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How to Start a Food Truck Business9/18/2020
How to Start a Food Truck Business
Owning any business is a complicated venture, but the food industry is particularly competitive. Food trucks are becoming an increasingly trendy way to sell food, and for good reason. By managing to successfully run a food truck, you cut a lot of maintenance, utility, and wage expenses that come with owning a restaurant. Food trucks have a history of being greasy vans that aren’t very clean, but that stigma has changed in the last decade. Food trucks have become mini-restaurants with quality food and great service. It’s a simplistic way to go about fulfilling your restaurant dream, with less long-term stress. With the rise of the food truck industry, we’ve put together a guide on how to run a successful food truck. Read more to learn about food truck business plans, marketing, finances, and much more! How To Start a Food Truck:
Pick Your Food Truck Concept
So you’ve got your food truck concept in your head. A strong vision is important for such a large project. That being said, don’t be too prideful to make adjustments to your vision. Just because you have a strong concept in your head, doesn’t mean that there’s customers willing to buy your concept. The end goal of any business is to be able to sustain itself and make money. That’s not to say you have to entirely compromise your restaurant’s identity to sell food, but be willing to make suggestions and make adjustments.
Consider the CompetitionDepending on how many people regularly pass through your area, you may want to avoid areas that have similar food trucks. Cities are usually the places where food trucks thrive. Cities, boardwalks, and college campuses are all great places to open a food truck. Not only is it beneficial because of how much business will pass through the area, but it also mitigates the negative sides of competition. For example, if your food truck sells cheesesteaks near a superior cheesesteak truck, they likely won’t take all of your business if you live in a crowded enough area. With enough popularity, their lines will grow too long, and people will start to come to your food truck. Make sure that if you’re going to be sharing turf with a similar food truck that you offer something unique. If their truck is already established, offer something different. If their cheesesteaks are top notch, but expensive, try making your food cheaper in comparison. Special deals and unique food items are other ways to stand out in a crowd. Analyze your competition, and see what kind of audience they don’t appeal to. In saying this, if you want to see more than just marginal success for your food truck, you’ll want to be the best food truck of your category. Scout the area and see if there are similar services nearby, as this information will be important going forward.
Write a Business PlanAny successful business requires a good amount of planning, and it’s never too early to start. Business plans look different for every business, but what’s important is that your business plan suits all of your needs. That being said, if you’re planning on applying for a business loan, and getting people to join or invest in your business, your plan needs to be thorough.
Consider Permits and RegulationsThere are various licenses and permits necessary to sell food in the United States. That being said, the laws can vary quite heavily from state to state. To run a food truck, you need to consider acquiring the following.
Most of these are necessary for all food-related businesses, but for some it depends on which state you live in. A business license, employee verification number, and food service license are all mandatory for any food truck in this business. However things like liquor licenses and sign permits depend on how your business operates and what state you live in. In the restaurant business, a liquor license is a big investment that can see a big profit in the long term. That being said, it’s not typical for food trucks to sell alcohol. This is mostly because of the times that food trucks operate, and their public settings. Just because it’s not common for food trucks to sell alcohol doesn’t mean it’s never a good idea. If it’s practical for your food truck to sell alcohol, it can be worth trying to obtain a liquor license. This is especially popular for food trucks near boardwalks, food truck parks, or at a festival where food trucks are welcome.
Create a Marketing Plan
Marketing is essential for any business, especially restaurants! Restaurants face heavy competition, which is why many restaurants fail after less than a year open. Create a restaurant marketing plan and consider the following aspects of your marketing: LogoYour logo might not seem all that important, but in the world of advertising and marketing it can mean more than you think. At the end of the day people will judge your restaurant based on performance, but that’s only if people actually try your restaurant. The logo is the cornerstone of the entire branded experience. The colors and fonts you choose in your logo should be the same ones you use on your menus, and all of your branded materials.
BrandingIn the modern age of owning a food business, how you brand yourself can make or break your business. Keeping a clean consistent image can go a long way for people who’ve never tried your food truck. It’s not guaranteed, but people generally take you more seriously when you look like you have it together. Good branding can open a lot of doors for any business, especially for food businesses. There are a lot of things that go into the branded experience, including:
It may seem like a lot, but in an industry as competitive as food, people are taking any advantage possible. It’s important to stay ahead of the curve. To learn more about the branded restaurant experience, read our article on restaurant branding. Social MediaA cost-free way to promote your food truck is through social media. For a food truck, we recommend using FaceBook and Instagram. FaceBook is the single largest social media platform, and covers a wide range of ages. There’s room for all kinds of interactions with a huge base of users, which is why your food truck needs a Facebook page. Instagram is another great way to promote your food truck. It’s not quite as straightforward as Facebook, but showing off your food visually can do for your business. In addition, despite having less users, Instagram is a very trendy social media platform. Making your food truck experience “Instagrammable” helps spread your name online. In saying “Instagrammable,” I mean that people should want to share pictures of it. People love taking pictures of their food, but they do especially when you have a menu item with a funny name, or some kind of special item you won’t see elsewhere. Even something like the art on your truck could get people to want to share it if it’s good enough. Your social media campaign may never take off, but it’s worth trying to establish some sort of presence online anyway. Almost everyone uses social media in 2020, and it’s entirely free, so there are no drawbacks.
How To Write a Food Truck Business PlanYour business plan is sort of like a resume for your food truck. Provide as much relevant detail as possible to promote your best self. The easiest way to do this is by asking yourself as many questions as possible until you can come up with something that will help your case. Throughout this portion of the article, we’ll provide questions you should be asking yourself when creating your food truck business plan.
Food Truck Executive Summary & DescriptionWrite out an explanation of your business and why it will be a success. This should be relatively short, but the more details you have the better. Here’s a list of questions you should answer in this section in your business plan.
Provide information about how you plan on growing your business in the long-term. This is especially important if you plan on applying for loans.
Market AnalysisContinue to analyze why your food truck will be successful, but now do it in relation to similar businesses nearby. Look at what your competition is doing, why does it work? Tell your reader why you can execute this better. Look for trends that similar food vendors in the area follow and analyze why they work. This part is more important for the market analysis, but you can learn a lot from how similar businesses that aren’t near you operate. Don’t be afraid to address your weaknesses before making your business plan. A clear, objective look at your business model is healthy for making decisions about your business. Not being afraid to address the weaknesses of your business shows you where you can improve.
Food Truck ManagementDescribe the structure of your establishment and how it will be run. It helps to provide a visual tree of how the management chain will work out. Continue to talk about how each member of your staff will contribute to the success of your food truck. Any relevant experience they have will help your business look better. It also helps to provide work history and resumes from your employees.
Menu Creation
Explain in detail what your main products are, and why. How does your product benefit the customer? Talk about the product line including who your suppliers are, the total cost of production, and your intended sale price. This part is relatively easy for food truck owners because the product benefit of most foods are pretty straightforward. Does your product feed customers fast and cheap? Do they provide healthy options? Vegan? Gluten Free? Keep asking yourself questions until you come up with something that helps your case.
Marketing CostsBefore the funding request, the last thing to do is to address any marketing costs you anticipate. There’s infinite ways to go about a marketing campaign, this plan doesn’t have to be set in stone. It’s not about creating a plan and sticking to it no matter what. It’s more about showing people that you have a thorough plan, and that you already have thought out marketing ideas already. How will you attract new customers? How will you get them to keep coming back? These are the two biggest questions for any marketing campaign. You can’t run a great food truck without a loyal customer base. Explain this process in detail, from marketing strategy, to execution, and the intended result.
Funding RequestThe funding request is where you’ll formally ask for the money required to run your food truck. It’s expected that you explain how much money you’ll need to run your food truck for the next five years. You should know exactly how much money you’ll need, how you want it, and how you’ll use it. When mapping this out, provide detail as to exactly where this money is going, and how you’ll use it to see profit. Explain any long term financial plans and how you plan on executing them. Like the previous sections, be sure to be very thorough in this process. People aren’t going to give you money unless you give them a rock solid plan.
Financial Projections
Now that you’ve told the reader how much money you want and what you want to do with it, it’s time to dive into specifics. Calculating in things like projected loss and expenses, prove to the reader using real numbers that your food truck will be a success financially. From sba.gov : “Supplement your funding request with financial projections. Your goal is to convince the reader that your business is stable and will be a financial success. If your business is already established, include income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for the last three to five years. If you have other collateral you could put against a loan, make sure to list it now. Provide a prospective financial outlook for the next five years. Include forecasted income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and capital expenditure budgets. For the first year, be even more specific and use quarterly — or even monthly — projections. Make sure to clearly explain your projections, and match them to your funding requests. This is a great place to use graphs and charts to tell the financial story of your business.”
AppendixThe very final part of your business plan should be the appendix. This is where you’ll show any legal documents or other paperwork necessary to run your business. This can include but is not limited to employee resumes, permits, licenses, references, patents, etc.
TakeawayThat was a lot of information to take in at one time, but now you have a better idea of what it actually takes to own a food truck. It’s a lot of hard work, but when done right it can be a highly profitable business. The food truck industry has been evolving rapidly, and now could be the perfect time to capitalize on the trend. If you can find loyal customers in a populated area, running a food truck can be more profitable than running a restaurant. The post How to Start a Food Truck Business appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/how-to-start-a-food-truck/via Blogger How to Start a Food Truck Business
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Best Outdoor Dining in Midtown, NYC in 2020
New York City is open for outdoor dining, and some of the best Midtown restaurants are offering outdoor seating while the weather is warm. If you’re looking for delicious food in an outdoor venue, Midtown NYC is teeming with amazing options. Enjoy sidewalk seating, big outdoor patios, and soak up the sun and the fresh air with your meal. Whether you live in Midtown or you’re visiting the area, check out the best outdoor dining options in Midtown, Manhattan! Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in Midtown
Copinette
Copinette is an American restaurant and bar in Midtown East, known for classic dishes with a French influence. In light of COVID-19 restrictions, Copinette is offering delivery, takeout, and outdoor dining. This elegant but cozy restaurant is serving up their favorite dishes, from grilled branzino to truffle risotto. Enjoy a delicious meal at Copinette’s outdoor tables, complete with umbrellas during the day and romantic table lamps at night.
Inside Park at St. Bart’s
Inside Park at St. Bart’s was made for outdoor dining, so it’s one of the best spots for a seamless outdoor experience in Midtown. This unique restaurant offers plenty of outdoor seating on their large patio garden, serving up small plates, sandwiches and burgers, salads, and more. Inside Park at St. Bart’s sources their ingredients from local farms, ensuring a healthy, fresh menu focused on sustainability.
Nerai
Nerai offers refined Greek cuisine in Midtown, Manhattan. This Greek restaurant recently opened up their new outdoor garden space, an open and airy dining space with comfortable tree coverage. This upscale restaurant offers a modern twist on traditional Greek dining, serving lunch, dinner, and craft cocktails. The classic Greek menu features oysters, pasta, plenty of fresh seafood, and more.
Indian Accent
Indian Accent is some of the best Indian food in New York City, and an excellent outdoor dining option for those in Midtown. Indian Accent has opened its patio for safe outdoor dining during the pandemic. This restaurant serves up traditional Indian cuisine with progressive twists. Enjoy modern interpretations on classic Indian meals on Indian Accent’s comfortable outdoor patio.
Il Gattopardo
If you’re looking for Italian food in Midtown, Il Gattopardo is open for outdoor dining as well as delivery and takeout. Located in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan, Il Gattopardo serves southern Italian comfort food. They are committed to maintaining the authenticity of traditional Italian cuisine while updating dishes for a contemporary setting and palate. Il Gattopardo offers seasonal menus, so only the freshest ingredients are used.
Calle Dao
For a delicious Chinese and Cuban hybrid, check out Calle Dao’s Bryant Park location in Midtown. This restaurant, which aims to pay homage to Havana’s El Barrio Chino, serves up brunch, lunch, dinner, desserts, and drinks in Midtown as well as Chelsea, NYC. Their outdoor dining options give guests the chance to enjoy empanadas, bao buns, stir fry, and more safely outside.
Barolo East
Barolo East provides fine, Northern Italian cuisine in Midtown East, Manhattan. This upscale Italian restaurant is focused on tradition, but infuses their dishes with a modern twist. They offer outdoor dining with plenty of room for guests to comfortably enjoy their favorite dishes in either their outdoor garden area or sidewalk seating. At Barolo East, the pasta is handmade on premises with only the freshest ingredients, and they offer homemade Italian desserts.
Bistro Vendome
Bistro Vendome offers up classic French cuisine in Midtown, open for outdoor dining, delivery, and takeout. The menu at Bistro Vendome includes traditional French recipes, modern twists on French classics, and plenty of tasty options for anyone in the Midtown area. Their cozy outdoor terrace is perfect for safe outdoor dining, and their seasonal menu ensures the freshed French cuisine.
Castell Rooftop Lounge
If you’re looking for cocktails and some light snacks, Castell Rooftop Lounge is open! This rooftop bar sits atop the AC Hotel in Times Square, offering amazing views and a safe outdoor dining experience. Castell Rooftop Lounge is focused mainly on creative cocktails, wine, and craft beer, but they also serve up small plates like charcuterie, sandwiches, and sweets.
Final ThoughtsOutdoor dining is a special treat in the spring, summer, and early fall weather, and it’s a safe way to enjoy your favorite restaurants during the pandemic. Check out these Midtown restaurants offering exceptional outdoor dining and stay safe! The post Best Outdoor Dining in Midtown, NYC in 2020 appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/outdoor-dining-midtown-nyc/via Blogger Best Outdoor Dining in Midtown, NYC in 2020
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9 Best Restaurants in Short North, Columbus Ohio in 2020
If you’re looking for a place to eat in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus, OH, look no further! This up and coming neighborhood is full of trendy new restaurants, shops, and more. If you’re out on the town in Short North, check out one of the best restaurants in Short North, Columbus! Best Restaurants in Short North
Fireproof
Fireproof is a tapas-style restaurant in Short North, located on North High Street. This restaurant and wine lounge offers chic cocktails, small plates, and more. Fireproof was designed with a focus on creating a social atmosphere. The sleek but vibrant atmosphere of Fireproof encourages great conversation over even better food, wine, and cocktails. The Fireproof menu consists of small plates including Wagyu sliders, steak, and dumplings, as well as seafood, vegetarian options, cheese plates, and more.
The Pearl
The Pearl is a famous restaurant, tavern, and oyster room in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. This Short North restaurant serves food made from scratch, cocktails, and craft beer in a cozy tavern atmosphere. The Pearl’s menu includes various vegetarian and gluten free options, as well as kids menus so that the whole family can enjoy this gem! For the best oysters in Columbus, visit The Pearl in Short North.
The Guild House
The Guild House is a Short North restaurant featuring creative American cuisine that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This artisan eatery uses locally grown ingredients whenever possible, creating seasonal menu offerings that are both locally and globally inspired. The Guild House features an extensive wine list, vegetarian and gluten free options, and plenty of farm fresh, creative cuisine!
Hoyo’s Kitchen
Hoyo’s Kitchen serves up Somali Cuisine in Columbus’ Short North neighborhood. Declared the #1 Restaurant in Columbus by Eater.com, Hoyo’s Kitchen is a must-try for anyone living in or visiting Columbus. Family owned and operated by two brothers and their mother, “Hoyo” means “mother” in Somali, celebrating their mother’s cooking. The menu features vibrant and delicious flavors, with influence from African and Middle Eastern cuisine surrounding Somalia.
Marcella’s
Marcella’s is a popular Italian eatery in Short North, Columbus. This restaurant provides a lively atmosphere that is perfect for big family dinners, late night snacks, drinks, and more. The bar features over 50 Italian wines, paired well with Italian meats, cheeses, olives, and other charcuterie. Marcella’s menu offers plenty of options, including hot and cold, small and large plates, and pizzas and pastas galore.
Black Point
Black Point is one of Short North’s best steakhouses and seafood restaurants. This American-style restaurant offers prime steaks, seafood, sushi, and more in a modern, elegant setting. The comfortable yet upscale restaurant is the perfect choice for a nice meal out on the town, with an extensive wine list, private dining options, an outdoor patio, and more to offer. The Black Point menu features various steak cuts, market fresh fish, and more.
Rooh
Rooh is a unique restaurant in Short North, self-described as “a gastronomical journey in progressive Indian cuisine”. Rooh aims to bring the spirit of India to Columbus through the restaurant experience, rich traditional flavors, and fresh local ingredients. Head Chef Sujan Sarkar was awarded the Times Chef of the Year in India, and uses modern cooking techniques with decades-old recipes to create a distinct culinary experience.
Ampersand Asian Supper Club
Ampersand serves up Asian cuisine, including some of Columbus’ best ramen, donburi rice bowls, and more. Ampersand offers mostly bar and counter service, but if you can, try to get a reservation in their Tatami room. This traditional Japanese style dining room is the most unique table in the house, with Tatami mats on the floor for guests to sit on. Ampersand Asian Supper Club is known for fresh, local ingredients and made-from-scratch broth and recipes.
Bakersfield
If you’re looking for authentic Mexican street fare in Columbus, Ohio, check out Bakersfield. Known for their tequila, tacos, and whiskey, Bakersfield is a great spot for a bite to eat, happy hour, and more. Bakersfield serves up simple, delicious food in a warm environment, and they also offer over 100 tequilas and whiskeys. Their menu features classic Mexican fare like tacos, taquitos, tortas, and more.
Final ThoughtsCheck out these restaurants in Short North, Columbus to find the best food in the neighborhood! Comment your favorite Short North eateries, or tell us your favorite from our list! The post 9 Best Restaurants in Short North, Columbus Ohio in 2020 appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/best-restaurants-in-short-north-columbus/via Blogger 9 Best Restaurants in Short North, Columbus Ohio in 2020
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Top 11 Instagram Growth Services of 2020
Instagram is one of the biggest social platforms for restaurants and all businesses. Food photos are some of the most popular content on Instagram, making it a great social media site for restaurants and anyone in the food industry. The issue is, with so many restaurant and foodstagram accounts, how do you grow a following? Luckily, there are Instagram growth tools that can help you build your following. Instagram growth services can help target and engage with followers, so your Instagram has real, engaged users to build your brand. Check out the best Instagram growth services for 2020 and grow your restaurant’s social media presence! Best Instagram Growth Tools:
Social Buddy Review
Social Buddy is our #1 pick for the best Instagram growth service. If you’re aiming to grow your Instagram followers, this platform is easy to use, with great customer service and even better results. Social Buddy uses advanced targeting technology to engage with Instagram users that are more likely to engage back. This organic growth service guarantees real followers, not fake accounts or ghost followers. When you sign up for Social Buddy, they ask for your industry, niche, location, competitors, and hashtags for targeting purposes. Based on those targets, they find Instagram users within your niche and area that are more likely to follow you back. Social Buddy is a safe Instagram growth service that delivers reliable results. Signing up is easy, and customers each get an account manager to walk them through the process and answer any questions.
Social Sensei Review
Social Sensei is another great option for anyone looking to grow their Instagram following. This service offers social media management and automation for businesses everywhere. Social Sensei can manage Instagram and Facebook accounts and can automate YouTube, Pinterest, and Tumblr growth as well. Social Sensei is focused on finding real followers, not bots or fake accounts. This service helps you tailor content to attract followers, create organic growth through authentic interactions, and engaging with those followers. It starts with a free consultation to discuss your business and social media goals so that the team at Social Sensei can create a social media strategy. You can use Social Sensei for all of your social media platforms, or pick and choose the platforms that you are most focused on growing. Instagram management starts at $95 for the consultation level.
Kicksta Review
Kicksta promises organic growth for Instagram accounts. This Instagram growth tool uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to find users and grow Instagram followings for their customers. Kicksta guarantees no fake followers, no bots, and no spam. Kicksta works by targeting profiles similar to yours, like competitors, complimentary brands, influencers, and more. They engage with those users so you don’t have to, creating a relationship that will typically encourage those users to follow your account and engage back. Kicksta’s method is safe and ensures slow, organic growth. All you have to do is post quality content. Kicksta is a solid option for restaurants looking to grow their followers on Instagram. With their premium plan, you even get live chat support, VIP email support, and advanced targeting.
Ampfluence Review
Ampfluence is another Instagram growth tool that promises “no bots or gimmicks”. This growth service is 100% human powered, so you can be sure that your account is in safe hands. Ampfluence uses safe practices to slowly but surely grow your Instagram account. Like many others, Ampfluence starts with a consultation to discuss your social media goals and to learn more about who they should target. This service works to find the right followers for your account based on your interests, the type of content you share, and more. Then, they engage with those accounts for you to encourage them to follow you and engage back. Their process should bring more followers and higher engagement. Ampfluence can also help design custom social posts, and it works to grow your Twitter account as well.
ViralRace Review
ViralRace is different than many other Instagram growth services in its goals and process. The idea of ViralRace is to get your social media content to go viral by getting a lot of likes on popular posts. ViralRace can help get your real Instagram followers and real Instagram likes easily. You can choose to get followers and likes instantly or gradually (we recommend gradual growth as it will look more organic and prevent Instagram from flagging your account). ViralRace promises over ten times the growth, engagement, and retention than standard growth efforts. If you don’t want to focus on followers, you can buy Instagram likes to boost singular posts, which in turn will likely lead to followers. If you’re looking to go viral, check out ViralRace for likes and followers.
SocialFlight Review
SocialFlight offers organic Instagram growth to increase your followers, likes, and overall engagement. This Instagram growth tool uses the same process as many others: it targets followers, engages with them automatically from your profile, and in turn you get more followers and engagement. Pick your target based on interests, industry, location, and more so that SocialFlight can find users that are more likely to engage with your account. Then, they’ll engage for you, so you can sit back while followers pour in and engagements increase on your profile. SocialFlight also offers TikTok growth, so you can grow across platforms. Their Instagram growth process promises between 300 and 2700 followers at $99 per month. They also offer a US support line to answer any questions and resolve any issues with your account.
Tree Frog Review
Tree Frog is an Instagram growth service that is human run, so there isn’t a bot or software controlling your account. This Instagram growth tool promises organic growth. Their team is comprised of social media marketers, so they are experienced at growing social accounts for clients. Tree Frog’s targeting only asks for 5 accounts – simply sign up and supply them with 5 competitors or similar accounts to use for targeting purposes. The social media experts at Tree Frog can even recommend accounts for your brand if you need assistance. They also offer 24/7 support, so you can reach out to change targets at any time. Tree Frog’s exact process is not listed on their site, but they have great reviews and many happy clients.
SocialCaptain Review
SocialCaptain uses targeted marketing and AI to grow your Instagram account. This Instagram growth service uses a bot to automatically find and engage with possible followers. They boast a quick start up and amazing results. SocialCaptain targets potential followers for you based on usernames that you supply, hashtags relevant to your account’s content or your business, and locations. They use AI optimization, language targeting, smart filtering, and competitor tracking. After that, they automate your actions like likes and comments to engage with those targets and increase the chance that they follow you. They guarantee growth. SocialCaptain also offers great reporting so that you can track your growth as well. SocialCaptain’s main advantage is the feature of direct messaging – they’ll message your new followers to form a more personalized engagement, ensuring that followers stick around and support your content.
Combin Review
Combin is another solid choice for anyone looking to grow their Instagram followers. This tool can work as an Instagram growth service, a post scheduling tool, or both. Use Combin for a full Instagram marketing manager. The “Growth” side of Combin uses machine learning to find, attract, and engage with followers. It can even identify accounts that are low quality or not ideal for your account. Targeting includes gender, language, audience size, and more to find the right followers for your account. You can also automate repetitive actions such as likes, comments, and messages to engage with your new followers. With Combin, it’s easy to manage multiple brand accounts on one platform. You can grow and even schedule posts from one dashboard for up to 15 accounts.
Upleap Review
Upleap is another top-rated Instagram growth service. This service pairs you with a dedicated account manager to run your account and offer insights on growing your Instagram. Upleap only engages with real Instagram users, so you won’t end up with fake followers who will hurt your account and lower engagements. Signing up is easy, and they offer a free trial. All you have to do is supply your account manager with the best hashtags, locations, and related users to target. Based on those targets, they’ll find and engage with Instagram users that are likely to follow you back. They use smart targeting to boost your engagement, and they offer reporting to track your progress. An added benefit of Upleap is that they view stories for you – this shows that you are engaging with your followers and will encourage them to engage back. Upleap offers customers up to 300% faster growth.
Instazood Review
Instazood offers the standard engagement and follow-unfollow process to help increase your following on Instagram. This Instagram growth tool automates your actions, so you can improve engagement and grow your following without having to spend all day working on your account. Instazood has a few different options. They offer an Instagram bot, a TikTok bot, a post scheduling tool, and an auto direct message feature. You can choose any one of these packages or bundle them to fully manage your Instagram account. While Instazood uses a bot to find and engage with followers, they ensure that the followers you get are real accounts that will continue to engage with your account. When looking at an Instagram bot like Instazood, be sure to check that their processes are safe. Instazood has great ratings, but with any software like this it’s better to be safe.
Final Thoughts
Do the proper research before choosing the best Instagram growth service for your needs. There are plenty of options out there, but many offer different options, prices, features, and more. Your restaurant brand will grow with one of the best Instagram growth services! The post Top 11 Instagram Growth Services of 2020 appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/best-instagram-growth-services/via Blogger Top 11 Instagram Growth Services of 2020
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9 Best Donut Shops in Philadelphia in 2020
Philadelphia may be known for their cheesesteaks, but it’s no secret that good food is everywhere in the city. That being said, donuts are no exception. We’ve compiled a list of all of the famous donut shops in the city, so that you can try the best donuts in Philly. Whether you’re looking for gourmet flavors, or deep fried classics, Philadelphia has it all; from Reading Terminal Market (Beiler’s Donuts), to fried chicken and donuts (Federal Donuts), to vegan donuts (Dottie’s Donuts).
9 Best Donuts in Philly
Beiler’s DoughnutsCenter City 51 N 12th Street
Made fresh daily on location, Beiler’s Doughnuts has been serving donuts (or doughnuts?) in Reading Terminal Market for 30 years! Beiler’s is a family business and one of the original merchants to enter Reading Terminal Market. Some specialty donuts that you mind not find elsewhere include the Fruity Pebbles chocolate donut and the caramel apple donut. This family owned business makes some of the best donuts in Philadelphia. Aside from their Reading Terminal location, Beiler’s has one more location in Philadelphia, as well as a location in Lancaster. Reading Terminal Market is an essential destination to visit while in Philadelphia. When you walk into the market, you’re surrounded by countless food stands and restaurants. We recommend checking out Reading Terminal for dinner or lunch, and stopping at Beiler’s for dessert.
Federal DonutsMultiple Locations Philadelphia
Federal Donuts have debatably the best donuts in Philadelphia, but they’re far from a traditional donut shop. In a flawless execution of mixing sweet and savory, Federal Donuts specializes in serving both donuts and fried chicken. Federal Donuts is known for classic donuts in unexpected flavors. Their gourmet donuts come in flavors like Irish Potato, Grapefruit Brulee, and Blueberry Cheesecake. They also serve fried chicken with a number of flavors of seasoning, and even serve breakfast sandwiches. Federal Donuts are a staple in the Philadelphia donut market. Stop here when you want to bring the office something special. There are multiple locations from Fairmount to South Philly and more.
Dottie’s DonutsWest Philly, Queen Village 4529 Springfield Ave, 509 S. 6th St
The taste might fool you, but Dottie’s Donuts are a 100% vegan donut shop. Dottie’s Donuts is located in Cedar Park, West Philadelphia with a second location in South Philly. Their menu of all vegan donuts include flavors such as Blueberry Maple, Almond Joy, Apple Fritter, Lemon Poppy, and many more. Their price point is shockingly low for such a high-quality vegan donut shop. Follow Dottie’s Donuts on Instagram for a mouth-watering showcase of their donuts and baked goods. Whether or not you’re vegan, stop by Dottie’s Donuts next time you’re in West Philadelphia. You won’t regret it.
Factory DonutsMayfair 7114 Frankford Avenue
Factory Donuts takes pride in serving fresh donuts daily. They’re easily the best donuts you can find in the Mayfair area. They also have locations in the Philadelphia suburbs, including Media, Newtown, Doylestown, and Turnersville, NJ. Factory Donuts’ special flavors include Maple Bacon Explosion, Chocolate Coconut Dream, and Vanilla Factory. Factory Donuts also does donut nuggets, similar to Dunkin Donut’s munchkins. Like a few other donut shops on this list, Factory Donuts is a family owned establishment, and they have several locations around Pennsylvania and Florida.
Hello DonutsEast Kensington 2557 Amber St
Hello Donuts is a new donut shop in Philadelphia that was made by donut lovers, for donut lovers. Three coffee shop loving musicians had a dream to open one of their own, and it’s delicious. Hello Donuts has catering available for all of your special events. Their specialty flavors include but are not limited to Milk & Cookies, Blueberry Filled, and Banana Pancake. They even have a selection of Vegan flavors, including Chocolate Tahini and Raspberry Rose. If you’re looking for fresh donuts in the Kensington area we highly recommend this classic donut shop. Order on their website for delivery or pickup.
Frangelli’s BakerySouth Philadelphia 847 West Ritner Street
Frangelli’s is an old-school Italian bakery with excellent donuts that are made fresh daily. They pride themselves in their dedication to hand cutting every single donut. This staple of south Philly has been open through two different locations since 1947. Try their ice cream donut; ice cream of your choice between a sliced donut. The staff is welcoming and helpful, and they offer a signature pastry. The frannoli is a type of donut that has a cannoli cream filling. It’s their own invention and has been their signature for decades.
Undrgrnd DonutsFood Truck Multiple Locations
Keep your eye out for Undrgrnd Donuts, a donut cart on wheels that shows up to various street festivals and other events around Philadelphia. Undrgrnd Donuts is always a special occasion because you can’t just go to their store and try it. The least traditional donut they serve is the Homer. You’d think it’s a donut with pink frosting and sprinkles, but it’s even more unusual. The Homer is covered with vanilla glaze, raw sugar, and chocolate covered bacon chunks.
Lipkin’s BakerySouth Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia 2153 S Hancock Ave, 8013 Castor Ave
Lipkin’s Bakery is a kosher bakery that’s been in Northeast Philadelphia since 1975, plus another location in South Philly. Their motto is consistency and quality, and they deliver just that. They aren’t known just for their donuts – they serve pies, cookies, cakes, pastries, and just about anything you could expect from a bakery. Check out either of Lipkin’s Bakery’s locations, in South Philly or in the Northeast.
Flow State CoffeebarEast Kensington 2413 Frankford Ave
This coffee bar in Kensington has a serious dessert menu. Their chef, Melanie Diamond-Manlusoc is known for baking at Michelin-starred restaurants for years. Though Flow State Coffeebar is known for all of their baked goods equally, there’s nothing like their fresh cider donuts. With their menu available on GrubHub and Caviar, you don’t even need to leave your home for fresh-baked goods. Their menu consists of everything from their famous gelato, to egg wraps, and of course, their cider donuts. Final ThoughtsPhiladelphia is home to plenty of great donuts! The food scene in Philly is constantly evolving, so visit these donut shops or check out Philly’s best pizza, sushi, and more. The post 9 Best Donut Shops in Philadelphia in 2020 appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/best-donuts-in-philadelphia/via Blogger 9 Best Donut Shops in Philadelphia in 2020
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Best Sushi in Philadelphia in 20203/18/2020
Best Sushi in Philadelphia in 2020
Philadelphia is home to some amazing sushi. While the last decade has brought plenty of new, upscale, modern sushi restaurants, there are also smaller places you might miss if you don’t know about them. The best sushi in Philly is all across the city, from South Philly to Center City to Fishtown. Find the best sushi place in Philadelphia from our list of the top 11 open today! 11 Best Sushi Places in Philly
Royal Sushi and IzakayaQueen Village 780 S. 2nd St
While there’s no sign, you’ll know you’ve found Royal Sushi and Izakaya when you see the red lantern and the blue door. Chef Jesse Ito runs a 10-person omakase in the back, while the front of the restaurant serves a la carte Japanese cuisine including sushi and much more. Most of the fish at Royal Sushi and Izakaya is imported from Japan, meticulously prepared to perfection. The omakase menu comes with 18 pieces of the chef’s choice for $130 a person, which is steep but worthwhile.
HirokiFishtown 1355 N Front St
Hiroki is one of the most exciting dining experiences in the city right now and perfect for sushi lovers. This Fishtown sushi joint is omakase only, and offers unique sushi options. It is overseen by executive chef Hiroki Fujiyama, and it’s all about tradition and technique. The omakase comes with 20 pieces for $135 per person, and it is seasonally changed and inspired by his hometown cuisine in Kyoto, Japan. Beverages are also pre-fixed for $60, and match the food.
KinmeWashington Square West 1117 Locust St
Kinme serves up sushi and other Japanese cuisine in style. This restaurant has a sleek design and presentation, and the food is delicious too of course. They feature creative custom rolls with musical inspired names, like Fiddler, Mamma Mia, or the Kinky Boots which comes with eel, avocado, and fresh pineapple topped with tuna ball and roasted bell pepper salsa. Kinme is BYOB and has plenty of great food to offer.
Double KnotCenter City 120 S 13th St
Double Knot is famous for its downstairs sushi restaurant. While the upstairs of this two-story restaurant serves coffee and cocktails, the basement serves Japanese cuisine and some of Philadelphia’s best sushi. Aside from sushi and sashimi there are plenty of Asian inspired small plates available. Their sushi is unique in presentation, straying from tradition.
MorimotoCenter City 732 Chestnut St
Morimoto was an exciting new addition to Philadelphia’s sushi scene a few years ago, but they continue to serve excellent sushi. They serve some of the freshest fish in the city, and offer a $125 omakase menu as well as other chef’s combination menus in smaller quantities. All sushi and sashimi is available a la carte as well, and they also provide hot entrees and desserts for a full meal experience.
ZamaRittenhouse Square 128 S 19th St
Zama is known for upscale, modern sushi. They serve traditional rolls as well as innovative ones, like the cheesesteak-inspired maki. Run by chef Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka, Zama has a comprehensive menu of Japanese cuisine as well as super-fresh sushi and sashimi and unique dishes. They also offer a wide variety of sake and the chef’s own Drunken Zama sake.
Sakana Omakase SushiQueen Village 616 S 2nd St
Sakana offers some of the best affordable omakase in Philadelphia. They won Best of Philly in 2019, and for good reason. Their omakase can be enjoyed at $62 per person for 12 pieces of chef’s choice sushi and sashimi, or you can go all out and spend $108 per person for a huge, 90 minute omakase of 21 courses. Either way, the fish is fresh and delicious, and you’ll get a great omakase experience for less than most of the other top sushi restaurants in Philadelphia.
Vic Sushi BarRittenhouse 2035 Sansom St
It’s hard to get a seat at Vic Sushi Bar – in part due to the size, but also because it’s so popular. This BYOB sushi joint has a huge menu in a small space with only a counter and a few seats, so takeout may be a better option. Vic Sushi Bar is pretty inexpensive for its quality, with a three roll special for under $12. There’s lots to choose from here for sushi lovers who can’t break the bank over their next meal.
Aki Nom NomCenter City 1210 Walnut St
Aki Nom Nom is probably the best all-you-can-eat sushi in Philadelphia. There are plenty of choices, so you can enjoy multiple plates with your favorite sushi, sashimi, nigiri, and more. Aki Nom Nom also serves ramen, also some of the best in the city. All-you-can-eat sushi and sashimi are only $28.95 per person, which is a deal you just can’t beat.
Tuna BarOld City 205 Race St
Tuna Bar comes from Chef Kenneth Sze, and features sushi and a raw bar, plus an omakase option. The sushi and sashimi at Tuna Bar is always fresh and high quality, and they have lots of other delicious menu items as well, from gyoza to entree dishes and more. Tuna Bar features some of Chef Sze’s family recipes, and they even offer sushi making classes for customers to learn on their own once a month.
Umai UmaiNorthern Liberties 533 N 2nd St
Umai Umai is a sleek sushi restaurant with lots of character. The food is presented beautifully and the sushi is fantastic by all accounts. They cover all the classic sushi rolls before venturing into the zanier rolls, of which they are many. The sushi at Umai Umai often has other cultural influences, creating a fun dining experience, but the classic rolls are done in the traditional style. Whether you choose a strange specialty roll or a classic, you won’t be disappointed.
Final Thoughts
Philadelphia is home to plenty of amazing sushi places, from upscale restaurants to hole-in-the-wall restaurants you’d never think twice about if you never tried them. Check out the best sushi in Philadelphia and let us know your favorites! Did we forget your favorite sushi place in Philly? Let us know in the comments! Find some of the other best food in Philly, like Philly’s best bottomless brunch spots or the best pizza in Philadelphia! The post Best Sushi in Philadelphia in 2020 appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/best-sushi-in-philadelphia/via Blogger Best Sushi in Philadelphia in 2020
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Best Scheduling Software for Restaurants: Restaurant Scheduling Apps for 2020
Creating schedules is difficult, even at a small business. That’s why most restaurants use a scheduling app of some sort to create and maintain weekly staff schedules. Employee scheduling software is a piece of technology that can seriously streamline the scheduling process of your restaurants. Depending on the size of your restaurant, you may have a huge staff list. There are servers, cooks, busboys, hosts, managers, bartenders, and more who need to be present each shift to keep a restaurant running successfully. The best restaurant scheduling software makes it easy to create schedules that work for everyone, and many come with other useful features as well. Check out the best scheduling tools for restaurants to find one that fits your restaurant business! 7 Best Restaurant Scheduling Software and Apps
7shifts
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Verdict7shifts was made for restaurants, which is why it’s such a popular choice for restaurant owners. This software makes it easy to create shift schedules and has plenty of other features as well. This comprehensive scheduling software has all the tools you need and more, including POS integration with most major POS softwares. It also has great communication tools and useful reporting. This is our recommendation for the best restaurant scheduling software.
HotSchedules
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VerdictHotSchedules was made for the restaurant and hospitality industry, so it is tailored towards restaurant needs. This tool is for more than just scheduling, however, and has tools for workforce management, inventory management, HR and payroll services, and analytics. This comprehensive tool sounds great, but pricing isn’t listed, so it may get expensive. There are also common complaints of a slightly difficult interface, but once you’ve gotten used to the app it shouldn’t be hard to use.
When I Work
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VerdictWhen I Work is another great scheduling option for restaurants, especially smaller ones. The free plan doesn’t have all the features, but it does allow easy scheduling and communication for a single location up to 75 users. The mobile app is easy to use, so employees can request time off and swap schedules with ease. The app can also function as a time clock itself, so you don’t have to integrate another tool to let employees punch in.
Deputy
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VerdictDeputy is another great tool for scheduling that restaurants should consider. They have most of the features offered by other tools, and there are plenty of third party integrations available to streamline all of your processes. The price per user model may not be the best option for larger restaurants with huge staffs, but other than the lack of a free plan, it is a fairly priced service.
Planday
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VerdictPlanday is another great option for restaurants that need scheduling assistance. This software is easy to use, mobile friendly, and has other great features like a geo-fenced time clock included (although this costs $1 more per user per month). Planday is missing the break management that other platforms have, but this may not be a dealbreaker depending on your business.
Push Operations
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VerdictPush Operations is another scheduling software that was made with restaurants in mind. This software does more than just scheduling, however, and acts as a full labor management platform. It handles HR functions like hiring and onboarding, scheduling, payroll, and works as a time clock. With accounting and POS integration options, you can streamline your business on this platform. The pricing is not available without sign up, however, and some users complained of a glitchy app.
Harri
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VerdictHarri is another restaurant scheduling software that does much more, acting as a full workforce management platform. This restaurant scheduling app has pre-hire and post-hire tools, so it handles almost all aspects of labor management. It has cool features like a facial recognition time clock. The app that functions like a social network, where you can post a news feed of info for your employees as well as share schedules, request swaps or time off, and more. The price is not available on their website, however, and some customers complained of glitches and less than ideal customer support.
How To Choose a Scheduling Software for Your Restaurant
Choosing an employee scheduling software can be difficult – it can be hard to understand how they work, the benefits of each, and which one will best fit your restaurant and your staff needs. There are certain features to look at when shopping for a restaurant scheduling app. Consider the following factors before committing to one software.
Price
Restaurant businesses often have smaller profit margins compared to other businesses, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. If you’re opening a new restaurant and just creating a budget, figure out how much you can afford to spend on scheduling software. If you already have a restaurant but want to make it easier to create schedules, figure out how much wiggle room you have for this new piece of technology. Most restaurant scheduling softwares are priced either by a flat monthly fee or a cost per user. Depending on the features you’re looking for and what your restaurant needs, you may be willing to pay extra for a higher end scheduling app. Always consider your bottom line when making a big decision for your restaurant, and choose the best scheduling software for your budget.
Shift Scheduling Capabilities
You’ll want software that makes it easy to create shift-based schedules. Our recommendations are easy to use, so creating a schedule won’t be such a hassle. The best scheduling software for restaurants also makes it easy to add in employee availability and leave to avoid conflicts.
Communication
How does the scheduling app communicate with employees and employers? Some restaurant scheduling tools will send employees their schedule right though the app, or they may have messaging options to ask about getting coverage for a shift. A scheduling software may even be able to send shift reminders to ensure employees arrive on time and don’t forget about shifts. Consider how communication works through your chosen scheduling software.
Mobile Friendliness
Is your scheduling app mobile friendly? The best scheduling softwares make it easy to view or even change schedules from a mobile device. Some scheduling apps are just that – apps where everything can be done from a smartphone.
Time Clock Functionality
Most shift scheduling tools can also act as a time clock, allowing employees to punch in and out to track their hours at work. This ensures that staff is arriving on time and sticking to their assigned schedules, and it makes the software useful for both purposes. Time clock capabilities make it so that your scheduling software also helps manage and track payroll.
Integration with Other Tools
Aside from time clocking, other tools can often be integrated with a restaurant scheduling software. A common integration is with your POS system. Point of sale integration can help improve reporting by including more factors, like staff costs, sales, and more. Shared data can help you learn more about how your restaurant is operating.
Final Thoughts
Use these restaurant schedule tools to streamline the scheduling process at your restaurant! Don’t stress over complicated schedules anymore – these scheduling software options make it easy to create a schedule that works for everyone. The post Best Scheduling Software for Restaurants: Restaurant Scheduling Apps for 2020 appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/best-restaurant-scheduling-software/via Blogger Best Scheduling Software for Restaurants: Restaurant Scheduling Apps for 2020
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Best Pizza in Philadelphia: Where To Get Pizza in Philly in 2020
Philadelphia may not be known for its pizza, but there are plenty of great pizzerias serving up slices all over the city. Whether you’re new to Philadelphia, visiting, or just need advice on where to find the best pizza in your neighborhood, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the best pizza in Philadelphia. Find the closest pizza shop near you or work your way through the whole list for a fun pizza tour! Best Pizza in Philly: Top 10 Pizza Shops in Philadelphia
Tacconelli’s PizzeriaPort Richmond 2604 East Somerset St
Tacconelli’s has been around for quite some time, but it’s been a well kept secret in Port Richmond. Open since 1946, Tacconelli’s is known for its tomato pie. It has become so popular that they recommend reserving your dough in advance. Tacconelli’s is BYOB and cash only.
Angelo’s PizzeriaBella Vista 736 S 9th St
Angelo’s Pizzeria was famous in Haddonfield, New Jersey before closing up shop there and moving to South Philly. Now, Angelo’s has a cult following in Bella Vista, near Philadelphia’s Italian Market. Angelo’s is famous for their dough, which is long-fermented to perfection. This popular pizza shop is closed on Monday and Tuesday, and they have no phone number so you’ll have to go order in person.
Pizzeria BeddiaFishtown 1313 N. Lee St
Pizzeria Beddia was named the best pizza in the US a few years ago, and it’s easily one of the best pizza places in Philly. The dough is expertly charred for crunch, and they feature creative toppings. Pizzeria Beddia is a full service restaurant, but they do offer takeout Monday-Thursday. They also have a hoagie room for a two hour pizza and hoagie Omakase experience.
Circles + SquaresKensington 2513 Tulip St
Circles + Squares is named after the different shapes their pizza is offered in: thin crust circular pizzas or Detroit-style square pies with a thicker, chewier texture. They offer various toppings, and each pizza is essentially a build-your-own experience. Customers choose between a circle or square pizza, red, cheese, or white, and then add toppings as they see fit.
RioneRittenhouse 102 S 21st St
Rione serves up classic, Roman style pizza – which makes sense, since the owner is a transplant from Rome. They sell pizza al taglio (by the cut) in rectangles cut on the spot. The dough rises for 72 hours, creating a light, airy crust. Produce is bought locally for fresh and seasonal flavors, and others are imported right from Italy.
Pizza BrainFishtown 2313 Frankford Ave
Pizza Brain is another Fishtown pizza shop that makes the best Philadelphia pizza list. It’s also the world’s first pizza museum, with pizza artifacts covering the walls. Pizza Brain features quirky pizza flavors on a thin crust. The pizzas are unusually named, like the Felix Hupert or Wendy Wentworth. They also offer vegan pizza options.
La Rosa PizzaSouth Philly 2106 S Broad St
La Rosa Pizza serves up square pies in South Philly, a simple pizza joint without any bells and whistles. They serve traditional thick crust pizza in a classic, unassuming pizza shop on Broad street. Aside from standard flavors, they are also famous for a potato and rosemary pie.
Blackbird PizzeriaNorthern Liberties 614 N 2nd St
Plenty of pizza shops offer vegan options, but Blackbird Pizzeria is an entirely vegan operation. They sell pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, salads, and sides, all with vegan ingredients. Vegan pizza toppings include seitan, garlic, tofu, and plenty of veggies. While everything at Blackbird Pizza is vegan, it’s a great pick for plant-based diets and meat eaters alike.
PitrucoUniversity City 3401 Walnut St
Pitruco began by making wood-fired pizzas in a food truck before moving to a brick and mortar location in University City, in Franklin’s Table food hall. They still operate their food truck as well, so they may pop up in a location near you. At both the truck and the University City location, Pitruco serves popular, made-to-order Neapolitan pies with a classic crust and plenty of topping options.
Lorenzo & SonsSouth Street Headhouse District 305 South Street
It’s hard to talk about famous Philly pizzas without mentioning Lorenzo and Sons. If you’re looking for a slice of pizza bigger than your head, this is the place to go. While it’s probably not the best pizza in Philly, it is a classic Philadelphia restaurant with huge, gooey slices of pizza. After a night out on South Street, waiting in line for a slice at Lorenzo’s is practically a rite of passage.
Final ThoughtsWhile New Yorkers will protest, Philadelphia has some of the best pizza in the country. Check out the best pizza in Philadelphia or do a tasting tour to find your favorites. Did we forget someone? Let us know your favorite Philadelphia pizza in the comments! If you need help with marketing for your pizza restaurant, contact Restaurant Clicks today! The post Best Pizza in Philadelphia: Where To Get Pizza in Philly in 2020 appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/best-pizza-in-philadelphia/via Blogger Best Pizza in Philadelphia: Where To Get Pizza in Philly in 2020
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Best Food Delivery Services for Restaurants in 2020
Ordering food in is more popular than ever, and with food delivery apps, it’s easier than ever. The market is saturated with food delivery services that offer online ordering platforms and delivery right to your door, with abundant restaurants available online. If your restaurant does not deliver, you may be missing out on sales. Choosing a restaurant delivery service can be difficult however. Each charges fees to both the customers and the restaurant, so it’s important to find a food delivery app that will benefit your restaurant’s business and bring in more customers and income. If you’re looking for a third party delivery service for your restaurant, look no further. We’ve reviewed the most popular food delivery apps available today. Best Food Delivery Apps for Restaurants
DoorDash
DoorDash has surpassed competitors, becoming the most popular food delivery app according to Fortune Magazine. As of 2019, DoorDash had the largest share of the market at 27.6%. DoorDash is a great choice for restaurants and consumers, with low fees and a wide range of locations. DoorDash is available in all 50 states and over 800 US cities. The company takes a commission of about 20% of the restaurant’s order, which is on the lower end of third party delivery services. The fees for customers are on the lower end as well, although they vary by restaurant. DoorDash is also flexible in terms of how restaurants receive orders; they’ll send orders through your restaurant’s preferred method, so it can easily fit with your POS technology. The DoorDash app is very user-friendly and easy to use, so customers have no problem placing orders. The app has GPS tracking, status updates for orders, and customer service. Frequent users can sign up for a DashPass, which gives them free delivery and lower service fees for only $10 a month. DoorDash is one of the best options for restaurants in need of a delivery service for various reasons. First, it has the largest share of the market and a wide range of locations, so plenty of customers can find you on DoorDash. Second, it has low commission fees for restaurants and low service fees for customers. The app is also a plus. If you’re looking for a restaurant delivery service, consider DoorDash. Availability: All 50 states, 900 US cities Commission Fees: ~20% Service Fees: Vary, but lower end
Caviar
Caviar has set itself apart from other food delivery apps as an upscale service, as the name suggests. There are fewer restaurants on Caviar, and some estimates put their market share at only 3% compared to other third party delivery services. Rather than compete with bigger names, however, Caviar has created its own niche of upscale food delivery. Caviar is more selective than other food delivery apps in terms of restaurants it features, drivers, and locations. It is only available in 11 major cities, so it is not an option for many restaurants. The restaurants it does feature are typically high end with more expensive food costs. Customer spending average is significantly higher on Caviar. The commission cost is about 25%, slightly higher than DoorDash but lower than many others. The low commission paired with more expensive food bills is a plus for restaurants that meet Caviar’s criteria. The fees for customers are mid-range, about the same as any other delivery app. The Caviar app is easy to use, with GPS tracking on orders and an accessible customer service line. Caviar is affiliated with Square POS, so it connects directly to this system when sending orders to restaurants. If your restaurant already uses Square, this makes things even easier. For upscale restaurants looking to get into delivery, Caviar is a great option provided you are in one of their service areas. Availability: 11 major cities Commission Fees: ~25% Service Fees: Vary based on restaurant – typically $2 to $8
GrubHub/Seamless
Grubhub was the original online food delivery service, and used to hold the largest share of the market. Grubhub also owns Seamless, and the two share almost the exact same app. Grubhub also bought out other services like Eat24, Foodler, and OrderUp. Grubhub and Seamless together operate in over 2700 US cities, as buying all of those smaller delivery services has widened its range. They have a market share of about 26.9% as of 2019, just behind DoorDash, although they used to have 33%. Grubhub is partnered with a huge number of restaurants and has an estimated 14.5 million users. Grubhub works with so many different restaurants that their commission for restaurants has a wide range – anywhere from 15 to 30%. While 15% is one of the cheapest options for restaurants, 30% is on the higher end. The customer fees on Grubhub range as well from low end to expensive, although these are often countered by delivery deals, discounts, and other perks. One benefit of Grubhub is that they will work with a restaurant’s existing delivery drivers, so you can continue to use drivers you have on staff. They also offer POS integration, so it’s easy for restaurants to receive orders. Another plus is that they can integrate an online order link on your website, so it’s easy for customers on your site to order. The app is also very easy to use. Availability: All 50 states, over 2700 cities Commission Fees: 15-30% Service Fees: Mid-range, depend on restaurant and service area
Postmates
Postmates is a smaller delivery service, but it has great features and many happy customers. As of 2019, Postmates is available in most states and 1500 cities, but has about 12% of the delivery market. This means there are fewer customers using Postmates that will find and order from your restaurant on the platform. The Postmates app is easy to use, and often has discounts offered. The Party section allows users to share a driver with other users in their area ordering from certain restaurants at the same time. This brings in a lot of repeat customers on the food delivery app. Commission costs on Postmates are on the higher end for restaurants at about 30%. This can be a steep price to pay, which is why many restaurants opt for one of the cheaper options. The fees for customers range from very affordable to expensive, so it can be hard to gauge what customers will pay as well. Postmates does offer an unlimited plan for $10 a month or $100 a year that comes with free delivery on all orders over $15, plus other perks like no surge pricing. For restaurants, however, the 30% commission and lower market share makes Postmates a less ideal partner. Availability: All 50 states, over 1500 cities Commission Fees: ~30% Service Fees: Vary, depends on restaurant and service area
UberEats
UberEats is an extension of the rideshare app that delivers food. Because Uber is a widely used service, UberEats has access to a large fleet of drivers and plenty of customers. UberEats is available in over 500 cities in the US and around the world as well, and considering the success of Uber rides, it will likely grow. UberEats pulls about 25% of the market share. There are some benefits of using UberEats, including its decent share of the market and plenty of users. The app is very easy to use, and there are plenty of restaurants partnered. It has GPS tracking for orders and often faster delivery times than some others due to the large number of Uber drivers. There are some drawbacks to using UberEats, however. The drivers are not trained as food delivery drivers, but are rideshare partners who can also pick up food. While food delivery doesn’t require any difficult skills, some UberEats drivers may have mishaps with food. UberEats customer service can be difficult to get ahold of and may have trouble connecting with drivers. The other main drawback for restaurants is that partners of UberEats report at 30-40% commission from each bill. This is a hefty percentage for restaurants to sacrifice, so if there is another food delivery service operating in your area, it may be a better option than UberEats. Availability: All 50 states, over 500 cities Commission Fees: ~30-40% Service Fees: Vary, but on the higher end depending on restaurant and location
DIY Delivery Services
It is worthwhile to consider hiring your own delivery drivers for your restaurant, especially if you get a lot of to-go orders. There are costs to hiring extra staff for delivery, but depending on the third party delivery services in your area, it may be more cost effective to handle deliveries internally. If you do choose to deliver through your own service, there are some costs to consider. You’ll have to hire extra staff to work as delivery drivers, and those costs may also include insurance premiums, gas compensation, and so on. Another expense to consider is the cost of online ordering. Many customers today prefer ordering on an online platform as opposed to calling on the phone, so you may want to build an online ordering system on your website. This can be costly, as you’ll need to hire a developer to make it all happen. The benefit of a DIY delivery service for your restaurant is that you won’t lose any money that the food delivery apps take. To counteract the cost of hiring delivery drivers, some restaurants simply tack on their own delivery fee. If your restaurant has lots of takeout orders, hiring your own delivery drivers may be the better move for your business.
How To Choose a Restaurant Delivery Service
There are plenty of options out there today for food delivery – we listed the top competitors, but others exist. Choosing the best one for your restaurant can be confusing, as you want to make the choice that is best for your restaurant’s profit margins. Look for these factors when choosing a food delivery app partnership.
Availability in Your Location
The first factor to look at to weed out delivery services is availability in your specific location. Not all food delivery apps operate in every city, so you can easily cross off a few by seeing if they deliver in your area. Restaurants in major cities will have plenty of options to choose from, while less populated areas may have fewer food delivery options.
Popularity with Customers
Aside from just availability, you should also look for information regarding their popularity in your area. If one delivery app is available but doesn’t have many users, it won’t really help your restaurant business. You can gauge popularity by doing some research online, asking customers what their preferred delivery app is, or talking to a company rep about their stats in your area. You can also sign up as a customer for various apps to gauge what restaurants are available and which seems the most popular.
Restaurant and Customer Fees
How do fees work on each delivery app? Most charge a service fee to customers as well as a percentage of the bill from the restaurant. The commission rates for each service range from 15-40% of the bill – which comes out of your restaurant’s pockets.
Profit Margins
Consider what rate you can afford to pay the delivery services without losing money. If you only make a 20% profit on your food, a delivery app with a 30% commission fee will not make sense for you. Look at your profit margins and consider the costs before partnering with a food delivery app.
Customer Relationships
You should also consider how your customers will enjoy each app. Using the most popular one in your area or with your customers is a step in the right direction, but you should really consider how your customers order. If a delivery driver does a bad job and the order gets cold or otherwise messed up, it will reflect on your restaurant. Even though the driver is not a staff member, most customers will likely blame the restaurant as well as the delivery service. Partner with a quality delivery service to ensure that food is handled properly and customers are happy.
Final Thoughts
If your restaurant needs a delivery service, we’ve listed the best options for you to pick from. While third party online food delivery can be costly, it can also take some processes of your restaurant’s plate. Consider what works best for your restaurant and reach new customers with one of the best food delivery services. The post Best Food Delivery Services for Restaurants in 2020 appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/best-food-delivery-services-for-restaurants/via Blogger Best Food Delivery Services for Restaurants in 2020
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Bottomless Mimosa Brunch at Miller’s Rest in Nob Hill
Miller’s Rest is serving up a classic comfort food brunch along with bottomless mimosas in the Nob Hill area of San Francisco. This cozy bar and restaurant is bringing back the basics: great food, great hospitality, and a great place to enjoy a meal with friends and family. Visit Miller’s Rest this weekend for a delicious brunch washed down with bottomless mimosas or other brunch cocktails, offered every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Brunch at Miller’s Rest
There are plenty of reasons to love brunch at Miller’s Rest. The restaurant has a uniquely comforting aesthetic, with meals that taste homemade and friendly service to make you feel at home. Miller’s Rest was inspired by owner Mark Miller’s family’s lake cabin from his childhood, also named Miller’s Rest. The restaurant embodies a nostalgia for simpler times spent at the family cabin with food and family around. The owner describes the food at Miller’s rest as “American comfort food, but modernized for today’s palate.” The brunch menu features starters like biscuits and gravy, made fresh daily, or Grandma Pearl’s caramel rolls, served warm. When asked about favorite menu items, Mark Miller mentioned that the shrimp and grits are “really excellent” and tend to be a crowd favorite, as well as the chicken and gravy – made with all natural chicken and homemade peppercorn gravy, and served up with home fries and a fresh buttermilk biscuit.
The hearty menu at Miller’s Rest offers a midwest flair, and they even have a midwest breakfast on the menu (two eggs, chicken apple sausage, hickory bacon, and home fries). The restaurant has lighter options as well, however, as well as classic San Francisco staples like their chilaquiles – another customer favorite. $20 Bottomless MimosasWash down a delicious and filling meal with your choice of brunch cocktails. Miller’s Rest offers a $20 bottomless mimosa special for brunch, but there are plenty of other exciting cocktails to choose from. They serve the classic bloody Mary (with bacon, of course), as well as other cocktails like an aperol spritz, amargo, michelada, and more.
Coffee is available as well, or coffee lovers can enjoy a coffee based cocktail like a breakfast stout or their Great Lakes iced coffee, made with Mr. Black coffee liquor, coconut, Black Strap rum, and cinnamon. Non-alcoholic options include espresso drinks, housemade sodas, or assorted fruit juices. About Miller’s Rest
Miller’s Rest opened its doors in 2017 with hopes of becoming a warm and comforting getaway from busy life, “where the problems and stress of city life melt away”. This approachable, welcoming atmosphere mirrors that of Miller’s childhood lake cabin. The cabin was built by his father over three years, resulting in the name “Miller’s Rest” since the family could finally relax and enjoy their time together on the lake. Mark Miller reminisces that food was a big part of life at the cabin, with mom cooking in the kitchen and the family gathering together at meal times. “Translating that to the restaurant was fairly natural,” he says, and much of the food at Miller’s Rest is inspired by family recipes passed down over the years. Mark and his wife Teri now run the restaurant together, hoping to provide the same kind of comfort for their customers. Miller’s Rest is open daily for lunch and dinner, and serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 4:00. Call or visit online to make a reservation today. The post Bottomless Mimosa Brunch at Miller’s Rest in Nob Hill appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/millers-rest-brunch/via Blogger Bottomless Mimosa Brunch at Miller’s Rest in Nob Hill |
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