Latest News on Virtual Restaurant Consulting and Industry Trends

Emerald Heights www.emeraldheights.com Emerald Heights is a nationally recognized life care community located in Redmond, Washington. Opened in 1992, Emerald Heights is now a model for other similar residential retirement associations. Additionally, Emerald Heights is a mission of service and not for profit. The Gilkey Restaurant Consulting Group (TGRCG) is currently working within the Emerald Heights 5 distinctive dining restaurant concepts. The menus vary from wood-fired pizza to artisanal cheeses in Copper & Hook, fresh-made salads and home-style comfort foods in Madrona, to five-course dining elegance in Embers. TGRCG and the Emerald executive team are improving consistency, service delivery, kitchen ... Read More

Kigo Kitchen – Seattle, WA www.kigokitchen.com Last November Kigo Kitchen opened in Seattle providing a lunchtime destination for South Lake Union workers with its customized Asian-inspired bowls. Kigo Kitchens’ bowls include stir-fried white or brown rice, yakisoba noodles or salad. Each bowl is then made to order with a sauce, veggies and a protein. Kigo Kitchen is another compelling addition to this rapidly growing fast casual restaurant segment. Fast casual restaurants are positioned between fast food and casual dining restaurants. While fast casual restaurants provide fast food-type counter service, they are far more customized, with fresher and higher quality ingredients ... Read More

Fogonazo Taqueria – Mexico City Fogonazo Taqueria is the premier fresh taqueria restaurant brand in Mexico City. With 8 locations Fogonazo has enjoyed much success and continued growth throughout the greater Mexico City Metro area. Fogonazo Taqueria is now expanding to the United States with prospective sites in Texas, Illinois and California. The Fogonazo team hired The Gilkey Restaurant Consulting Group (TGRCG) to assist with their US expansion. TGRCG services began with the development of a business plan and feasibility study. The Gilkey team is also supporting Fogonazo with US business rules and regulations, and translating their business model. Fogonazo ... Read More

Two local businessmen joined forces to create a new artisan brewhouse and restaurant in Billings, Montana. This new partnership joined with the Gilkey Group to create a concept document outlining their premier full service, craft brew restaurant. TGRCG also developed a feasibility study and business plan for them.The organizing principles recommended by TGRCG include serving high quality food and fresh, handcrafted brews within a casual yet energetic environment. While not a sports bar or a brewpub, this casual dining restaurant concept will include a lively bar with plenty of flat screen TVs along with artisan craft brews.In addition to a ... Read More

TWO21 RESTAURANT AND PUB – Effingham, Illinois Two months after TGRCG visited Two21 Restaurant and implemented their new lunch and dinner menus the response has been outstanding. The owners have seen guest satisfaction improve dramatically. Regular guests now comment, “This is the best meal we’ve had in town!” Two 21’s check average has also improved while sales continue to grow. Due to the increases in sales and check averages, labor costs are down and cost of goods have continued to decline. Managers are proud of the food they are serving and team members are pleased with the increased sales. The ... Read More

CROCKETT'S PUBLIC HOUSE – Puyallup, Washington www.crockettspublichouse.com TGRCG assisted in the development of a new breakfast menu for Crockett’s Public House. Through market research TGRCG recognizes millennials love of breakfast and brunch. As a result Crockett’s began serving Saturday and Sunday brunch. And over several months the program has grown in popularity. Weekend breakfast and brunch now accounts for more than 10% of Crockett’s sales. A fresh breakfast hash category is one of the recommendations of the Gilkey Group, which includes Dungeness crab hash, slow roasted corned beef hash and roasted summer vegetable hash. Each of these hashes are prepared ... Read More

TWO21 RESTAURANT AND PUB – Effingham, Illinois TGRCG visited Two21 Restaurant and Pub in downtown Effingham, an hour and a half northeast of St. Louis, MO. Two21 offers a casual fine dining experience and is open both lunch and dinner. This family owned business includes an exciting nightlife atmosphere, which includes craft beers, live music and airs NFL football games. In 2013 the Two21 team purchased the building in downtown Effingham, population 12,000, and opened Two21 Restaurant and Pub. They are now expanding their options and enhancing the experience with the help of TGRCG. The Gilkey team first assessed the ... Read More

THE BANKS ALEHOUSE – Old Steese Highway, Fairbanks, AlaskaAfter ten years serving the Fairbanks community, national franchise Boston’s Gourmet Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar, closes its doors and the owners bring in the Gilkey Group to rebrand the restaurant. Similar to the previous concept, The Banks Alehouse will continue to be the place in Fairbanks where family and friends can cheer on their favorite team, chill out on the patio or relax in the dining room.Located on the Old Steese Highway, the new restaurant brand will provide the owners greater control over day-to-day operations.The Gilkey Group services included creation of ... Read More

RIVER BOAT DISCOVERY – Fairbanks, Alaska riverboatdiscovery.com TGRCG is proud to announce the Brinkley family, who have owned and operated River Boat Discovery for over 100 years through five generations. Beginning in 1898 with the discovery of gold over the Chilkoot Pass through the freight vessels on the Yukon and Tanana Rivers, the love of Alaska and its culture has been carried on through the river excursion business in Fairbanks, Alaska. On the Discovery III, a 900-passenger vessel, the Brinkley family runs this stern wheel business as well as a gold mining attraction in the heart of the Klondike. TGRCG ... Read More