Case Study: Launching a New Continental Restaurant in Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Restro Consulting
- Sep 29, 2024
- 5 min read
Client: Le Bistro Continental, a new continental restaurant in Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Restro Consulting was hired as the restaurant consultant to set up and launch the business.
Disclaimer: Some names have been changed as per our Non-Disclosure Agreement with the client.
Background:
Le Bistro Continental was an ambitious project aimed at bringing continental cuisine to Bhubaneswar, targeting food lovers who craved a fine dining experience. They wanted to serve Mexican, Italian, and European dishes in their restaurant cum cafe. The owner, Priya N., had a vision for a chic, modern restaurant with an innovative menu. However, as a first-time restaurateur, she needed expert guidance on setting up the restaurant from scratch, covering everything from kitchen design and menu development to staffing and cost control. Their major competitors in Bhubaneswar were Baron & Baroness, Mayfair and Bling It On, which are located in the city centre.
Challenges:
1.Lack of Operational Knowledge
As a first-time restaurant owner, Priya had limited experience in managing restaurant operations. She had other businesses but wanted to enter the food industry as well. She needed a step-by-step plan to set up and run her restaurant efficiently.
“ Bhubaneswar is a growing market for the food industry with an annual growth rate of over 15% and hence I wanted to tap in this industry while adding another business vertical in my portfolio”.
— Priya N., Owner of Le Bistro Continental
2.Kitchen Design and Equipment Planning
She had shortlisted a shop for her restaurant but before going into the final agreement, she wanted to make sure if the space was adequate as per her plans. She also had confusion that the kitchen space might have limitations in size and layout, and it was essential to design a kitchen that optimized space, workflow, and safety.
“I had partnered with an architecture and interior designer agency but they were not an expert in commercial kitchens. Hence, it was important to outsource my kitchen set-up to an expert restaurant consultant who specialised in continental kitchen”
3.Menu Concept and Development
Le Bistro Continental wanted to offer a unique continental menu that was both innovative and profitable. The menu should feature Mexican, Italian, and European food. However, the challenge was in knowing the food preferences of the people in the locality she selected and designing a winning menu.
“ I loved continental food myself and I couldn’t find genuine options in Bhubaneswar apart from a few premium restaurants like Mayfair and Bling It On. So, I wanted to give the people of Bhubaneswar another option to taste continental food at a budget while maintaining quality in par with the premium ones”
4.Staff Hiring and Training
Priya didn’t have the experience and knowledge in culinary skills and hence hiring the right staff was a big challenge. She was also unaware what salary should she offer to her staff that was within her budget and profitable margins.
Solution Provided:
Restro Consulting partnered closely with Priya to turn her vision into a reality, providing a comprehensive solution that covered every major aspect of setting up her new restaurant.
1.Kitchen Planning & Set-Up
Initially, we rejected three spaces shortlisted by her as they were not adequate. The problems included lack of space, drainage issues, equipment positioning height, water and power connections issues.
We finally found the right shop for her restaurant and started our set-up. We designed a space-efficient kitchen layout that optimized the available area for food preparation, cooking, and storage while ensuring compliance with safety and health standards. The setup included:
A detailed workflow plan to ensure a smooth process from food preparation to serving.
Selection of energy-efficient, high-quality equipment suited to the continental menu we had planned.
Segregation of workstations to reduce overlap and improve operational smoothness during busy periods.
Properly identifying the location of each equipment so that they do not get damaged once operational.
Food for thought !!
“Do you know what should be the minimum distance between a cooking oven and the refrigerator in your commercial kitchen to ensure equipment efficiency and safety?
2.Menu Development & Pricing Strategy
We worked with Priya to develop a menu that was aligned to the food preferences of her target customers, balancing creativity with profitability and practicality. The menu was curated based on local and international trends, and included:
Identifying the menu offered by competitors, their quality and pricing.
Developing cost effective ingredient sourcing strategy. We had the knowledge of suppliers in Bhubaneswar and so we were able to provide her an effective solution to this.
A focus on signature dishes that would differentiate Le Bistro Continental in the local market. Our menu included some signature dishes like Red Wine and Beer Wings, Crispy Lotus Stem, signature Chicken and Fish steak, Lamb Chops and Mexican Fettuccine Pasta.
Implementation of a tiered pricing strategy that maximized profit margins while remaining affordable for the target customers.
3.Staff Recruitment & Training
The first and most important step was hiring the head chef. We know from our experience that a chef can make or break a new restaurant. We conducted thorough interviews with food trials and selected an highly qualified head chef. Further steps included:
Recruiting assistant chefs with experience in continental cuisine and front-of-house staff trained in fine dining service.
Designing a training program for all staff, covering everything from food safety and hygiene to customer service excellence.
Results:
By hiring us as their restaurant consulting partner in Bhubaneswar, our client was able to achieve the below results.
1. A Near Perfect Launch and Positive Market Entry:
Le Bistro Continental launched their restaurant on the scheduled date. There was no operation problem due to a well-organized kitchen, and a trained staff. The restaurant received positive feedback from day one, avoiding panic and chaos that happens in new establishments.
2. Smooth Kitchen Operations:
Kitchen equipments, work stations and workflow worked without any hassle which reduced prep time and minimized errors during service. As a result, the restaurant was able to serve the first time customers with great satisfaction and handle peak dining hours with ease.
3. Successful Menu Reception:
The menu was a hit because it was different from their competitors while meeting the food preferences of the local customers. The pricing strategy ensured a strong profit margin, with 30% of the menu items quickly becoming customer favourites, generating consistent repeat business.
4. Skilled Staff and Exceptional Service:
The entire staff delivered exceptional service as they were experienced and trained. A professional chef ensured consistency in food quality. This resulted in positive reviews from customers and a high rate of repeat diners. The restaurant has built a unique branding and reputation of their own and have been operating successfully at the time of writing this case study.
Client Testimonial:
"As a first-time restaurant owner, I was completely overwhelmed with where to start. Retroconsulting assigned me a highly qualified chef , Mr. Tapas Nayak, who not only guided me through every step of the process but also provided solutions that made sense for my restaurant and market. Thanks to their help, we launched on time, and the feedback from customers has been amazing. I couldn’t have done this without their expertise!"— Priya N., Owner of Le Bistro Continental
Conclusion:
By hiring us as their restaurant consultant, Le Bistro Continental successfully launched as one of the premier continental dining destinations in Bhubaneswar. With a well-planned kitchen, profitable menu, and a dedicated team, the restaurant was set up for sustainable growth and long-term success.
Contact Us:
Are you planning to open a new restaurant or cafe in Bhubaneswar? Let us help you turn your vision into a reality. Contact us today for a free consultation!
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