| People visiting a pizza shop or restaurant will normally | | | | In a more "fancy" restaurant, you will also have the |
| expect to find more options than just a couple of | | | | flexibility to be more creative with your pizza |
| pizza toppings. Sure, there are some pizza shops that | | | | toppings. In addition to the typical fare, such as |
| are so well known for a certain pizza that no one | | | | sausage and pepperoni, you could add more |
| would even notice if they cut their menu down to | | | | sophisticated choices such as margherita pizza. |
| one or two items, but that is not normally the case. | | | | You will need to have 6-10 choices for appetizers and |
| What items you include on your menu depend on | | | | about the same number of dessert choices. |
| several factors, and menu planning should be one of | | | | Clientèle |
| the steps you complete very early in your plans | | | | Who do you think will be eating in your |
| when opening a new shop or restaurant. Here are a | | | | establishment? Will it be people who need to grab a |
| couple of things to consider when beginning your | | | | quick bite during lunch? Will it be the hot spot for a |
| menu planning. | | | | romantic dinner? What should people expect when |
| Style of Shop or Restaurant | | | | they walk in? The answer to these questions should |
| What type of restaurant or shop do you envision? | | | | have an impact on your menu choices. |
| Do you picture an upscale establishment with cloth | | | | If customers will be making a quick stop, then having |
| napkins and fine china, or a corner shop where a slice | | | | a limited menu will benefit both them and you. They |
| is served on a paper plate? Both types of places are | | | | won't have to browse endless choices, and you can |
| great, but they are different and require different | | | | keep the popular items ready to go during peak |
| menus. | | | | times, thus decreasing the time you leave your |
| Casual | | | | customers waiting. This will be very important if you |
| For a more casual shop, the old standards may be | | | | are catering to a lunch hour crowd. |
| enough. If you're going to serve only pizza, offer | | | | For people who are going out for a nice dinner, they |
| 10-12 toppings and a few basic starters, such as | | | | want to have a menu with options. Offering |
| breadsticks, onion rings or French fries, and you'll | | | | appetizers in a nicer restaurant is a great way to |
| have a menu appropriate to open your doors. | | | | boost profits. A couple dining out isn't going to order |
| If you want to include sandwiches, keep it simple at | | | | a third entrée, but there is a good chance |
| first. Don't have a lot of sandwich choices as this will | | | | they will order an appetizer if the options are |
| mean a much higher investment in the beginning. | | | | appealing enough. |
| Instead, offer a few sandwiches and do them well. | | | | The same goes for dessert. Offer several choices |
| As your business grows you can add additional | | | | that will appeal to a variety of diners. |
| sandwiches, salads and other items. | | | | No matter what type of restaurant or shop you plan |
| Upscale | | | | to open, remember that you can always add items |
| If you want to open a more upscale restaurant, the | | | | as your business grows. It's much better to add |
| menu needs will be different. You'll need to offer | | | | items later than to start with a menu that is too big |
| appetizers, pizza, and dessert. You should also include | | | | and have to take items off. |
| a large variety of sandwiches and, ideally, other | | | | With careful planning your menu can be one thing |
| entrée choices such as pasta dishes or salads. | | | | that helps makes your business a success. |