How to Make Your Restaurant Child-Friendly

When you run a restaurant, you have to consider whether you want your establishment to be child-friendly or not. If you choose to have it kid-friendly, there are quite a few additional things you should consider for success. Most of them are necessary and can easily be overlooked, especially if the owner or manager do not have children themselves. So you must start by putting yourself in the mind of a parent. What kinds of things do you want a restaurant to have if you brought your child to it. You would obviously want items that will keep your child safe while eating, as well as proper ways to change them if they are toddlers or younger. All of these things can and do effect a person's decision to come back to a restaurant while they have children. If these requirements are not met, you may lose patrons who were regulars before children entered their lives.
To begin with you'll need to consider how the children will sit at a table with their parents. Will you add booster seats, high chairs, or both? Chances are you should have both on hand. For young children who are still in diapers, you'll definitely need high chairs. Whether the child is able to sit up on their own, and be strapped in with the safety belt, or if they need to stay in their car seat, a high chair can keep them safe while their parents are eating. Safety is a number one priority for the parents, and they will trust you to purchase quality high chairs for their children. A Rubbermaid Plastic High Chair not only has an updated look, but it's also extremely easy to clean (sanitize), and it won't cause splinters like wood high chairs. They're durable, dependable, and when a parent sees Rubbermaid stamped on the side, they recognize the brand, improving their trust in your concern for their child's safety. When you have high chairs in your restaurant, you do want to make sure that you are keeping a close eye on the quality, ensuring none has deteriorated. The last thing you want to have happen is a high chair break with a child sitting in it. Routine inspections as well as routine safety-strap replacements are key with making sure high chairs help you run a successful kid-friendly restaurant.
Now, you'll also need booster seats. These are for those kids that are "big kids." The ones that either refuse to sit in a high chair or are simply too big. They're old enough to eat at the table with the adults and know the dangers of sitting in a chair. These are offered in a variety of styles, all made of durable plastic. Kids will love having the option of booster seats and parents will be pleased as well. It's an overlooked item, as kids who can't fit in a high chair can obviously sit in a chair, but you still want them to be comfortable and able to reach their food. The booster chair is a great transition point. There are booster seats with strap options, like this Cambro Booster Seat, or kinds that have two heights built into one seat. Allowing versatility based on the ever-growing child. A two year old and a five year old may both need a booster seat, but they obviously have different sized bodies. A double-sided booster seat takes this into consideration and adds a level of comfort.
Next, think about a parent with a child in diapers. Restroom changing stations are extremely important to them. If overlooked, you never know what surface will become a "changing" table for your customers. This then means certain surfaces will become unsanitary and potentially can start an illness amongst your customers if not cleaned properly. A newsworthy illness caused simply from being unprepared is not the kind of marketing a restaurant welcomes. By simply installing a changing station initially, this can mostly be prevented. Also, make sure that it's well stocked with liners. Some people will not use a public changing station if it has no liners accompanying it. By making sure its stocked, more people will be more apt to utilize this table for their child. Restroom changing stations are a necessary thing to change a child's diaper. If there's no place to change, the baby may cry from discomfort, potentially disrupting the entire dining area of your restaurant. For the sake of your customers, installing a World Dryer Drybaby changing station will benefit a variety of people without even knowing it.
Lastly, consider incorporating kid-friendly Sasa Demarle molds for you foods. While some restaurants include a kid's menu, which is a good idea for picky eaters, you are able to up the ante by having cakes or other foods in shapes that will make your young customers' day. A smiley face potato cake, or a bow cake, or a flower ice cream pop, and soccer ball molds can all be great for catering. One mold that has to be a popular mold would have to be both the teddy bear head and full teddy bear shapes. Any child would love seeing their birthday cake or dessert in that shape.
Once you know what your customer's need, it's easy to accommodate them. However, some customer's do need a bit more help. Making your restaurant a kid-friendly restaurant is quite simple. It's all about safety and accommodation for both the children and the parents. A child enjoying your restaurant though can cause frequent return business from the entire family. It's not something that should be taken lightly. Take into consideration some of these tips or browse around our site for other possible items that may help you transform your restaurant

Give your Kitchen a "Green" Makeover

Eco-friendly homes and businesses are quickly becoming standard. The kitchen is one of the best places to begin your "green" makeover. An environmentally-friendly kitchen is not only beneficial to the environment but to you. Investing in "green" products can save time, money, and keep you healthy. Consider these how-tos on being more eco-friendly and the benefits that come with living "green."
Turning your kitchen "green" starts with small, inexpensive changes. When it comes to smallwares look for products that are built to last or are biodegradable. Eco-friendly products should have an extremely long life. Products that are made out of strong, sturdy materials are those that will accomplish this task. Cast iron and stainless steel both work well in the kitchen and are known for their longevity. Smallwares that are not only long lasting but made out of biodegradable materials are even better. For example, a wood cutting board is biodegradable and made to last for generations. Wood has natural anti-septic properties and are excellent at self-healing causing it to last longer than a plastic or glass cutting board. This Update International’s Wood Bread Board is a perfect example. It is an environmentally friendly product for homes and kitchens.
When it comes to your kitchen’s handwashing station choose hand dryers over paper towels. From an environmental perspective, hand dryers surpass paper towels exponentially. Studies estimate hand dryers use 5% less energy than paper towels in the first year, and 20% less after five years. World Dryer’s Silver V-Max Hand Dryer is a fantastic choice for your commercial kitchen or restroom. It features a 10 to 12 second dry time and uses infrared technology. The Silver V-Max Hand Dryer has been applauded for using antimicrobial technology, preventing the growth of bacteria, mold and fungus, keeping your kitchen cleaner preventing the spread of germs through your hands. Choosing a high performance hand dryer, like the Silver V-Max, is another environmental and health conscious choice. While some might worry about the cost, it balances out quickly. When considering how much you spend on paper towels monthly or yearly, a hand dryer seems like a great trade off.
If you want to purchase "green" appliances look for the Energy Star label on the outside. The United States created the Energy Star Label to make it easy for consumers to recognize and purchase energy-efficient products. Products like the True Glass Display Refrigerator can dramatically decrease your energy bill by using energy more efficiently, saving you money and wasting less resources from our environnment. It's a win-win when you choose an Energy Star appliance. The Federal Government even offers some rebates for converting your old appliances to newer Energy Star appliances.
Choosing to go "green" in your kitchen, both residential and commercial results in a savings over time. Eco-friendly appliances impact our health, budget, and schedule. Investing in green products is a simple change with great results, not just in your pocket, but also is good for the environment. At Public Kitchen Supply we encourage you to consider environmentally friendly products. Visit our website at www.publickitchensupply.com to view more products for your kitchen.

US Department of Energy, and US Environmental Protection Agency. "How a Product Earns the Energy Star Label." Energy Star. Energy Star, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.
Petri, Alexandra. "The Paper Towel-hand Dryer Wars Are over." The Washignton Post. N.p., 14 Nov. 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2013.

Change Your Restaurant With The Seasons

One of the reasons restaurants fail is that they cannot keep their customers interested and coming back. It’s vital to have reoccurring customers along with new clientele. A loss in customers can quickly lead to a restaurant’s failure, no incoming funds means no money to pay bills. One way to keep your customers interested is by offering menu and restaurant changes throughout the year. Changing decorations quarterly, with the seasons as well as foods with the seasons, will help your restaurant feel fresh and current.
Showcasing seasonal foods can revive a menu periodically. Seasonal foods offer the most flavor and nutritional value at an affordable cost. Ro Howe, chef and restaurateur, explains “Featuring seasonal ingredients assures your customers that you are conscious of what nature has to offer." Using products like San Jamar’s Full Fold Tabletop Napkin Dispenser, is a great way to display seasonal menu items. This napkin dispenser features an insert option for customized promotional advertising. You can easily change advertisements from one season to the next allowing you to promote your special seasonal items without redoing your entire paper menu every few months.
In the Spring highlight green, leafy vegetables. Spring onions and asparagus are delicious this time of year. Summer is a great time to introduce cool and light foods. People typically eat less when it’s warm outside. Strawberries, corn, and apples are all fantastic foods for the summer. As Fall approaches, switch to full and hearty ingredients. Fall is a great time to work sweet potatoes and ginger into your menu. These are warm, filling foods that will match your customers’ taste buds. Finally, in Winter, focus on meats and root vegetables. Beef, carrots and lamb are particularly delicious this time of year. Stews are a great way to incorporate these as most people find a hearty stew a comfort food in the cold Winter months. Your menu is a great way to target new customers and keep current clientele's attention.
Your restaurant’s decorations and color scheme is another way to stay fresh, current. Like your menu, follow a seasonal pattern. Look for tabletop accessories that are versatile, like Update International’s Round Cracker Basket. In the Spring bring fresh flowers and pastels into your restaurant in small ways. Customers will appreciate the lively transition into the summer months. Summer is a great time to incorporate brighter colors into your tablecloths, napkins or other small features. As the temperature drops, switch your attention to beautiful autumn. Autumn is filled with rich, stunning colors. Incorporate items that start to transition between Summer and Winter, warm flowers with deep reds or fill a glass vase with fallen leaves for an inexpensive, gorgeous decoration. In the bitter cold keep customers warm, use candles at night to make it feel warm or use pine cones and snowflakes as simple table decoration.
When it comes to revamping your restaurant’s menu and style remember simplicity is key. Small changes can make a huge difference, especially when paired with the changing seasons. We strongly encourage restaurants to stay current by making small changes quarterly. At Public Kitchen Supply we want to help restaurants succeed. Visit our website at publickitchensupply.com for additional restaurant advice and fantastic kitchen supplies.

The World's Healthiest Foods. George Mateljan Foundation, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.