Lets say you're going to open up a bar. Is it cool to go into another local establishment and sit there taking notes and order nothing but waters? Just wondering.
lets say i did own a bar..and some person came in and did that,it would kinda bother me a lil but he is my customer and i am into making money..i would kill him with kindness and hope next time he does buy a beer in my bar....you have to remember bars in america fall and rise every day..
No that isn't cool. Want to learn about the business? Order some food and drink, then take all the notes you want.
coming from a former bar owner. dont be a bum order a beer or a burger. It wont Kill you to spend $10 if you are planning on spending thousands to open a bar.
Taking up a seat that could otherwise be used for paying customer is never cool, whatever your reasons.
Going to a bar and not ordering a beer? I can't even comprehend how one is able to do that. Don't be a dick, if this bar is good enough for you to take notes, then it's good enough to drink from.
For the record, I was not asking because it was something that I was planning on doing, I was asking because I was told it happened recently. Also for the record, I think it's a dick move. Especially since the alledged parties alledgedly scampered off when one of the owners showed up.
Sizing up the competition, eh? The dickbag should have ordered beer, food and introduced himself to the owner. Who the hell scampers?!?!?!
I'm in the restaurant business. I see this stuff everyday. And the majority of individuals that do it, always order something. Otherwise it's a classless move and you draw suspision onto yourself. I'm also for the direct approach. Just try to befriend the brewer/restauranteur and be honest and up front with your intentions. I work with some local wineries and each one is very opened in helping future winemakers. Yes you are competing, but you are also helping each other out and creating awareness.
We had the same thing happen at a brick oven pizza place I worked at for about 7 years. We had a small bar area with an open kitchen and had some folks come in who were opening a similar type restaurant in an area about 20 miles away from us. They sat (although they did order food) for hours and took notes on how we did things. They opened up and closed year later while my old restaurant is still there and kicking ass (15 years and going). I think it is pretty bad to sit there and not order anything but people who want the best try to imitate the best, usually without the same results. My thought having worked in the restaurant business for 12 years is that if someone wants what you doing is that you must be doing something right. And if you're kicking ass and taking care of your customers, then you have nothing to worry about. They will get their information someway or another, and they are just going straight to the source (you're not letting them into the kitchen or giving them trade secrets). TL;DR - It's shitty they didn't buy anything, but if you have your ish together, you don't have much to worry about.
Part of checking it out would be to sample the beer. Temp, glass, clean lines etc, what are people drinking? Check out the food, is it good? Do you like the menu? Hell you can sit have a brew and talk to other customers to see what they like and what they don't. And tip the bar staff.
