The 126 restaurant tips and how we are incorporating it here.

Earlier this year we were given a 126 restaurant tips guide by AGFA but we have been too busy with the Melbourne Marathon to really promote good practice.

On Social Media
We have Instagram, twitter and Facebook. Many restaurants these days try to promote their wares on social media which gives them a competitive edge. Most restaurants have Instagram and many well-known ones invite their bloggers out to share and like their dishes.

Some restaurants respond to negative criticism and ask for help which is the right thing to do for their business. The good business manages their customer reviews well on Zomato and Facebook and they follow their customers.
Email sales are a must for any good business.

Ambiance matters
For a restaurant to do well ambiance matters. People don't want to go to a dirty restaurant.

Costs and the Good food and wine show
Paying the correct wage is a must. If restaurants don't pay the correct wage then the staff are not happy and will want to work elsewhere.
The cost of the food reflects on the quality of it.
Buying good wine for most upmarket places is a must.

Business plan
Each restaurant should have a good business plan and one that is five years long. It needs to be really detailed down to the wire.

Other events and promotions
Successful businesses nowadays have a stall at the many local markets such as the farmer's markets. This is a good way to promote dishes to new customers. This is a great way to get new customers in the door.

Most cafes and restaurants are featured on Groupon, LivingSocial and the Entertainment book and you can buy one off us here. You can read about what we are doing to help the Salvos here.

The Gallery at the Pullman Hotel

The Gallery is a newish restaurant at the Pullman which does buffet on Friday, Saturday nights and Sunday lunches. The buffet is about $89 which includes wine and tea and coffee. But seeing as we love deals we got this on Living Social.

Here the wine was champagne and it was sweet. This went well with the oysters and prawns that I had. It also worked well with the sushi that I had. Unlike the time at Season's providore where I did not enjoy the wine as it was a bit full on, here it was much lighter and better. And I finished it before the mains.

Seafood

The cheese station

Lobster Thermidor

The wine station

 I didn't enjoy the sushi so much. It was dry and the smoked salmon from the seafood bar was also dry. But the onion rings and vinegarette was great.

The main meal

Unlike Melba they have no dumpling station. Instead they focus more on the hams and the Western food. There is a focus on French cheeses. My brie was really good and worked with the champagne. Unlike Melba or Collins Kitchen, they only have one soup and no Asian station. This was the ox tail soup. This soup, I found it to be too bland for my liking. Soup should be nicely salted and flavoured.

I sampled ham and enjoyed it. It was moist and very smokey in flavour.

The bread was freshly baked.

I really enjoyed the vegetables and the salmon. The salmon was cooked well and the vegetables were fresh.

Out of the desserts I enjoyed the pannacotta. It was light and fluffy. And very creamy. It was also white chocolatey sweet. The mango mousse was just alright.

Mango mousse and pannacotta

Rating: 14/20- love the buffet and the lobster thermidor. And if NQN came to Melbourne, can I recommend the Pullman as a place to stay and enjoy the buffet?

The service was very lovely there and the wait staff were willing to talk and smile.