Qualified to open a restaurant?

It is the dream of many a person to start up a restaurant and many of those people who are able to raise some capital end up doing so.

However, it’s very well known that the restaurant industry is one of the most saturated and competitive industries in the world and unless you have an edge, you’re not likely to make it.

All too often we see restaurants that have been open for less than a year or two boarding up their windows because they were unable to make it. Budding restaurateurs are too wrapped up in the excitement of realizing their dream that they fail to think clearly about their business plan.

It was drawn to write a brief note on this matter after an incident yesterday that got me to thinking how all sorts of people end up owning restaurants and whether they are suited to doing so.

I was at Benedetto’s Ristorante Italiano in Land O’ Lakes, FL (near Tampa) yesterday for lunch and was rather enjoying it, when, while paying the bill, the owner (who is also the chef) had a bit of a tantrum in front of house with his staff and a photographer, in plain view of the guests and proceeded to use a good many expletives at the top of his voice.

Well, that event understandably turned my opinion about the restaurant (I was forced to recall an episode of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, where the couple who owned the restaurants would frequently fight with each other and the guests in front of house).

When I got home, I proceeded to review my experience at my website, Restaurant World Tour and thought nothing more of the matter. However I logged on to my website this morning and much to my amusement, the owner had registered and proceeded to bombard the site with CAPS-loaded, childish remarks about me, the site, my review and the other reviews on the site.

It just furthered proved his immaturity and irrational nature and I find it hard to understand how people like this can open restaurants (and keep them open).

Just to clarify, Benedetto’s is quite a nice restaurant and serves up some pretty decent Italian food. Just try to avoid any interaction with the owner.