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And the Survey Says… About Half of Mexican Restaurants Content with Third-Party Delivery

MEXICAN RESTAURANT OWNERS ARE DIVIDED ALMOST EVENLY on their feelings about third-party delivery services, according to an el Restaurante reader survey conducted in October 2022. Forty-three percent of respondents said they are “reasonably satisfied” with their service and 10 percent said they are “totally satisfied.” However, 23 percent are “somewhat dissatisfied” and an equal number are “very unhappy.”

Vince Deuschel, director of operations for JTP Restaurants, the parent of Mad Dog & Beans Mexican Cantina in New York City, is one of the “somewhat dissatisfied” respondents.

“Delivery platforms seem to be universally bad,” Deuschel says. “They often refer to themselves as our partners; they are anything but. The credits they issue their customers are never run past us. We have found them so focused on giving their customers what they want that restaurateurs are never consulted about the legitimacy of customer claims. We lose much revenue that way.”

The most-used delivery service among survey respondents is DoorDash, which carries orders for 44 percent of them. UberEats is next with 32 percent, followed by GrubHub with 26 percent.

The third-party services are not universally beloved, but delivery is an essential tool for Mexican restaurants. A question in a September 2022 survey conducted by restaurant technology provider Popmenu asked what cuisine consumers always order out rather than cook at home. The number one response? Mexican.

Catering, Happy Hours, Tech and Craft Beer Focus of Upcoming Webinars

LOOKING FOR AN INTERACTIVE WAY TO LEARN ABOUT SOME ESSENTIAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT TOPICS ? Then plan on attending one or more of the four upcoming el Restaurante webinars, all free to el Restaurante readers. Each webinar will be led by el Restaurante editorial staff and experts, and will include time for questions at the end.

• Successful Catering for a Mexican Restaurant. This webinar will help attendees develop and grow their catering business. Learn how to create your catering menu, set prices, and execute effectively.

FEBRUARY 16, 10 A.M. CENTRAL

• Profiting with Happy Hours. Happy hours have made a comeback since Covid, and Mexican/ Latin restaurants should be profiting from the trend. Learn how to set your happy hour prices, generate excitement, and manage crowds.

MAY 4, 10 A.M. CENTRAL .

• Technology: Succeeding with Restaurant Apps. The manager/owner of a modern restaurant needs to understand how apps can increase business. This webinar will touch on the basics of delivery apps, loyalty apps, menu apps and other online tools.

JUNE 29, 10 A.M. CENTRAL

• Growing Your Craft Beer Sales. Craft beer can be a highly profitable addition to a Mexican/ Latin bar, especially if the brews are chosen to match the cuisine. This webinar will introduce attendees to a variety of Latin-inspired craft beers and demonstrate how they can be best paired with menu items.

SEPTEMBER 28, 10 A.M. CENTRAL .

Learn more and register for all webinars at www.elrestaurante.com

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