All you can BBQ

Interesting.

Let us know how it goes. Hope it's a great success, and all 3200 don't show up

David,
That sounds like a huge headache to me. You're very brave. I can't see folks here spending $40.00 for AYCE. But maybe it'll go well up there. I know we're selling to a lot of snowbirds from NY right now. They seem to go for brisket. We don't offer AYCE. But the chain BBQ restaurants sell it often. The prices are lower and quality isn't what I'd go for at an AYCE if I went to one. I wish you the best of luck.
I really hope you do great!
Peggy

David,

I assuming that unlike any other AYCE BBQ offer I've experienced, your food is excellent. So I'd expect the average consumption per person to be much higher than a Sonny's BBQ AYCE $9.99 offer. Even so, I can't see too many people being able to eat $40 of BBQ, so why do you need to make up the cost with beer sales? Are your cost that much higher in NYC? Oh, I just noticed you don't have the great filler on the list BBQ Chicken - one 1lb-breast will fill you up quickly.

From a marketing perspective though, theoretically a high-priced AYCE offer will primarily attract BBQ Lovers not BBQ Neophytes. A low priced BBQ sampler is what drives BBQ trial.

Love to hear your results.
Rootsman

David,
I think in will go well we started a all you can eat chix/rib buffet with beans,slaw,fried potatos (left over bakers)I did shop for a cheaper priced st louis rib to help reduce cost,it all helps. We live in a small town,and we sell between 50-100 meals on a wed night.
13.95
Good Luck
www.hogwildbbqgrill.com

Well guys I was disappointed in the number of people sho came but I learned a lot. Next time I will do it for $40 with 2 beers included. The big thing that kept the consumption down for each customer was the amount they of beer and water they consumed. Some customers did not even consume what we offer of our ultimate platter. So in Food part I did not get burned. We priced the $40 on 1.5 times the ultimate menu price. No one who came objected to the price though.

Our cost are a lot higher up here in that we pay $110 per foot rent and our cooks each make over $40,000 per year. So we do charge more. I don't think the meats are that much higher. Pork shoulders I pay $.71 per pound.

Black Angus Brisket $1.65
St Louis Ribs $2.43
Baby Bake Ribs $3.49
Chicken 3# $0.71

We did it on a Monday night because it is normally a slow night. We have a 1.5 hour time limit and each time we refill we bring out a smaller portion. We go on the theory if you wait a few minutes after eating your stomach can't hole anymore. We only have 40 seats and not everyone who came ate BBQ. So we picked up other business also. for the night our covers double on an average Monday night Though.

Thanks everyone for you comments and your encouragement.

Our next venture is NYC street Fairs in three weeks.

David

david,
glad it went well for you and thanks for the numbers. your shoulder prices look about a dime cheaper than we pay here but the brisket is about 12 cents higher so that's a wash.
just an idea but have you ever thought of just buying spareribs and then making your own st. louis? it's only one knife cut and the trim you could offer as rib tips(there's a lot of meat on them. maybe the old red neck thing of rib sandwich,2 pieces of white bread and the tips in the middle) at a lower price. kinda of a win/win deal there.
good luck at the street fair!!!!
and again thanks for the numbers!!!!!!!
jack

David,

Let me know where you're at in NYC. Our fam's headed there during the first week of June, would love to visit and eat some Q!

I'll let ya know how it compares to the stuff down south.

Cya,
C'Nooga

yeah, David: where's your place? What's the name? I'm in Tarrytown...

"...each time we refill we bring out a smaller portion..."

That reminds me of a chain of seafood restaraunts in Maryland that had AYCE shrimp. By the 4th or 5th helping they were bringing out 1 or 2 shrimp on a plate.

Ninetyproof, I may be the reason behind it! Years ago, I took my parents to a highly recommended seafood restaurant, that happened to be serving AYCE blue crabs (the proprietors had come from the East Coast). Well, I'm kind of a big feller, and seeing my Pop, you can see where I got it. After the fourth large platter of crabs, the owner's last words walking away were "Never again!." Damn, those things were good with a cold beer!

We did the spare ribs at first but did not sell many of the tips. As for using it for a sandwich we really hate serving them, brings down the price per customer.

We are located in the East Village on 6th Street between 1st and 2nd Ave. 342 East 6th Street 212-598-1110. Closed on Tuesdays.

KCAL, we did not advertise the AYCE to the public. We have a e-mail list of over 3200 names with nmo big people on the list.

We are going to try it again in two weeks will keep you posted.

Happy Mardi Gras everyone.

david, do you make them rsvp?
makes good sense to me, and good cents, too.

maybe add five bucks to the price, and donate it to a charity. use that angle to help pull in more people. "charity bbq buffet".

They make reservations. We have where you can go to our web site and make the reservation on the site. Then others just walk in.

Great idea about the Charity bbq

David