Hot Dog & Hamburger Buffet

Entertaining this idea for a while. All you can eat fries and onion rings, hot dogs with a selection of slaws, chilis and toppings & hamburgers. Price point of $6.49 could be lucrative with good sales volume while maintaining food costs comparable to a Golden Coral. Interested in your thoughts and feasibilty of such a concept.

quote:

Originally posted by DinerDude

Entertaining this idea for a while. All you can eat fries and onion rings, hot dogs with a selection of slaws, chilis and toppings & hamburgers. Price point of $6.49 could be lucrative with good sales volume while maintaining food costs comparable to a Golden Coral. Interested in your thoughts and feasibilty of such a concept.

I really cannot see how you would be able to maintain the quality of hamburgers, french fries, and onion rings being out on a buffet table.

Proper prep to volume to maintain quality. Hamburger patty held in au-jus keeps the burger great.

Personally, I don't think that a burger held in au jus would be very appetizing. Same with dogs kept in water. Your volume would have to be monsterous for that concept to fly.

J.M.H.O.
David O.

I agree with Greymo-Have tried this same approach in my deli hot case-just doesnt hold up for a long time.2 hours ,max....The meat,anyway.Fried stuff doesnt last at all.If you want to do this, fry the rings, french fries,to order.They will come back!!

Doesn't sound good to me. I agree with the above statements.

I'd have to label this as "ill-considered". Even if you had a way of holding the meat, the fries and the onion rings to keep them fresh, I don't believe you could make any money on it.

sounds like the chow line in the galley to me.

Would it fit the concept to serve the meats, fries and rings to order and have all other toppings, sides, etc. available buffet style?

quote:

Originally posted by DinerDude
Entertaining this idea for a while. All you can eat fries and onion rings, hot dogs with a selection of slaws, chilis and toppings & hamburgers. Price point of $6.49 could be lucrative with good sales volume while maintaining food costs comparable to a Golden Coral. Interested in your thoughts and feasibilty of such a concept

NO WAY! not a good idea.

I would not like to eat a burger that is sitting in a pond of broth-why can't you make to order on a buffet line-it does not take a long time to grill up a thin hamburger/or hotdog.

Grind it as you go eat as many as you want. Kind of like Fuddruckers only as many burgers as you want. I would go...Russ

quote:

Originally posted by ChiliDog

Would it fit the concept to serve the meats, fries and rings to order and have all other toppings, sides, etc. available buffet style?

That's an idea I like ... I would go for a place that did that. Apart from places that do salad buffets etc, I have not yet come across a good quality burger/hot dog joint where you can pick your own fixings from a selection alongside freshly cooked burgers and fried sides. I am both oddly picky and hate wasting food so to be able to choose my fixings at will would be great :)

If you could keep the grill and fryolator close to the buffet so burgers, dogs and fried items are constantly replentished and kept under warming lights I'd be there

I'm thinking the patrons attracted to this, and I have worries about crisp fries, would easily eat over the value you charged them. I see high school football teams challenging each other.

I have fond memories of watching 3 college age guys at a sushi buffet with stacks of plates swaying in front of them. Multiple stacks each guy. The owner had a look of horror on his face. They were there when we got there and waited to be seated. They were there when we left.

Quality would be extremely important and am confident with a steady volume it can be controlled. Most QSR's will hold meats for 20-40 minutes before disposing of. Profit is a definite concern, Ive ran great food cost and labor for pizza buffets (Pizza Hut & CiCi's), Golden Coral, Seafood and Chinese all you can eat concepts offer expensive offerings at an economical cost. With this in mind, why do you feel that no profit can be made. Thanks to everyone for input, I look forward to discussing more.

I think it could work, as many people have fond memories of places like Burger Chef where you could dress your own burger. And, when Druther's had their salad bar the batter fried veggies on it were very good. If the burgers were in a great sauce, such as the Ollie Burger, them sitting there marinating in it wouldn't be a turn off to me!

Andrea

Maybe something similar to mongolian bar-b-q but for burgers. Go to the grill and order your burger the way you like it while its cooked in front of you. Possibly drink service while you wait... grind your own meat or some kind of hook for the burgers(offer a lot of toppings/large burgers/somthing special). Then off to the toppings bar to dress it the way you like.

Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Here's a modified way to accomplish what you're thinking about doing:

1. Go to this web site and study it- http://www.tedsonline.com/

2. Next, Buy a round trip plane, (Or Train) ticket to Phoenix, AZ.

3. Rent a car, drive 4 miles from the airport to Ted's in Tempe, AZ

4. Sit there from 11AM to 2PM (MST) and watch how they do it. Count the number of customers on any day. You'll be amazed!

5. Talk to SPIROS, He's the older, white haired gentleman walking around and working there and pick his brain.

6. Go back to NC and duplicate it.

Yet another person seeking help who's already made their mind up to do what they're asking about. Good luck.

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Originally posted by PaulBPool

Yet another person seeking help who's already made their mind up to do what they're asking about. Good luck.

If you can't make a decision without reinforcement from others, it's probably not a good idea in the first place. LOLS

FB, I like to get input from others for any decisions I make. And hey, a little luck never hurts! :~)
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by PapaJoe8

FB, I like to get input from others for any decisions I make. And hey, a little luck never hurts! :~)
Joe

PJ8
I guess I should have elaborated a little. Entreprenural decisions ALWAYS require Commitment above and against all odds. If you are REALLY committed to doing something, then there is a good chance you will succeed. If you're wavering, even if it's GOOD IDEA, CHANCES ARE GREATER YOU WILL FAIL

As an eater, not a restauranteur, it sounds like a place I would love to go.

Ever hear of Fudruckers?

I'm in too small a town. What happens?