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EyeSpy’s Restaurant & Hospitality Business Blog
A Guide to More Efficient Outdoor Seating Layouts
If you're a restaurateur with precious outdoor space, the challenge is to charm as many diners as possible into those seats without sacrificing the oh-so-crucial ambiance. Here are some tips for maximizing your outdoor seating arrangements. Know Your Kingdom...
New Restaurant Playbook Part 3: How to Choose the Right General Contractor
Opening a restaurant is an exciting venture, but without the right team in place, it can quickly become overwhelming. One of the most critical hires? A General Contractor (GC). Our CEO, Mistie Boulton, sat down with Sam Carlson, owner and founder of Carlson Construction, to discuss how restaurant owners can choose the best GC for their project. With years of experience handling commercial tenant improvements and restaurant build-outs, Sam shares valuable insights on what to look for, what to avoid, and how to set your project up for success.
The Art of Food Plating: Enhancing Visual Appeal to Boost Sales
When dining out, our first taste is with the eyes. Every restaurant knows that the secret to a diner’s heart often begins with visually stunning plates. EyeSpy restaurant consulting uncovers how the art of plating can elevate a meal’s appeal and, yes, boost those sales.
New Restaurant Playbook Part 2. How to Choose the Perfect Space
Opening a restaurant is a thrilling journey, but it’s also one filled with unexpected challenges—many of which can be mitigated with the right architect on board. Our CEO Mistie Boulton sat down with Jimmy Turner, founder of Studio Turn Architecture, to discuss the ins and outs of restaurant design.
Proactive Strategies for Restaurants Facing New 25% Tariffs on Key Imports
An estimated $12 billion potential impact on the restaurant industry of a 25% Mexican and Canadian tariff on food and drinks is worrying us all. Essential items like specialty cheeses, wines, seafood, and even specific kitchen equipment that are typically...
Spring Sips: Refreshing Beverage Trends to Elevate Your Restaurant Menu
As spring breathes new life into your locale, it’s the perfect time for you, the restaurant owner, to infuse your beverage menu with a fresh twist. Here’s your cheat sheet for crafting a spring beverage menu that mirrors the freshness of the season and caters to the eclectic tastes of your patrons.
2025 Restaurant Interior Design Trends
While we very much believe in timeless design choices, there are some cool trends emerging in the restaurant space and so we thought we’d share the ones that we think will stick and are worth doing. Here is a list.
New Restaurant Playbook Part 1. Lessons in Opening a Champagne Bar from Melanie Bauer
Opening a bar is no easy feat. From navigating financials to finding the right location, every step presents its own challenges. As Melanie Bauer prepares to open Winston Champagne Bar in the summer, she sat down with our CEO and owner Mistie Boulton (also the CEO and co-owner of Oren’s Hummus Restaurant Group), to discuss what she wishes she had known before embarking on her first hospitality entrepreneurial venture.
Fresh Spring Menu Ideas
Spring is coming! That means fresh tangy flavors, mocktails, salads, tarts, and more. Here’s a refresher on spring ingredients and some suggestions for how to incorporate them into your menu. 1. Peas: Sweet and Bright Peas burst with sweetness and are perfect for...
Elevating St. Patrick’s Day: Crafting a Refined Dining and Cocktail Experience
St. Patrick's Day can get kind of corny. We’ve put together a few ideas that transcend the typical green beer. Tell us which ones you use! Crafting a Memorable Ambiance Sophisticated Decor: Move away from clichéd decorations and choose elegant emerald green textiles,...