent prices - was charged over €5 for a double-shot coffee recently at foleys, corner of Merrion St - Very :mad:

Same goes for stale carrot cake that is priced 4.95 - people wont come up to you and complain - they just wont buy it, or worse, bitch about it to their pals.

Best of luck with it anyhow!

Ruu_Old · 17-07-2006 12:16AM

RoadSweeper wrote:

a decent portion of food. normally you get a tiny portion that would fill you for 5mins.

Seconded, value for money.

monkeyfudge · 17-07-2006 12:17AM

Decent vegetarian options please...

Oh and monkey butlers would be cool!

ODS · 17-07-2006 12:22AM

Ah, I forgot most important of all... discounts for boards.ie members - Where did you say your cafe was again?:D

Nehpets · 17-07-2006 12:31AM

Milkshakes/Smoothies, Space, Nice staff, Jukebox?, NOT overpriced, nice sandwiches, lots of light - hate dark places,

dvdfan · 17-07-2006 12:44AM

Nehpets wrote:

Milkshakes/Smoothies, Space, Nice staff, Jukebox?, NOT overpriced, nice sandwiches, lots of light - hate dark places,

A few people have mentioned smoothies already, i have to be honest and say im completely ignorant about these, probably because i never drink them. So can anyone give me any info on this, are there many types of flavours, whats your favourite, do you like them made fresh or prefer certain brands straight from a carton. Does anyone know of any suppliers that could get me setup to make smoothies, is it just a basic blender to make them or are their special machines these days, forgive my stupid question but im just not into smoothies and know very little about them but they seem popular enough judging by the first few threads.

My cafes in Athlone btw

RoadSweeper · 17-07-2006 12:51AM

check out http://www.zumojuicebar.com/

smoothys tend to be dear, s maybe if you had them at decent value, sales could soar

dvdfan · 17-07-2006 12:57AM

RoadSweeper wrote:

check out http://www.zumojuicebar.com/

smoothys tend to be dear, s maybe if you had them at decent value, sales could soar

Thanks RoadSweeper, so what do you think is a fair price for a smoothie then, ive checked out this website http://www.martinfoodequip.com/html/smoothies.htm

and they say the cost to prepare a smoothie is €1.40 in total and the retail price is €3.75 - €3.95, this seems very exspensive to me, what would you find a suitable price and what do you usually pay (I assume you get a Pint for those prices??)

biko · 17-07-2006 12:58AM

Never a big enough glass of fresh squeezed orange juice but then I really like OJ

Lust4Life · 17-07-2006 01:20AM

The ULTIMATE Fancy Mix Drink....
Orange Juice, Ice Cream and Vanilla flavored liquor. Blend in blender.
Oh so yummy!!!!!!!!

RoadSweeper · 17-07-2006 01:31AM

dvdfan wrote:

Thanks RoadSweeper, so what do you think is a fair price for a smoothie then, ive checked out this website http://www.martinfoodequip.com/html/smoothies.htm

and they say the cost to prepare a smoothie is €1.40 in total and the retail price is €3.75 - €3.95, this seems very exspensive to me, what would you find a suitable price and what do you usually pay (I assume you get a Pint for those prices??)

Well suppose anything below that is going to be good value. €3 - €3.50

There is endless thing open to you to do with smoothies,
ie. have set meals smooties incl.
Target student with them etc...

DonkeyStyle \o/ · 17-07-2006 01:57AM

Well cleaned and ventilated toilets... if you can't keep the toilets clean then IMO it doesn't say much about how clean your kitchen/counter is.
An immaculate restroom is always plus points for me.

Aard · 17-07-2006 02:39AM

Space. I don't like when others can hear what me and co are talking about.

Grilled sandwiches that aren't overpriced.

Ditto for smoothies or juices.

Oh, and when you serve tea, don't have it as one cup for 1.70 (like kylemore), and dont have crappy teapots that spill when you pour ... I'll never go back if they do.

ODS · 17-07-2006 02:42AM

dvdfan wrote:

do you like them made fresh or prefer certain brands straight from a carton...and they say the cost to prepare a smoothie is €1.40 in total and the retail price is €3.75 - €3.95, this seems very exspensive to me, what would you find a suitable price and what do you usually pay (I assume you get a Pint for those prices??)

A pint? Wishful thinking :rolleyes: FRESH - no prepackaged please

, Youll probably make more from doing them fresh if you get the basic system right at the outset. Anything less than €3 would be reasonable...Might be worth the while to target AIT students with a voycher in their fresher packs; that + a happy hour with a tag of €2 at off-peak times;)

challengemaster · 17-07-2006 02:44AM

good portions and i'd f'kin love to see sushi somewhere in ireland...

lovely stuff

DonkeyStyle \o/ · 17-07-2006 03:04AM

challengemaster wrote:

love to see sushi somewhere in ireland

There's somewhere that does it up in Georges Street (Dublin) AFAIK... never been there but I've heard it's good.

challengemaster · 17-07-2006 03:05AM

i live 2hrs away from dublin >_<

Tar.Aldarion · 17-07-2006 03:12AM

monkeyfudge wrote:

Decent vegetarian options please...

This.
Although I am very hard to please anyway.

kinaldo · 17-07-2006 04:23AM

As has already been mentioned, free wifi would be a big plus, although I wouldn't quite say Cafe Java offer if for free as their prices are so exorbitant it must be included in a hidden charge kind of way. Also, a selection of cheeses would be great. Cafe en Seine is the only place I can think of that does anything of the kind -they have a good selection on a big cheese board for €10.

lemon_of_old · 17-07-2006 06:15AM

Free wifi, clean,bright, spacious area, comfortable seating where you can relax and enjoy your meal - I hate feeling like I'm sitting in a canteen on uncomfortable chairs and a tiny table, God how I hate tiny tables! I need to
s p r e a d! Decent coffee, it's well worth getting training or getting a proper barista in, I managed a cafe for a while, it's amazing how particular people are about their coffee. And a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, too often I feel pressured to order, swallow and vacate the seat for the next customer. Outdoor seating (if possible) is always a plus. And a loyalty/bonus system for regular customers - people like to be loved!

Archeron · 17-07-2006 06:38AM

A good selection of cakes. There seems to be a growing coffee and cake brigade out there, and since there seems to be so few bakeries left in the country, its nice to have options other than scones and rock buns.

Gone West · 17-07-2006 06:44AM

The thread title was misleading.

DonkeyStyle \o/ · 17-07-2006 06:54AM

FuzzyLogic wrote:

The thread title was misleading.

Yeah I was dissapointed too... but you can still have your fun with hidden double meanings... like my post about girls having to keep their pooper clean if I'm to eat from their 'kitchen'.
Bet that went right over everyones head... even mine when I was posting it.

Pal · 17-07-2006 06:57AM

I suggest restaurants in Ireland ofer free refills of Coke etc., to kids.

they do this everywhere in USA.

As a parent, it costs a fortune to buy Cokes at a family meal.

Saruman · 17-07-2006 08:08AM

dvdfan wrote:

retail price is €3.75 - €3.95, this seems very exspensive to me, what would you find a suitable price and what do you usually pay (I assume you get a Pint for those prices??)

As long as you stay below €5 its fine. That price range you mentioned is fine.
Remember a smoothie is filling!!! Its almost a meal.
Easiest thing to do is use frozen fruit and frozen yhogurt as the base with some juices and stick in a blender! You can even add in stuff like they do at Zumo.

Zumo uses fresh ingredients but you can get away with frozen in a café

Apart from that.. most people have posted excellent ideas. Keep things below rip off. Never charge €6 for a panini no matter how good it is

super_furry · 17-07-2006 08:18AM

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote:

There's somewhere that does it up in Georges Street (Dublin) AFAIK... never been there but I've heard it's good.

Aya it's called and it's fecking lovely.

Eating Out

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