[Typhoid]

There's a place called speakeasy here that's pretty cool.


Anyways, those are two pretty opposite ideas. One is family centric, the other being a lounge-bar.


Personally I'm not a fan of the 'family mega eatery' thing, even if it's mixed with a bar. Those places are everywhere. It's good because you maximize the types of people who would probably come into your place, but you also run the risk of just being 'some other place for dinner'. I'm not trying to shit all over your idea, those places just seem to be everywhere, and they all seem to be relatively the same. soft light, family setting, safe for kids, good food and drink at reasonable prices, a token fireplace, dark colours on the walls, deep coloured carpets and hardwood.

After working in "the industry", the types of things I noticed that are starting to make a comeback, or just get big in general are lounges. Just little places where groups of people can relax, maybe watch a game (if that place has a TV), appropriate music playing in the background be it over speakers or a live band, high-class food, cocktails and beers.

One of the places I worked at that had it down really well was a tapas restaurant/lounge, and on weekend nights it was for 19+. Meaning only booze and a DJ or band. The bartender there was top notch with cocktails. He's one of the best in the world at creating new cocktails, and he taught me more than going to school did for me. So if you have a place that works mainly on cocktails, I do highly suggest while sticking with classics, make sure you hire someone that not only knows their asshole from their elbow, but is able to - and wants to create new flavours all the time.

My advice to you would be to get away from 'traditional' decoration styles, and food styles. Lots of places do the 'homecooked meal' type thing, and there are a lot of steakhouses that all look, smell, and taste the same as the last one. You have to offer more than one thing that sets you miles apart considering you're not part of a chain.

To specifically address the "password" thing, that idea I think will end tragically from a marketing standpoint. The idea to have a password is different, I'll give you that - but not only would you have to constantly employ a bouncer for all hours on that one specific door, that would also discourage people who were just walking by and never heard of the place from entering. If two people walk by and try to get in, get asked the password, then get confused and walk away/not even allowed to enter, you've just lost 2 customers. I think that would keep more people from entering, than actually getting them through the door.

But, hope whatever you come up with works for the best.