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How to Have Success with Private Dining at Your Restaurant

With so much competition, restaurants are always hunting for new ways to stay relevant and redefine themselves. You can’t rely on great food and atmosphere alone to keep seats full and staff slammed. One strategy to keep your restaurant humming is having a private dining program. These programs add another channel for cash flow, bring new customers to your restaurant, and will grow your restaurant’s reputation. So let’s dive into how to start and run a successful private dining program. Read more

4 Reasons Why Restaurants Lose Money

It’s no secret that the restaurant industry is tough. It’s hard to get started and even harder to stick around long enough to accumulate a profit. According to a study done by Ohio State University, 60 percent of restaurants change ownership or close in the first year of business, and 80 percent fail within the first five years. But why is this the case? It’s true that failure is a common part of life in the restaurant industry, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s a quick breakdown of four of the biggest dining faux-pas and how to avoid them.

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Uncorkd Customer Spotlight: The County Bench Wine

Customer Spotlight: The County Bench

At The County Bench Kitchen+Bar, the details are important. The appreciation of each ingredient — the produce grown by local farmers, fresh catches by coastal fishermen, or each element stirred in a cocktail — is what the restaurant calls The County Bench Way. Located in the heart of California’s lush wine country in Sonoma County, The County Bench’s beverage program celebrates their local wine producers while also offering  guests a varied selection that draws inspiration from around the world.

We spoke with Chris John, the Wine Director at The County Bench to learn how he balances the abundance of amazing wine produced in Sonoma County with the appreciation he has for Old World wines predate the California wine boom. Read more

The Check Out: Restaurant News

The Check Out: Weekly News Bites for Restaurants November 11th

Every Friday Uncorkd compiles the top restaurant and beverage industry news and opinions that had us talking. Here are the must-read stories from November 5th – November 11th.

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Uncorkd Beer ABV Trends for Restaurants

Menu Study Shows What Kinds of Beers Restaurants Should Stop Selling

The craft beer market has exploded. Even toddlers and teetotalers are aware of this. This explosion has left a beer industry pock marked with craters and rumbling tremors have reshaped its landscape. But while the craft beer market is constantly being explored and its trends teased out, it is too often talked about as a single unit. But in fact, the beer market, like all alcohol markets, is actually split in two: on-premise and off-premise. As restaurant and bar operators look at beer trends, it’s important to note the distinctions between consumer interest trends in retail and liquor stores (off-premise) and restaurant and bars (on-premise). In an effort to add nuance to the zeitgeist, Uncorkd has analyzed it’s restaurant menu data and broken down millions of data points to see what trends have the best chance to increase sales and have impact in restaurants and bars. Read more

Menu Failures Killing Your Sales

The Most Common Menu Flaws That Kill Sales

Bad restaurant menus can hurt sales. They will leave your guests feeling confused, or even intimidated, by poor organization and unattractive item descriptions that don’t help sell. If your menu is unorganized or hard to understand, then you should change how you design and write your menus. A clear and well-written menu will sell itself, so you should put a lot of thought and care into the message your menu sends. You might loose customers otherwise. Here is a list of common menu flaws that kill sales, and examples of how to avoid them.  Read more

Uncorkd iPad Menus News

The Check Out: Weekly News Bites For Restaurants June 17th

Every Friday Uncorkd finds the most interesting restaurant and beverage industry news that had us talking. Here are must-read articles from June 11th – June 17th. Read more

Uncorkd iPad Menus Restaurant News

The Check Out: Weekly News Bites For Restaurants June 10th

Every Friday Uncorkd finds the most interesting restaurant and beverage industry news that had us talking. Here are must-read articles from June 4th – June 10th. Read more

The Check Out: Weekly News Bites for Restaurants May 27th

Every Friday Uncorkd finds the most interesting restaurant and beverage industry news that had us talking. Here are must-read articles from May 21st – May 27th.

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Uncorkd beverage menus

The Best of Summer Wine Pairings

Spring is well underway and it’s time to start looking ahead to even brighter (and hopefully warmer) days. With the better weather comes an influx of guests looking for food and drinks to match their newfound cheery dispositions and sudden health-consciousness. With a few simple guidelines, you can pair any summery item on your menu with the perfect wine.

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