Exotic meats restaurant

[fisel]

I stumbled across a few sites that imported meats such as kangaroo, kudu, bison, zebra, camel, croc etc, and I thought of the idea to open a restaurant that specialized in dishes using these kind of meats only. I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this in the city I live in, I’m not even sure about the formalities of starting something like this but I think it could be a profitable business.

I have a separate idea in the lines that I’m working on at the moment so this is probably something I will never do but I just wanted to see peoples views on it.

[BusinessAdviser]

I think that it is very interesting. Be ready for the animal rights activists to be beating down your door. But I think you could make it work if you're in a location with a very large population. Also, you could really hit a homerun by giving the entire place a jungle theme, for example.

[ltressel]

Fisel,

This reminds me of that movie The Freshman with Marlon Brando. It's exactly the sort of thing you have in mind. Except I think the premise was underground dining featuring exotic animals.

On the other hand, make sure that your suppliers are not black market poachers. Carefully, think about your target market. This business that you are looking at can be compared to Haute Couture. Small market, elitist, big money if done right. Good Luck!

LT

[fisel]

I think that it is very interesting. Be ready for the animal rights activists to be beating down your door. But I think you could make it work if you're in a location with a very large population. Also, you could really hit a homerun by giving the entire place a jungle theme, for example.

The jungle theme sounds good. I forgot to mention the animal rights activists. I know for sure they'd be beating down my door but after all the controversy and headlines, I'd only see it as thousands of £'s worth of free publicity

[BusinessAdviser]

I think you're right, and like LT mentioned, you'd definitely be catering to the elite. I think you could really run with it. However, one mistake so many have made is opening a restaurant with a cool idea but not knowing the first thing about running it. My partner and I are working on a business plan for a venture that will include a small, high end restaurant. Do we know anything about running a restaurant? No. So what are we doing? We've taken on another individual who has started and run several successful high end restaurants in the same area. The lesson I can't preach enough is to recognize your weaknesses or incompetencies and hire someone to run them for you.

[ltressel]

Hi Jonathan,

My brother and I are looking into restaurant business as well. You are right about recognizing your weakness. My brother has been in the restaurant business as a chef. He's opened 5 restaurants for other proprietors. His weakness is front of the house operations. That's where my uncle comes in-he's managed plenty including one of the restaurants for Harrods in London.

I am merely the financier and completely hands off the rest. My specialty is Real Estate so I will be looking into franchising it down the line. I've learned that one can't learn everything in his lifetime. It never hurts to understand what you are getting into but leave the expertise to the expert.

LT

[BusinessAdviser]

Amen. I'd be interested in speaking with you more, hearing more of your story, LT. Hit me up with a private message and tell me more.

[consumertreehouse]

I know a few private chefs here in Los Angeles who client list is very high profile and the clients all request exotic foods that are not common and that a majority of people would not even consider eating.
I am open to all foods, why not, you only live once, but most of the population is not. I think that your client list for the restaurant would be very small, only because people are afraid to step out of their comfort zone when it comes to food or anything else.

Have you thought about a mail order business for the meats? I think this might be a better way to go at first, maybe sell to restaurants and see how it goes, then consider a restaurant. I think the best place for a restaurant like this would be New York.

I am intrigued by this idea. Good Luck

[BusinessAdviser]

I agree. New York, LA, Vegas, Miami.

[fisel]

Fisel,

This reminds me of that movie The Freshman with Marlon Brando. It's exactly the sort of thing you have in mind. Except I think the premise was underground dining featuring exotic animals.

On the other hand, make sure that your suppliers are not black market poachers. Carefully, think about your target market. This business that you are looking at can be compared to Haute Couture. Small market, elitist, big money if done right. Good Luck!

LT

If I decided to go through with this I'd make sure every company associated with the business is legit. I was thinking this could be a Haute Couture type of business. Smaller market than your average restaurant but customers would pay alot of money for this kind of thing.

[2gould]

Don't forget Boston, San Francisco and Chicago...

[BusinessAdviser]

Oh, how could I?!

[zoobie]

It will be controversial. You know - the laws, animal rights, etcetera...

[fisel]

jmenq2,

My dad used to own a restaurant so I know a little about how they operate, deffinately not enough to run one though. I’d always seek expert advice and guidence before I endeavour into something I don’t know much about. For something like this, like you I’d get someone on board who has been successful in the industry before.

consumertreehouse,

The mail order business sounds like a good idea as it would bring less risk to myself, but I think it could potentially backfire if the meat becomes popular. I like the idea of exclusivity, gives greater marketing potential.

New York would be an obvious choice but would be slighty hard to do since I live in the UK lol. But I do live in a big populated city, a lot of rich people here, many moving into plush apartments in the city everyday, lots of diversity, different cultures and fashion. I think it could work here.

zoobie,

Controversy = free advertising
The meat is sold legally here so I don’t see why it cant be sold through a restaurant. Animal rights activists? Bring them on, just as long as they don’t try and burn my house down or kidnapp my family lol. The only thing that could stop me doing what I want to do is the law, anything else is doomed for failure.

[deep_impression777]

For animal protection protests and lawsuits, you are relatively safe. These kinds of game meats are usually approved because they came from wildlife preservation areas that needs to cut down in number now and then. The operational thing here is that they only take a certain number for population control. You should check first with your distributor but im quite sure this is the case. So tell your activists to go back to McDonalds.

Next you might want toc check if your state has existing laws agianst eating a certain type of animal.

The most important thing though, is be knowledgeable about the kitchen. Get a great chef that has experiences cooking with these types of meat (I think an Aussie chef or someone whose has experiences in African).

Be hands on in the whole restaurant thing.