Friday's Offers Three Features To Their Restaurant example essay topic

(COVER PAGE) OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR T.G.I. FRIDAY'S RESTAURANT Prepared for (name) Prepared by (your name) Date TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... PROBLEM... 1 BACKGROUND... 1 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS... 2 Services... 2 Menu Items...

3 Quality... 3 Prices... 4 Atmosphere... 4 Clientele...

5 Physical Facilities... 5 D'ec or... 5 Cleanliness... 5 Layout... 6 Convenience... 6 Special Offers...

7 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION... 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Prospective dining patrons can feel comfortable about dining at T.G.I. Friday's Restaurant, as shown by this in-depth study conducted by. The study was authorized by. She requested a report of observations of the restaurant.

My conclusion that T.G.I. Friday's Restaurant does not need many improvements, other that a little more room and larger trashcans in the restroom, is based on data supplied by two employee interviews, T.G.I. Friday's menu and website, and observations made by Observations were made in five areas: (1) Service. The service at T.G.I. Friday's is friendly and time sufficient. (2) Menu Items. The quality of the food is of a high standard.

There is a large selection of different types of menu items. The prices are reasonable for the portion sixes given. (3) Atmosphere. The atmosphere is loud, chatter and exciting. The d'ec or is interesting and the clientele is diverse. (4) Physical facilities.

The restaurant is clean and convenient. The layout is a little cramped but still comfortable. (5) Special features. The special features are helpful when choosing to dine with T.G.I. Friday's. On the basis of these findings, it is recommended that a few tables are removed from the dining area and the parking is better defined. OBSERVATIONS OF T.G.I. FRIDAY'S RESTAURANT PURPOSE This study was designed to make an observation on a restaurant with an emphasis on objectivity and evidence.

Specifically, I will be reviewing T.G.I. Friday's in all aspects of the restaurant including its service, menu and atmosphere. BACKGROUND.G.I. Friday's is a casual dining chain that has been visited by millions of people since 1965. The first "Friday's", which is how it is referred to by most of its employees and clientele, was located at First Avenue and 63rd Street in New York City. It featured red and white stripes, a blue exterior and its name-T.G.I. Friday's. Inside were wooden floors, Tiffany lamps, bent wood chairs and striped tablecloths. The bar area, with its brass rails and stained glass, also enhanced the surroundings.

For Friday's interior d'ec or, a full time antique "picker" did extensive traveling to auctions and flea markets. Memorabilia had to be authentic and, if possible, unique to the area where the new restaurant would be located. The New York Friday's enjoyed an immediate success. First year revenues totaled $1 million.

According to Newsweek and The Saturday Evening Post, the opening of T.G.I. Friday's indicated the emergence of the singles age. By 1975 there were ten T.G.I. Friday's restaurants in eight states. Now there are more than 575 in 49 countries. (web) DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS The results of this research indicate the attributes of the T.G.I. Friday's restaurant on East Henrietta Road in Henrietta, New York. The research findings here fall into seven categories: (a) service, (b) menu items, (c) prices, (d) atmosphere and d'ec or, (e) clientele, (f) physical facilities, and (g) special features. Service When approaching the restaurant, the door is opened by an "s pg", smiling people greeter.

Barbara, who is one herself, stated that the smiling people greeters are unique to T.G.I. Friday's. It was also said that there is hardly ever a wait time to be seated over 15 or 20 minutes. This is even the case during dinner on a Friday or Saturday night. The only exceptions to this time are in the cases of large parties with more than six people. This was all found to be correct. Food is served from 11: 00 a.m. until 1: 00 a.m. and drinks until 2: 00 a.m.

(Barbara) After being seated the servers are very quick to introduce themselves and accommodate you. They come right over to you in just a couple of minutes to get drink and appetizer orders. They are very timely, returning with the drinks ordered in just two or three minutes. Promptly they ask if a selection has been made. If no decision has been made, the server is happy to check back in about 5 minutes to take the order. After taking the order, the servers will refill drinks whenever necessary and ask if anything is needed.

There aren't many chances for them to visit, however, because the food comes to your table in about twenty minutes. At which time they will again fill any drinks and get anything else that is asked for. If shrimp is ordered they might have to go make some cocktail sauce because they don't keep it already made. But the servers are pleased to make it.

They also seem very delighted to check on the progress of the meal. They might make about six or seven visits to the table in a little over an hour. Teamwork is something that T.G.I. Friday's uses to their advantage. If a server is overwhelmed, a food "runner" may need to bring the food out to the table. The bus people will clear the tables when the parties leave so the servers can concentrate on the customers.

On an average Friday night there are about fifteen servers, three bus people, two food runners, six door people or "s pg", and four outside patio servers when it opens on May 18, 2000. Menu Items There is an extensive menu at T.G.I. Friday's of over one hundred different food choices including appetizers, Pizzadillas, soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, chicken, ribs, steak, hamburgers, wraps, fajitas, seafood and of course, desserts. And that doesn't include over 50 specialty drinks. All together, they make a pretty massive menu. (T.G.I. Friday's Menu) Quality The quality of the food is elevated. Just the appearance of the food itself is mouthwatering. The chicken looks juicy and the melted cheese is oozing between the roasted mashed potatoes.

The portions are large enough to feed a 21-year-old starving college student who hasn't eaten all day. With the Jack Daniel's Chicken and Shrimp comes "A juicy chicken breast and lightly battered jumbo shrimp with Jack Daniel's dipping sauce. Served with au gratin potatoes and chef's vegetables". And before getting all of that, they serve either a bowl of hot soup or a crisp house salad. (T.G.I. Friday's Menu) Prices The prices at T.G.I. Friday's are very realistic. The prices range from $4.69 for a salad and a baked potato combination to $16.49 for a Jack Daniel's steak & shrimp combo platter. There are plenty of choices for all types of budgets in between.

The following chart shows the breakdown of the number of menu items, including appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees, in each budget range. (T.G.I. Friday's Menu) Atmosphere The atmosphere at T.G.I. Friday's is cheery, fun, exciting, yet relaxed. Mark, a server at Friday's, said that, "It's lots of fun, loud and busy. Everyone acts like they are family. There is loud music, laughing and good times. People do crazy shit here like sliding down the hand rail". (Mark) Barbara, when asked about the atmosphere on a Friday night said, "It's bedlam, very gay, fun filled and loud".

(Barbara) There is a lot of chatter and chuckling going on. It is possible that a person with a very loud and annoying laugh may be sitting at the table next to you during the entire meal. But that shouldn't take away from the meal or the rest of the "fun filled" atmosphere. Just try to focus on the Clientele There isn't any specific genre of clientele at T.G.I. Friday's. "People of all ages come here". (Barbara) And not just all ages.

Professionals as well as blue collars, tall and short, black and white, and men, women and children all come to T.G.I. Friday's. Everybody has to eat, or at least drink, and mostly everyone likes to have fun. So anyone can and does come to Friday's. Physical Facilities The physical facilities have not changed much since T.G.I. Friday's first opened in 1965.

They still have the red and white stripes, wooden floors, Tiffany lamps and wood chairs. The only difference is that instead of using tablecloths they made the tables with red and white stripes already on them. D'ec or The d'ec or also seems like it hasn't changed. There is still authentic and unique memorabilia hanging on the walls throughout the restaurant.

In fact, there is barely an inch of visible wall space in the restaurant because of all the pieces of nostalgia. In one way it makes it seem cluttered, but on the other hand it gives something to look at. Especially if seated in a booth against the wall in the top, back corner of the restaurant. There are also eight televisions surrounding the bar.

The only thing is that not everyone in the restaurant can see them. Which is not a very good thing during the NBA Playoffs. But staring at the flashing stoplight overhead is also a good way to pass the time. Cleanliness Overall, the restaurant is pretty clean. About as clean as a restaurant can get during dinner and cleaner than my bedroom. They don't leave much on the floor.

If someone drops something like a French fry, it gets picked up and not left there for later. The pleasant thing is that the restrooms are clean. The only problem is that the trashcans in the restrooms are too small so there were some paper towels on the floor. That isn't the most important part of the restroom anyway. The stalls are clean and that is what is really vital. Layout The layout of T.G.I. Friday's is set up fairly organized.

There are 88 tables throughout the restaurant and 30 chairs around the bar. The bar is placed directly in the center of the restaurant and is raised up two steps. There are tables surrounding the perimeter of the bar and along each wall. What is nice is they have a lot of window seating. The problem with the layout of the restaurant is that the tables are a little close together. The customers in some of the tables along the windows can't push out their chairs to relax because the servers wouldn't be able to pass by.

Convenience The location of T.G.I. Friday's is very well planned out and very convenient. For on thing it is placed directly across from a college. This gives students and professors the opportunity to go off campus for lunch if they are not pleased with the choice that are found on campus. Friday's is also located between two hotels that have many business people for a clientele.

The fact that they serve food until 1: 00 a.m. is also very convenient for both college students and business travelers alike. The parking at T.G.I. Friday's is a bit awkward. On one side of the entrance they share a parking lot with the hotel. There you can usually find a decent spot.

On the other side, more in the front of the restaurant, the parking spots angled away from the building. So, if it is possible to get a spot that is in the first or second row and only five or six spots down, the spot is not as close as it may seem. And on top of that they have to share that lot with Toni Roma's Restaurant. The handicap accessible parking spots are well located.

Special Offers T.G.I. Friday's offers three features to their restaurant, Friday's Gold Points, Gopher Eats Free and Speed Seating. Friday's Gold Points is a plan for repeat customers to receive free gifts for purchasing products from T.G.I. Friday's. Friday's will give you a card that keeps track of all T.G.I. Friday's purchases at any location. They will give out a certain amount of points for each item and accumulate those points. When a point amount is reached, they will give something like an appetizer or gift certificates. Gold Points can also be earned and redeemed at retailers such as, Radisson Hotels, Country Inns and Suites by Carlson, Sky mall, MCI World Com and National Car Rental.

(Pamphlet) Gopher Eats Free is a program for the person who "volunteers" to pick up lunch for the office. When an order is called in for three or more lunches, T.G.I. Friday's will buy lunch and a non-alcoholic drink for the "Gopher" who picks up the order. The minimum purchase is $25 and the free lunch is limited to items priced up to $8.00. Lunch is served Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. With Friday's Speed Seating, a call is taken ahead of the desired dining time and a name is put on a waiting list.

"While this is not a reservation, chances are that instead of you waiting for a table, your table will be waiting for you". (fly er) CONVULSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Analysis of the service, menu, atmosphere and special features leads to the following conclusions and recommendations about T.G.I. Friday's Restaurant: 1. T.G.I. Friday's is a well-run restaurant. 2. The servers make the restaurant and enjoyable dining experience. 3. They use teamwork and focus on time to please themselves as well as the customers. When the employees help each other to accomplish a goal, it is accomplished in a timely manor.

When the customer doesn't have to wait they are happy. The less time the customer spends on waiting the less time they are in the restaurant. This gives a better turnover rate for the restaurant and they are happy. Based on these findings, it is recommended that you make a visit to T.G.I. Friday's for a grand time and a tasty treat. LIST OF SECONDARY SOURCES

Bibliography

. G.I. Friday's Restaurant Home page. (c) 1999 T.G.I. Friday's.