In the next couple of months i intend to put in application to build a cafe/resturaunt.
Now i already have a customer base comming to the buisness so i know a cafe will work,also my family has run a restauraunt for 11 years before so we know whats invloved.

The question is

1 Are you more likely to recommend a restauraunt that cooks authentic thai food with an alternative western menu.

2 Or a restauraunt that just cooks thai food that is more western friendly.

I personally want to go with my first choice,yet some of our friends/thai friends too have said the second choice and no western alternative.

Also with the initial project going to be a cafe i can put free authentic thai appetisers in the day time to get some feed back and hopefully wet their taste buds.

So what kind of restauraunt would you recommend to your friends if they where after thai food.

Any feed back will be much appreciated

Greg

I think option 1. But obviously maybe only a couple of western options.

There's always someone who is unwilling to try something different and it will just take that one person to possibly prevent larger parties visiting a particular eatery.Even then I'd have some toned down Thai options available. My poor mouth still has an issue with chillies!

I would be interesting to know what the "norm" is for a Thai restaurant but I have no idea because I haven't even looked for western food on a Thai restaurant menu for some strange reason.

It would have to be Option 1 for me, sometimes you will have groups where one of the party has a 'limited' palette.

A small farang alternative is worth having if only to placate the unadventurous.

Greg
What will your opening hours be if a cafe?
Having you got passing trade?
A restaurant normaly opens lunchtimes and evenings.
And if I was going to recommend Thai food it would have to be at a Thai restaurant only.
A Thai restaurant does not look too upmarket with bangers and mash on the menu.
On the other hand a cafe can pay for its overheads by selling cups of tea at 40 to 60 p.
But must have allday breakfast English.
Rice soup with chicken does not go down too well with us brickies first thing on a cold morning.
Ps there is a Thai english cafe in Boscombe Bournemouth he is Thai and sells English food and some Thai it is always full. open 7am to 7pm
The proof is in the pudding. (spotted dick and custard)

Bilbo

The cafe would have fexible opening hours,as the garden centre opens between 9.ooam and 5pm then we would go with the flow.
The cafe would only sell home made produce for e.g scons, gateaus,pies,flap jack freshly made sandwichs made with freshly made bread etc etc and real cups of coffee.

I suppose the idea i have got in mind is it to intice people in with the smell of the cooking even if you were'nt hungry.

As for the restauraunt i have a vision that not only will it be great food i want the customer to feel that while they are enjoying your meals you actually felt you were in LOS.

Greg

quote:

Originally posted by Greg / Pairin:
i want the customer to feel that while they are enjoying your meals you actually felt you were in LOS.

Complete with urchins selling roses and fake Rolexes?

Only joking, Greg, sounds a great idea. I'd go for option 1. As already said, it only takes one in a party who "wont eat that foreign muck" for a whole party to go elsewhere.

Best of luck.

Greg, just let us know when it is open! If she could Nat would spend at least one day per week looking around garden centres and buying up half their stock ... the garden here has never been so full of plants ... and the added attraction of Thai cooking will prove irresistible!

OK a bit of a drive for us ... about three hours? .... but nevertheless just let us know when the café is open!

I think your option 1 is the one to go for.

It really depends on what your customer base is.

As you indicate that it is a garden centre and you are promoting the healthier side of eatting some Thai dishes may go down well, but IMHO I think that people are really looking for the english/european type food but you could try some Thai dishes and see how they go down.

***** late edit *****
So I would have to opt for option 21.

There is a thai cafe in a coop shopping centre near our village here in Switzerland and they offer thai food with a limited menu that changes on a daily basis and according to season etc.

They are very successful but the food is cooked to western palettes unless you specifically request authentic food in which case they will if not mega busy spice it up.

I would take option 1 but maybe offer an oriental buffet type lunch and see what happens.

ash

I second option "1".

Maybe a buffet or quivalent of Thai "tapas"...if you get my drift, so people could taste a variety of dishes to find one which tickles their fancy.

You never know, you might be able to do that and maybe get into outside catering?

I wish you every success.


Nick

Have a "Greasy Spoon" menu for the locals with a limited Thai menu, stuff with a high profit margin. Thai curries, made in bulk, warmed up in the microwave, or boil in the bag.
Bottles of fish sauce on the tables, instead of HP will help the cafe look more authentic.

When you do finally open, don't forget to post details in the forum. Jenny has been virtually begging me for ages to take her up to the lakes - this would give us an excuse

In my experience, garden centre cafes are full of pensioners every weekday lunchtime, which suggests keeping the thai menu down to a few staples. Incidentally, (despite not being a pensioner), I find garden centres a really usefl place to stop for lunch on long business trips - far better than motorway services or little chefs. One serving thai food would be wonderful.

Ian

Greg,

When you decide what you're doing - it just so happens that I know a good Planning Consultant, his rates are exhorbitant though as he has to pay for several trips to Thailand every year

quote:

Greg,

When you decide what you're doing - it just so happens that I know a good Planning Consultant, his rates are exhorbitant though as he has to pay for several trips to Thailand every year

I know a good taster of Thai food and a lot cheaper than Flip's only a return flight to UK needed for two

Thanx for the feed back guys

Mind you i think i will have to make it extra extra authentic for flip and mervyn,then they can check out the fire extinguisher too

If all goes to plan i would like a spring 2006 opening to catch the gardening trade but its going to be pushing it.

I'm going to take photos and get some thai menus on our xmas trip to LOS,then i will have a better idea how to plan and decorate inside.

Thanx again

Greg

Ok Greg
Remember it needs only a responsible person to be able to check the fire extinguishers no qualifications - dont fall for - you need Chub to do the job. Do it yourself and keep a record that you check them every year.
All the best with your Spring opening but does that give you enought time to get the nine monks organised to do all the blessings, also remember that no 9 is the lucky day
and no even number of Bhudas in the place

down here in jersey we have flower nursery that has cafe
the food is mostly european style with some thai dishes
and only main course. they sell good quantity on the weekends of thai food.

the main two garden centres sell food one has couple thai dishes only this particular garden centre has one best garden centre award great britain seats 200.

garden centres tend to attract older more stayed people who tend not to eat thai type food.

for me it would be option 3.

good menu of european food and english with some thai dishes
forget looking in thailand pick up some local thai menus and pick out some selected dishes.

closing at 5pm means lunch time food and fill in food at other hours.

sean