Like any restaurant, theme restaurants may experience some difficulties. Fortunately for the owners we interviewed, they have managed to adapt deal with their situation. The Inn of the Red Dragon, one of the restaurants owned by one of the owners, is open since 1992 and continues to attract a clientele fond of medieval dishes. What explains their success? What remains to be improved in order to extend this success? The owners talk about their winning recipe.
La Chope Goblin
According to Anne-Marie Bédard, co-owner, La Chope Goblin would be the only restaurant in Québec to adopt a medieval theme, making it one of its strengths: "It's also something very family friendly, t- added she. Immediately, at the first glance, you feel at home, with friends. »
However, Ms. Bédard that the service can be long, especially when planning a group outing. According to her, further adjustments are to be made: "We hope to have more minstrels, even more workers, more diversity in our game to be able to discover more things to people. "She would also provide more facilities, a service offering menus designed for groups of 20 people or more.
L'Auberge du Dragon Rouge Le Cabaret du Roy
Just like La Chope Goblin, service time can become a disadvantage. But Martin Gauthier believes that the value added in animation is a specialty of its restaurants: "What we managed to do is to make people live not only a meal, but an experience. [...] It goes far beyond the food service. It is really more in the social portion, entertainment, show. »
The Fourquet Fourchette
Unlike the restaurants mentioned above, the animation was not considered by Richard Rassi. Taking into account its experience in catering and accommodation, it ensures to provide good service to customers while giving importance to their comments. That is why he believes that the strength of the restaurant is in the occupation of a very special market peak (beer and food), but also in the country's wine offers and those of France: "We work a lot with regional producers and our regional associations, which gives us great visibility in our market, "he adds.
On the weaknesses of the institution, he would like to make changes in their food supply. "It means working more traditional recipes, he says. And may also be more up to date with our computer equipment and means of collection of customer information. »
Having a theme restaurant
If you had the idea to open a theme restaurant, the owners we interviewed offer these tips, starting with Ms. Bédard, is simple: "The important thing is to be go with a theme that we like a lot. »
For his part, Mr. Gauthier gave an overview on the situation: "To restore the theme and it persists, it takes a search in details, but at all points of view whether the decor, kitchen , staff, menu, how to interact with customers to either consistent with the theme. »
A board that is also reflected in the one given by Mr. Rassi, which is to "think carefully about its product. Carefully study the market in which [the restaurant] wants to offer it and afford to wait. "This can mean, among others, to have a financial cushion against hard times.
Whether you are passionate about knights and pirates, it is possible to create your theme restaurant, on condition of being well prepared. For those less adventurous, these places are nevertheless ideal suggestions for group outings. You simply need to be patient and be carried away by the atmosphere ...
