Restaurant Consulting | Tasks & Functions

Concept, Strategy & Pre-Opening

• Concept development (brand story, vibe, guest experience)

• Business identity alignment (positioning, differentiators, target customer)

• Menu concept planning (categories, flow, pricing structure support)

• Space planning support for service efficiency (FOH/BOH adjacency + traffic flow)

​

• Project scoping and prioritization (MVP → polish → expand)

• Vendor coordination support (print, signage, uniforms, packaging, etc.)

• Opening-readiness support (visual + operational consistency)

 

Branding & Visual Identity

• Logo design and brand identity systems

• Brand standards guidance (fonts, color palette, usage rules)

• Naming, taglines, and messaging development

• Brand refresh / reconstruction when original assets are lost

• Creating production-ready brand files for print and digital use

 

Interior Design & Environment

• Full interior design for restaurants (concept through installation)

• Finish selections and specification packages (paint, flooring, lighting, surfaces)

• Custom feature design (murals, focal walls, wine lockers/cellars, built-ins)

• Decorative direction and styling for guest-facing spaces

• Design coordination with contractors/trades (as needed)

• On-site install support and final “punch” styling (where applicable)

 

Menu Design & Menu Systems

• Menu design (print + digital)

• Menu organization and readability optimization (hierarchy, spacing, callouts)

• Menu formatting for multiple use cases (dine-in, takeout, catering, specials)

• Digital menu board layout and screen formatting (including vertical/rotated screens)

• Menu refreshes and seasonal updates...price changes and add-on/removal of items 

​

• Recipe development, preservation support...ie kitchen's master recipe book, digitized files, and backups (formatting + presentation when applicable)

 

POS Programming & Operational Documents

• POS programming and formatting support (menu buildout + modifiers)

• Modifier/upsell structure planning for speed and clarity

• Staff-facing documentation design and formatting

• Employee handbooks and training materials (brand-aligned)

• Service guides, quick-reference tools, and internal signage

• Professional letterhead and customer communication templates (including collections)

​

​

Marketing, Advertising & Promotions

• Marketing strategy support (campaign themes, promotions, launch assets)

• Social media graphics and promotional ad design

• Giveaway cards, flyers, coupons, and in-store promo collateral

• Sales/brand materials (one-sheets, signage, event menus, catering menus)

• Event and seasonal campaign creative (holidays, game-day, specials)

​

​

Signage & Large-Format Design

• Exterior and interior signage design concepts

• Window graphics, banners, and large-format print layouts

• Wall panels, murals, and custom graphic installations

• Wayfinding and in-store informational signage

​

​

Apparel, Uniforms & Merchandise

• Uniform and staff apparel design (shirts, hats, aprons, etc.)

• Customer merch design (brand gear, limited run shirts)

• Print-ready apparel files and placement planning

• Vendor coordination support for production

​

​

Photography & Content Support

• Professional photography for restaurants (space, food, product, staff)

• Photo editing and optimization for web, menus, and social

• Visual content direction (what to shoot for maximum marketing value)

​

​

Website & Online Presence

• Website design/build support (Wix / Shopify-based, as needed)

• Basic structure + content creation for restaurant sites (pages, sections, copy)

• Visual consistency across digital touchpoints (menus, ads, web, social)

• QR code and promo linking strategy support (when applicable)

​

​

Project Management & Client Support

• End-to-end creative project management (timelines, deliverables, revisions)

• Fast-turnaround design support for urgent openings and pivots

• Maintaining consistency across every touchpoint (brand → space → menu → marketing)

• Collaboration with owners, managers, vendors, and installers to execute cleanly

​

Restaurant Management + Operations (Hands-On)

• Shift leadership (FOH/BOH coordination, guest recovery, team support)

• Opening & closing management (checklists, walkthroughs, cash controls)

• Scheduling + labor planning (coverage, forecasting, time-off balancing)

• Payroll support + timecard oversight

• Benefits administration support (including 401(k) coordination as applicable)

• Annual employee reviews/audits and performance documentation

• Hiring support: interviewing, onboarding, training plans, and separations/terminations (as needed)

• Employee handbook creation + policy rollouts

• Training systems + SOPs (service steps, standards, scripts, compliance basics)

• Table maps, seating charts, rotation flow, and section planning

• Side work lists + accountability systems

• End-of-day reporting (sales summaries, comps/voids review, tip reporting workflows)

• Cash handling + deposit preparation

• Employee file management (active + archived records, documentation organization)