[Food] O/T Bit of market research for our new restaurant

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

Whatever you serve, if you give the option to have it covered in runny cheese and chilli con carne, the Americans will love it

 

[Brian Parsons]

Go for fish and chips. Having lived near American bases in the UK I know most enjoyed one of our national dishes. If baaracuda is available go for that. Had it in Aden( Yemen now ) and it is delicious.

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[Albion my Albion]

I personally don't appreciate Jerk food.

At least this poll is actually about something.

 

[studio150]

Should go for an Albion themed restaurant. Long queues with a menu of pies, burgers, chicken, hot dogs and beers. All food pre heated and ready to serve in a jiffy.
Bound to be a winner

 

[Withdean]

You’re target clients aren’t really into fried food. Fried isn’t seen as healthy. Make it a portion (!) of your menu but not the whole thing.

 

[Medwayseagull]

Plenty on here are experts on knee jerk reactions but not sure about the chicken though.

 

[pauli cee]

Seems a bit of a slow day on NSC today so I'm going to see if I can tap in to the hive mind of NSC to get some opinions on a new restaurant that my wife and I are thinking of opening here in Costa Rica.

A bit of background info - we moved here around 4 years ago as we had a job offer to come and work here. Around 3 years ago we started a small seafood shack specialising in prawns/shrimp. We've been able to hire staff that are now more or less able to keep the place running without us needing to be there all the time and we're looking for a new venture. A few people in town have offered us some commercial space to open another restaurant.

We're thinking of two different options:

1. Fish and Chips
2. Jerk Fish & Jerk Chicken

So my question to you NSC is if you were on holiday at a small Costa Rican beach town which of those two would you prefer? I should add that even in a town inundated with restaurants there isn't a single place that does either fish and chips, or jerk anything.

On a side note, a lot of our clients will be Americans and Canadians do they even like fish and chips?

Voted jerk, as love the stuff, plus as being closer to the Caribbean it might bring out the adventurous side of the N A's?
Often dreamed of relocating to Costa Rica, have a friend of a friend there too, how easy/ adaptable is it for a 40ish year old sussex boy

 

[Birdie Boy]

I have gone for fish and chips but my choice to eat would be the jerk fish and chicken. I think the Yanks might prefer the fish and chips.

A couple of months ago I saw a surf shop for sale in Tamarindo. Very tempted but as an unfit 49 year old that has never surfed, I thought I might struggle.. The other thing was I noticed you can buy a business but cannot work there for the first two years as you are taking jobs away from the locals. At least I wouldn't have to worry about selling surf gear or giving lessons! Looks a lovely place and would be a great way to retire early!

 

[Guinness Boy]

A cautionary tale.

I lived in Taiwan for nearly three years and played for an ex-pat football team. Our coach was a mad Glasgow (Rangers) geezer who was working on the high speed rail but was also married to a local girl. When his contract finished he wanted to stay on and open a business. He decided on opening a traditional Scottish Chippy in the centre of Taipei. It did (very good) fish and chips, deep fried Mars Bars (for an ironic touch) and sold booze (getting a licence was either a piece of pish or he didn't bother).

There were lots of ex-pats over there, Brit, Aussie, American and Canadian and most were regular visitors. However, the locals were not interested in the slightest and the foreigners couldn't cover the costs, mainly due to the expense involved in buying, importing, installing and running a top quality fryer. He also sometimes struggled to get decent ingredients at a cost that made them profitable.

The whole thing did not last very long and he lost a lot of money. Not before my friend (not NOT me!) had drunk 24 cans of Guinness in one sitting after a training session and I'd watched Brighton v Palace from Withdean on his hooky satellite dish. We had plenty of stories, a lot of good times, and he ended up broke.

Now the set up where you are may be totally different but if I had a single opinion it would be to ask locals what they'd prefer as well before deciding and to properly cost everything involved with installing a decent fish fryer.

 

[Guinness Boy]

For that reason, I've voted jerk

 

[LowKarate]

Most people who have any connection with Americans will say that Fish and Chips is a safer bet.

No matter how many people here vote for Jerk Chicken, don't do that as your market is mainly American, not Brits.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Fish and chips, only because I don't eat chicken.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I'm not travelling anywhere outside the UK and having fish and chips I can tell you that much.

 

[knocky1]

You're obviously know what you're doing. I've cycled Vancouver to LA and Americans certainly know what fish and chips are.
Google California and fish and chips to get an idea.
Canadians have always liked fish and chips and have an Aunty in Folkestone and mourn Princess Diana.
Costa Rica the posh 53rd State.
Consider clam chowder **** to keep them happy and add the jerk.

Good luck!

 

[Don Parasol]

I'm not sure where exactly you are on the west coast, but I know a lot the beach towns there extremely well, and my feeling is I'd go for Jerk.

It's very multi-cultural, so I think there will be enough potential customers who'll try various cuisines, as long as the food is good. I'd give the edge to Jerk because when it's 30 degrees celsius I might not fancy something as heavy as fish and chips. Plus the jerk theme lends itself to a tropical caribbean atmosphere - reggae, cocktails perhaps - just the ticket to make it a fun place to eat.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Thanks for your feedback everyone - appreciate it!

Any reason why you can't do traditional fish & chips AND jerk fish and chips?

Any reason why you can't do traditional chicken & chips AND jerk chicken and chips?

Hmnnn, this was a thought we'd had also. In this case I think it would be about how we brand the restaurant. If it's a traditional "Fish and Chip" place it might be a bit odd to have Jerk going on, but I suppose having a Jerk Shack type place that also sold rum battered fish that would work well.

just PMd you back mate...quite a bit of interest in the office.

I am trying to swing a visit this year and if I can extend it a few days ( which sometimes works with flights) I will try and get over to see you. They are very keen to show me how beautiful their island is so hopefully that would work.

You should definitely come for a visit. Thomson/Tui now operate a flight from Gatwick direct to Liberia (closest airport to the west coast) and you can often pick up great deals. I've had mates who've picked up a return ticket for £220. You are limited to just 15kg of hand luggage but you only need shorts and t-shirts anyway!

Whatever you serve, if you give the option to have it covered in runny cheese and chilli con carne, the Americans will love it

A sad truth

You’re target clients aren’t really into fried food. Fried isn’t seen as healthy. Make it a portion (!) of your menu but not the whole thing.

Yes, this is a good point. The town is generally quite full of surfers and health conscious types so deep fried foods don't go down well with them. Having said that it's also a party town so people will be looking for something greasy and filling after a whole day drinking in the sun. Our current restaurant serves generally very healthy and light dishes.

Plenty on here are experts on knee jerk reactions but not sure about the chicken though.

Barber Out!

Voted jerk, as love the stuff, plus as being closer to the Caribbean it might bring out the adventurous side of the N A's?
Often dreamed of relocating to Costa Rica, have a friend of a friend there too, how easy/ adaptable is it for a 40ish year old sussex boy

It's fairly easy to be honest mate, I moved here when I was 29 not speaking more than a few words of Spanish "Hola cerveza por favor".

I have gone for fish and chips but my choice to eat would be the jerk fish and chicken. I think the Yanks might prefer the fish and chips.

A couple of months ago I saw a surf shop for sale in Tamarindo. Very tempted but as an unfit 49 year old that has never surfed, I thought I might struggle.. The other thing was I noticed you can buy a business but cannot work there for the first two years as you are taking jobs away from the locals. At least I wouldn't have to worry about selling surf gear or giving lessons! Looks a lovely place and would be a great way to retire early!

Tamarindo is where I live! Which shop was it that was tempting you? You can work in your business from the off - you just can't pay yourself a salary for doing it. You keep the profit though.

A cautionary tale.

I lived in Taiwan for nearly three years and played for an ex-pat football team. Our coach was a mad Glasgow (Rangers) geezer who was working on the high speed rail but was also married to a local girl. When his contract finished he wanted to stay on and open a business. He decided on opening a traditional Scottish Chippy in the centre of Taipei. It did (very good) fish and chips, deep fried Mars Bars (for an ironic touch) and sold booze (getting a licence was either a piece of pish or he didn't bother).

There were lots of ex-pats over there, Brit, Aussie, American and Canadian and most were regular visitors. However, the locals were not interested in the slightest and the foreigners couldn't cover the costs, mainly due to the expense involved in buying, importing, installing and running a top quality fryer. He also sometimes struggled to get decent ingredients at a cost that made them profitable.

The whole thing did not last very long and he lost a lot of money. Not before my friend (not NOT me!) had drunk 24 cans of Guinness in one sitting after a training session and I'd watched Brighton v Palace from Withdean on his hooky satellite dish. We had plenty of stories, a lot of good times, and he ended up broke.

Now the set up where you are may be totally different but if I had a single opinion it would be to ask locals what they'd prefer as well before deciding and to properly cost everything involved with installing a decent fish fryer.

Luckily for us we know the local food scene pretty well as we're already running a place here, that does sound a bit of a nightmare for your mate though. Is he still living out there?

I'm not travelling anywhere outside the UK and having fish and chips I can tell you that much.

Personally that's my point of view also. If I'm in the caribbean area I'm wanting caribbean food but not everyone thinks that way - the amount of Yanks here eating pizzas and burgers everyday is astonishing!

You're obviously know what you're doing. I've cycled Vancouver to LA and Americans certainly know what fish and chips are.
Google California and fish and chips to get an idea.
Canadians have always liked fish and chips and have an Aunty in Folkestone and mourn Princess Diana.
Costa Rica the posh 53rd State.
Consider clam chowder **** to keep them happy and add the jerk.

Good luck!

Cheers!

I'm not sure where exactly you are on the west coast, but I know a lot the beach towns there extremely well, and my feeling is I'd go for Jerk.

It's very multi-cultural, so I think there will be enough potential customers who'll try various cuisines, as long as the food is good. I'd give the edge to Jerk because when it's 30 degrees celsius I might not fancy something as heavy as fish and chips. Plus the jerk theme lends itself to a tropical caribbean atmosphere - reggae, cocktails perhaps - just the ticket to make it a fun place to eat.

We're in Tamarindo. Yep the weather does lend itself to lighter food! Our current restaurant is very much themed like this - tiny road side shack, pastel colours and lot's of plants. Which towns have you visited?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Luckily for us we know the local food scene pretty well as we're already running a place here, that does sound a bit of a nightmare for your mate though. Is he still living out there?

Prague. Still with his Taiwanese missus, back on the trains, still a good bloke, still mad as.