It is no secret that many people in our society are overweight. It is also no secret that eating out is one of the favorite pastimes. As the owner of a restaurant, one issue you will need to address is the size of the portions of the food you offer. If you are part of a chain restaurant then this will already be decided for you. As an independent though you will need to come up with something reasonable.
You have to be able to find the balance between giving them enough food and too much. You don't want your customers leaving and still feeling hungry. You also don't want them leaving a great deal of food behind that they didn't finish. It isn't always possible to take the remaining food home to eat later. Some of it just doesn't taste good reheated either.
The price that you charge for the meals needs to be comparative to the size of the portions as well. Each customer should leave there feeling like they got enough food for what it cost them. I know I have left some restaurants astonished by the total bill and I won't be going back. A tip to understand is that you are better off giving smaller portions and lower prices then too much food and a high price for it.
It is important to be consistent with portion sizes as well. Some Mexican food places serve small burritos so you need to order two of them to get enough to eat. Others have huge burritos so one is often more than enough to eat. In fact, some of it will be left behind on the plate untouched.
It isn't just the restaurant owner who has to be concerned about how much food will be on each plate. Customers really take an interest in this as well. It can be frustrating when you don't order enough food because you assumed it would be more than it was. It can also be overwhelming when you get way too much food for you to eat at one meal.
Customers who frequent certain locations will learn what the portions look like. It will vary significantly from one restaurant to the next. This can make it difficult to eat at someplace new though. It is a prime reason why so many travelers look for chain restaurants. They know exactly what they will be given and the portions they can expect as well.
How much food you offer is an issue you really need to take a close look at before you get ready to open or to set your prices. It is one of those details that most of us don't think about unless we are a part of such a business. Make sure you compare what you are thinking of offering to other restaurants in the area. You want to be comparable so that your customers will be happy.
There are many customers who dine out but that watch calories and portion sizes. They want to be able to enjoy a decent sized meal as well. They don't want to be paying for heaps of food they will never touch. Do your best to balance things out so you can keep your customers coming back for more.
About the Author:
Amazingly Patricia Farnham actually knows what whe is talking about when it comes to the restaurant industry. Read her insight on starting a restaurant.
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