In the coming months, Serv-U will be talking a lot about its new design a bar program and today we wanted to give you a sneak peak of how this program works and how it can take the guess work out of  selecting the right bar equipment for your project. A qualified Serv-U Sales Representative will work with you to determine what underbar bar equipment will best suit your needs and what layout configuration of bar equipment will accommodate the space you have available. We will then provide you with a full AutoCAD layout of the specified bar equipment and quotation at no charge.

A properly designed bar can increase sales and reduce operating & labor costs. Positioning of the various piece of bar equipment in the working area is extremely important as a properly designed bar can reduce the amount of time a bartender takes to get a drink prepared or spends time waiting on other bartenders to move out of his way. By increasing the efficiency of the bartenders they can not only serve more drinks, but the customer service also gets a boost from faster serving time and it is all thanks to positioning bar equipment in the proper locations.

So why did Serv-U decide to partner with Krowne on this new program? The answer is simple; the Krowne Royal Series underbar products are an ideal bar equipment solution when creating a customer bar. Krowne offers modular bar equipment with first class features and construction at a reasonable price. In addition to quality construction and price, the Krowne modular bar equipment is designed to work perfectly with other pieces of Krowne modular bar equipment, resulting in a professional looking bar with no awkward edges sticking out where they can get in the way of the bartender.

Call us today and we’ll help you design a layout that will save you money and deliver profitable results.

You already know that Serv-U offers a wide range of restaurant equipment and bar supplies, such as bar stools, for extremely competitive prices, but there are also several other programs here at Serv-U that can be a huge help to the owner/operator looking to open a new restaurant or bar, remodel a current restaurant, or just finding out more information on how they can improve their operation.

Serv-U has partnered up with Krowne, a premier supplier of stainless steel and modular underbar equipment, to create our new bar design service. A qualified Serv-U sales representative will work closely with you to determine your bar equipment needs and the amount of space you have to work with. From there your Serv-U sales representative will provide you with an AutoCAD layout of the bar equipment recommended and quotation of the underbar components required at no charge. Why did we partner with Krowne you ask? The answer is easy, the Krowne Royal Series of underbar products are the ideal solution when it comes to creating a custom bar application. They offer first class features and quality construction at a reasonable price.

Another valuable service that Serv-U offers to cities close to our Illinois warehouse is free delivery on qualifying purchases. Most purchases require a five dollar fuel surcharge and a minimum purchase amount depending on location. You can find out more about our deliver service over in the local information section of the servu-online.com web site, where we talk about individual cities and what we have done in the area. Be sure to check back often, as we are continuing to expand this section with examples of kitchen installations our turnkey services team has completed in the area.

If you have questions regarding our bar design, turnkey, or delivery services, feel free to contact us via phone at 800-797-3788 or click the picture of the customer service representative at the top left corner of each page of the site to launch a live chat and one of our customer support staff will be happy to answer all of your questions. If you happen to be in the central Illinois area, stop by and see our new three thousand square foot show room. It is the perfect chance to get a hands on feel for your next piece of restaurant equipment before you make your purchase. There are also displays of a wide range of dinnerware, glassware, flatware, and bar stools.

Today, a quick roundup of some extreme restaurant marketing in the news lately:

1)    An upscale NY eatery is giving away meals to promote its new menu choices.  (As we noted in a blog post last week, reworking your restaurant’s menu can be a margin-boosting decision.)

2)    T.G.I. Friday’s is offering a “buy one, get one free” deal.

3)    For the savvy eater, some UK restaurants offer coupons online.

4)    Even Starbucks is adding “value meals” to their menu.  (Ok, maybe that’s been done before and doesn’t really qualify as “extreme,” but Starbucks?  Really?)

5)    So-called “occasional” restaurants are popping up.  Many make regular changes to their décor or implement other near-theatrical gestures that they claim draw diners for the “adventure.”

Add your own ideas for "extreme" restaurant marketing in the comments section below!

Today is the first day of summer and we all know what that means: it is ice cream time! Summer is the season of ice cream: from melting cones on the Fourth of July to giant sundaes at the swimming pool. Frozen yogurt is also a really popular treat now that the temperature is up. Summer’s heat and laid back feeling beg for the creamy, sweet concoction and the Internet agrees. The net is abuzz with articles talking about the popularity of these treats and the ever increasing variety available.

Two of my favorite sites are expanding the way we see ice cream. Bon Appétit magazine has ice cream listed as one of the 100 best recipes and features new flavor and technique ideas on how to make the perfect batch of ice cream. Also offering new flavor ideas to the world is the Serious Eats blog today. The site offers up a bourbon-vanilla ice cream and (with some help from their readers) makes a few suggestions of other scrumptious flavors.

Some people don’t scream for a heaping cone of ice cream at this or any time of year. For the millions of people who are lactose intolerant ice cream can be a nightmare (gluten free people should know that ice cream is naturally gluten free, but any additions could have gluten). However, some companies are starting to acknowledge the growing number of lactose free customers and are finding some solutions. The internet is full of recipes for tasty sounding, lactose-free ice cream that can easily be made at home. And, in a move that has lots of milk avoiders happy, some companies are launching lactose free versions of their tasty treats.

It’s easy to please all your customers when they scream for ice cream. Your Serv-U representative can help you get all the serving utensils, storage containers, and serving dishes you need to serve the perfect ice cream Sunday or heaping ice cream cone.

Looking for a way to boost alcohol sales and attract a new set of clientele?  Try wine.  It’s making waves in NYC as consumers look for casual places to enjoy bottles from all over the world.  According to an article in USA Today, wine (from South Africa, for example) seems to appeal to diners’ sense of adventure.

If you already have a bar, but just need a few odds and ends to add wine to your repertoire, you can trust Serv-U to supply you with the best value for your money on wine openers, wine racks, and more.

If you’re ready to open a wine-centric bar, call Serv-U to discuss our “turnkey” services; our experienced staff will make sure you get the best in restaurant furniture, bar stools, and bar equipment.

Did you know that Serv-U also offers complete turnkey services?Did you know that Serv-U also offers complete turnkey services?  Serv-U can take your restaurant through each step of creation—from design to installation.  Let Serv-U create the front of the house ambience you desire.  With our database of over 700 energy efficiency incentives, we can also help you reach your efficiency goals in the back of the house.  To see a sampling of our previous turnkey work, browse Serv-U's photos on Flickr.com.  Bookmark our Flickr page and come back often to find more pictures of turnkey restaurant operations by Serv-U.

To get started on your own turnkey project, contact a Serv-U sales representative by clicking the “Live Chat” button at the top of this page or begin creating your “Wish List” by clicking the link at the top of this page.

As we here at Serv-U continue to strengthen our partnership with Energy Star, we are also looking for other ways for our customers to save money on energy.  Installing energy efficient restaurant equipment is only the first step.  After that, it’s about keeping up good habits to reap the benefits of efficient equipment.  The following tips for taming that energy bill are courtesy of Flex Your Power.  Soon, you will be able to read their entire restaurant efficiency brochure at Serv-U’s efficiency page.

1. When not in use, turn commercial kitchen equipment off to reduce idle time.
2. Use more efficient cooking equipment over inefficient equipment when the menu allows.
3. Keep up with cleaning and maintenance routines to keep your restaurant equipment running in top form.
4. Check the accuracy of your cooking temperatures and recalibrate your equipment when necessary.
5. For gas-fired equipment, make sure the pilot lights are small blue flames, not long and yellow.

Stock up on efficient Energy Star equipment, cash in on available rebates, and visit Serv-U’s Restaurant Guru and restaurant efficiency page again soon for more money-saving tips.