Be careful and get some real good advice from the local restaurant association. you don't have to have training or even a lot of experience to run a restaurant successfully, but a lot of them fail because the people get in over their heads with the overhead. You need to get good advice from an accountant that does restaurants. Most people starting up go in with the attitude of "I know good food and I want the menu to be this and the plates to look like that. I want the decor to be this and the walls to be like that. etc. The absolute first question to ask is: "Who are my customers and what do they want?" It's really about them and not the Me or the I. In Louisiana, food is such an important part of the culture that people make sure they go out to eat no matter what the economic times are, but what's the food IQ where you are? I would try to start off with as little debt to service as possible. With Jambalaya, you probably have a niche market already with outdoor catering and fairs and festivals. I'd market your services as a mobile, outdoor Louisiana Catering one to corporations... company picnics and such ... tailgating at OU or any of the Texas universities. There's probably so many BBQ operations there that Louisiana seafood should be a pleasant change of pace. A mobile crawfish boiling/frying rig would be cheap to buy and pay for itself sooner than an address. Just don't paint it with purple and gold Tiger stripes. You'd tick off the Okies and the Longhorns. remember, it's about them not you.
i didn't particularly enjoy it the one time i went however it very well could have been the company I was keeping that night.
Jacksonville, Florida... European Street - large beer variety & good sandwiches bb's - Contemporary American, a little pricey Lemongrass - Contemporary Thai, a little pricey Blue Bamboo - Contemporary Chinese, a little pricey Sangria House - real Spanish, moderately priced, awesome Sangria Larry's Giant Subs - good subs 3 Sisters Chocolate - Chocolate bar, yummy truffles La Nopalera - cheap and good Mexican (goodness depends on location); best Mexican I've had, but I haven't had much good Mexican Thai Palace - Thai, good bang for your buck Chains... Buca di Beppo - best Italian I've had in Jacksonville Mimi's Cafe - New Orleans themed, ecclectic menu, awesome bang for buck Sekisui Lakewood - best Sushi I've found in Jacksonville need to try... Clark's Fish Camp - supposedly great seafood; I just looked at the menu and my mouth is watering I haven't really found any good local seafood or steak places. I've tried a couple of cajun restaurants; disappointing. Still looking, but with a new baby/third wheel, we aren't going out as much.
I think the best seafood restaurant we have here in Tally is Barnacle Bill's (http://www.barnaclebills.com). I like the Crepe Vine too (http://www.eatacrepe.com).
In Lubbock there are several highfalutin places, but a great honest steak can be had at Cagle's. Don't think it was ever a church, but the place is seriously good, and fancy enough to have 3 different dining rooms: View attachment 11785 View attachment 11788 View attachment 11787 View attachment 11786
My Favorite spot in SoFlorida is Pollo Tropical. It's a fast food type chicken place. Great chicken on the grill with beans and white rice. The best ceasar salad dressing I have ever tasted. $5 and you got a great meal. I have eaten there about 250-300 times in a little more than 2 years I have lived down here. It's that good.
A co-worker and I went for a XMAS treat for lunch at Ruth's Chris here in Houston, and it was the best meal I've had in a few years. Dude, I'll have to try Marks, hadn't heard of it. For anniversary we like Churrasco's; everything is good there, dinner for 2 with a couple drinks, appetizers, coffee and desert will run $120. We also like the Red Onion on 290 for fish; pricey but good. It's a birthday or anniversary type of place also.
