I have been asked to do an evaluation on a website to find its strengths and weaknesses. I chose to use your website for Brownstone’s Restaurant and Bar, http://www.brownstones.com. I would like to start off by saying that I chose this site because I have never been there, so I felt that I could have an unbiased opinion. Also, it would allow me to view this site as a customer who was trying to learn more about the restaurant itself to decide whether or not I would like to dine there.
I would like to first say how much I like the simplicity of navigating through this site. It offers just enough information on the home page and gives you links to everything else you need to know. The entire site flows this way. I really like the fact that even the menu is done in this style. It is broken down into several different categories and if you select to learn more it then give you a list of all of the menu items in that selected category along with their descriptions. I find that oftentimes restaurants choose to just list their entire menu in order on their site along with the descriptions. This leaves the website viewers to spend a large chunk of their time scrolling up and down the page while trying to find something that might entice them. I think that keeping everything separated into different categories that people can choose to select if they want to is a wonderful idea.
There are a few things that I think might make the menu section even better. One thing I noticed is that all of the menu pages are simply a white background with black text, I think that simply changing the color of the names of the menu items, and possibly placing some of your most popular or signature dishes in bold would make a huge difference. This would just help people to differentiate between the different items and give them some recommended dishes. I also think that there should be a few pictures on the different menu pages. I am not saying to put a photograph of every menu item, but to instead use some of your best sellers from the menu section and include pictures of those. I noticed that there is a lot of blank space on the bottoms of the different menu pages; this could easily be fixed by adding the pictures I discussed earlier.
Another suggestion that I world like to make is in regards to the home page. There is a description on the home page of the type of food that the restaurant serves, and mentions a few of there signature dishes. However, the slideshow goes so quickly that it took me three times to completely read it. If it was just slowed down by a few seconds then it would be much easier to read. A lot of people visiting the site for the first time might get upset or feel dumb because they could not read it all the way through the first time.
I think that this site is very well designed. It has all of the information that I think should be on a restaurant website. I really like all of the categories and sub-categories that are hyperlinked on the site. I do think that they should include more photos of their food and drinks. I also wish they would put their drink specials online. This a large selling point to a lot of people, especially in a college town. I did really like the fact that they listed all of their upcoming entertainment for the next month and a half. It always looks good to have a well maintained and up to date website. The few things that I suggested changing on the site were just to make it look a little more appealing to the average person who has never been to the restaurant before. I hope that I might have suggested at least one thing that you might consider.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Collaborative Writing Project Progress Report
The project my group is working on is to help a small business called T-Bones Records and Café. T-Bones Records and Café is a business located down town on Hardy St that provides people with music, movies, entertainment and a place to hang out and get a coffee and bite to eat. My group plans to provide the owner Harry Crumpler with a flyer. The flyer we are going to make will help advertise T-Bones Records and Café’s Web site and café. The one thing Mr. Crumpler said he needs held with for his business is advertisement for his Web site and café. The Web site and café are very new and Mr. Crumpler felt as if it might need some advertisement.
So far the group project has gone great. We have been meeting every Monday to discuss what we need to get done each week and who will be doing it. Some of the things we have accomplished are the group proposal, the interview by the owner of T-Bones Records and café, and what the focus of the project will be done on. What I mean by the focus of the project is the flyer and how we will go about distributing it. We will be distributing the flyer by a preferred mailing list that will be provided by Mr. Crumpler. The work necessary to be done next for our group project would be coming up with how many and how much the flyers will cost to distribute in Hattiesburg. Other things to get done are how we will present or group project to the class.
All progress on the group project to this point has gone great with little set backs. The only problem we had was early in the project, when we were trying to come up with a small business to do the project on. The business we first tried was Main Street Books and we had a hard time trying to set up an interview with them. So after multiple times of trying to set up an interview and the owner saying she was too busy, we went with T-Bones Records and Café. I think since we decided on T-Bones Records and Café everything has gone much smoother and we are getting a lot done.
I believe as long as we keep meeting every Monday and try to get something done each week we will have a very good group project. The dynamics of everyone in the group has been going great and each person in the group has contributed to the project. I hope we keep up the good work and accomplish our goal, which of course is to get an A+ on the project and secondly to provide T-Bones Records and Café with successful publicity on their Web site and café.
So far the group project has gone great. We have been meeting every Monday to discuss what we need to get done each week and who will be doing it. Some of the things we have accomplished are the group proposal, the interview by the owner of T-Bones Records and café, and what the focus of the project will be done on. What I mean by the focus of the project is the flyer and how we will go about distributing it. We will be distributing the flyer by a preferred mailing list that will be provided by Mr. Crumpler. The work necessary to be done next for our group project would be coming up with how many and how much the flyers will cost to distribute in Hattiesburg. Other things to get done are how we will present or group project to the class.
All progress on the group project to this point has gone great with little set backs. The only problem we had was early in the project, when we were trying to come up with a small business to do the project on. The business we first tried was Main Street Books and we had a hard time trying to set up an interview with them. So after multiple times of trying to set up an interview and the owner saying she was too busy, we went with T-Bones Records and Café. I think since we decided on T-Bones Records and Café everything has gone much smoother and we are getting a lot done.
I believe as long as we keep meeting every Monday and try to get something done each week we will have a very good group project. The dynamics of everyone in the group has been going great and each person in the group has contributed to the project. I hope we keep up the good work and accomplish our goal, which of course is to get an A+ on the project and secondly to provide T-Bones Records and Café with successful publicity on their Web site and café.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Beginning My Job Search
1. Chili’s Grill and Bar- Restaurant Manager
• Minimum of 2 years of restaurant management experience (preferably in Full Service/Casual Dining)
• High energy, a fun loving personality, and leadership skills to inspire a team
• Must have the ability to create an unforgettable guest experience
Chili's Grill and Bar
2. Kitchen Manager- Restaurant Express Employment Service
• Must have a good track record as a kitchen manager
• Must be able to coordinate staff and resources in a high volume environment
• Must have strong communication skills
• Must have the ability to control food, labor, and waste costs
• Must have a positive, result oriented attitude
Kitchen Manager
3. The Saltgrass Steak House-Front Manager
• Must be able to ensure guest satisfaction
• Needs 2 plus years of successful managing in a medium to high volume full service restaurant
• Must be upbeat and energetic
• Must be versed in writing schedules and meeting or beating budgeted labor cost
The Saltgrass Steak House
4. Eldorado Hotel-Assistant Restaurant Manager
• Should have previous fine dining restaurant supervisory experience, excellent communication skills, and a positive attitude
• Fine dining experience is required
• Must have a 4 year’s bachelor’s degree
• Must be able to direct employees to ensure that every guest is 100% satisfied
Eldorado Hotel
I think I have the skills, training, and accomplishments required to fill any of the positions that I have been looking into. Since beginning my current job I have worked my way up from a bus boy, through every position in the kitchen, and am now a kitchen manager. I have a lot of knowledge about how to work every position in the kitchen and can train any new employee that comes into the kitchen on any station. The ability to properly train staff is a requirement for most of the jobs that I have been looking at. Also, as a kitchen manager I am required to help control labor and food cost. This knowledge will greatly help me whenever I apply for jobs in the near future. I have 14 years of restaurant experience in a medium to high volume Full Service restaurant, and have spent 6 of these years in a management position. This experience will be a big plus on any job resume. I have also developed my own ways to motivate the staff during my shifts. I stay positive and keep an upbeat attitude to keep them going throughout the shift. The ability to keep your employees motivated is another key skill for the jobs that I hope to apply for.
The job that I think I would be most qualified for is with Chili’s Grill and Bar. I have the experience in management that is necessary for the job. Also, the restaurant that I currently work for is a similar concept for it would be an easy transition for me. In my resume I would make sure to include my degree in Tourism Management. I feel that having this degree will look really good on my resume when attempting to get a job in restaurant management. Also, I would make sure to include my many years of experience working in a restaurant, as well as, the years that I have spent as a kitchen manager. I would also include the fact that my restaurant is a training store for new managers, and I have helped to train them throughout the years. I have also helped to re-train managers on new ways of doing things. I would include my skills in PowerPoint, and Excel. I am also bi-lingual in English and Spanish. I think that all of the experience and skills that I have would make my resume look very promising if I applied for this job.
• Minimum of 2 years of restaurant management experience (preferably in Full Service/Casual Dining)
• High energy, a fun loving personality, and leadership skills to inspire a team
• Must have the ability to create an unforgettable guest experience
Chili's Grill and Bar
2. Kitchen Manager- Restaurant Express Employment Service
• Must have a good track record as a kitchen manager
• Must be able to coordinate staff and resources in a high volume environment
• Must have strong communication skills
• Must have the ability to control food, labor, and waste costs
• Must have a positive, result oriented attitude
Kitchen Manager
3. The Saltgrass Steak House-Front Manager
• Must be able to ensure guest satisfaction
• Needs 2 plus years of successful managing in a medium to high volume full service restaurant
• Must be upbeat and energetic
• Must be versed in writing schedules and meeting or beating budgeted labor cost
The Saltgrass Steak House
4. Eldorado Hotel-Assistant Restaurant Manager
• Should have previous fine dining restaurant supervisory experience, excellent communication skills, and a positive attitude
• Fine dining experience is required
• Must have a 4 year’s bachelor’s degree
• Must be able to direct employees to ensure that every guest is 100% satisfied
Eldorado Hotel
I think I have the skills, training, and accomplishments required to fill any of the positions that I have been looking into. Since beginning my current job I have worked my way up from a bus boy, through every position in the kitchen, and am now a kitchen manager. I have a lot of knowledge about how to work every position in the kitchen and can train any new employee that comes into the kitchen on any station. The ability to properly train staff is a requirement for most of the jobs that I have been looking at. Also, as a kitchen manager I am required to help control labor and food cost. This knowledge will greatly help me whenever I apply for jobs in the near future. I have 14 years of restaurant experience in a medium to high volume Full Service restaurant, and have spent 6 of these years in a management position. This experience will be a big plus on any job resume. I have also developed my own ways to motivate the staff during my shifts. I stay positive and keep an upbeat attitude to keep them going throughout the shift. The ability to keep your employees motivated is another key skill for the jobs that I hope to apply for.
The job that I think I would be most qualified for is with Chili’s Grill and Bar. I have the experience in management that is necessary for the job. Also, the restaurant that I currently work for is a similar concept for it would be an easy transition for me. In my resume I would make sure to include my degree in Tourism Management. I feel that having this degree will look really good on my resume when attempting to get a job in restaurant management. Also, I would make sure to include my many years of experience working in a restaurant, as well as, the years that I have spent as a kitchen manager. I would also include the fact that my restaurant is a training store for new managers, and I have helped to train them throughout the years. I have also helped to re-train managers on new ways of doing things. I would include my skills in PowerPoint, and Excel. I am also bi-lingual in English and Spanish. I think that all of the experience and skills that I have would make my resume look very promising if I applied for this job.
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