Introduction: Why You Need This Book -- The Most Important Thing to Remember -- My Start as an Entrepreneur -- Restaurateur as Entrepreneur -- Reality Check for Your Dreams -- Chapter 1 Recipe for Success -- Soul Searching: Is Food and Beverage Part of Your DNA? -- Like an Onion: Cut Through the Layers -- Facing the Critics, Doubters, and Naysayers -- Only You Can Make Your Dreams Come True -- Opening a Restaurant Makes Me Warm and Fuzzy -- The One Ingredient to Use Sparingly-Ego -- But My Mom Likes My Recipe -- How Do I Become a Great Chef or Restaurateur Above the Others? -- I Need a Shoulder to Cry On -- Show Me the Money -- Money Is Great, but the Value of Other Things Is Bigger and Better -- Can You Change With the Times? -- Are You Ready to Begin? -- Chapter 2 Taking Those First Steps -- Cuisine: What Do You Want to Feed Your Customers? -- What Do You Need Before Looking for the Right Location? -- Just Because It Is Open Doesn't Mean Customers Will Come -- Finding a Restaurant Location Is Like Finding Your Home -- Do Not Sign Anything Yet -- Now the List Is Getting Shorter -- Competition-What They Are Doing Right and Wrong -- That Costs Extra? -- What About Investors? -- What About Borrowing Money? -- I Am Ready to Sign My Name ... -- Final Thought -- Chapter 3 Red Tape -- See Your Name on Many Legal Docs -- The Health Department is Your Friend -- The Final Decision-Location-Is Approaching -- Ready for a Drink? -- Protection Equals Insurance -- Music Can Add to Appetites and Legal Problems -- What's Your Sign? -- Selling Merch and Offering Entertainment -- This Is a Special Time -- Chapter 4 The Dream Becomes Reality -- Put a Signature on It -- I Now Pronounce You Restaurant and Restaurateur -- Pleasing to the Eye and Appetite.

Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder and License Holder -- A Menu Is More Than a List -- Tempt the Appetite with the Menu -- Dress to Tempt Those Taste Buds -- How to Take an Order -- Everyone Has an Opinion -- Walking Through the Fire -- See Your Vision -- Chapter 5 Your Restaurant Is a Stage -- Now Create That Vision as a Reality -- The Auditions -- Training Your Staff -- Delete the Word "Versus"! -- Why Would Anyone Want to Leave Me? -- In the End -- Chapter 6 The Main Course -- This Is Not a Trip to the Grocery Store -- Living Off the Land -- A Well-Stocked Pantry -- Good Flavor Can Be Worth the Extra Expense -- Be Consistent with Every Dish Every Time -- Never Leave Your Shelves Empty -- Time to Start Rehearsing -- How Much Is Too Much? -- Use One Meal to Market the Next Meal -- Pour Me Another One -- Dress Rehearsal -- Chapter 7 Learn From Reviews and Opinions -- The "F" Word -- Don't Take It Personally -- Make a Note of What Customers Like -- Embracing 1- to 5-Star Ratings -- The Power of Turning a Negative Around -- There Are Times You Should Ask for Help -- Only Good Things to Say -- Don't Believe the Hype -- The Chef Who Set the Bar on Class -- Time for You to Shine -- Chapter 8 Getting the Word Out that You're Open for Business -- The Big Reveal: Who Should You Invite to Your Restaurant? -- Putting Your Restaurant's Name Out There through Social Media and the Media -- Money Can Buy You Love for Your Restaurant -- Mention My Restaurant's Name, Please -- Answering the Final Question -- Chapter 9 So You Have 25,000 to Spend -- The Answer Is ... -- Where Should I Buy My Food? -- Build It, but Will Customers Come? -- Considering Other Types of Restaurants -- 25,000 -- Chapter 10 Persevering Through the Tough Times -- Develop a Thick Skin -- Are You Dreaming of Expanding? -- The Space Next Door Just Opened Up.

If There Are Problems, Don't Close, Scale Down -- It Really Is a Roller Coaster Ride -- Final Thoughts -- Would I Like to Write a Book? -- Now It is Up to You -- Acknowledgments -- About the Author.