Restaurant Revisited: Rohrer’s Tavern by Maria Russo in Shows, November 28th, 2012
At Rohrer’s Tavern in North Bend, Ohio, Robert Irvine found an outdated eatery with an unadorned dining space and basic-at-best food to match. Lisa Kendall is the owner of this decades-old restaurant, and she needed Robert and his Restaurant: Impossible team to help Rohrer’s avoid a looming closure. We checked in with Lisa a few months after the transformation to see how her restaurant is doing now.
After the renovation, Rohrer’s saw year-over-year growth of $20,000 for the month of September. Lisa explains that while the restaurant used to attract only local customers, it is now “pulling people from other neighborhoods” as well.
“Everyone loves the new look and for the most part loves the menu,” she says. Rohrer’s is still serving most of the menu items that Robert created for them, and they’ve added a few of their previously popular dishes to their list of offerings.
Since Robert left, the kitchen staff has been held “accountable for everything,” Lisa explains. She now challenges them when they tell her that something cannot be done, and says she has “made it clear that I am not just the owner. I am the boss and manager.” She adds, “Criticism is still something that no one in the kitchen likes, but I do it as constructively as possible.”
Still working in the kitchen, Stacy “finally has a staff that she can count on,” Lisa tells us. “Stacy has always been and continues to be my right hand.”
Bev and Renee are both shift leaders, and Aunt Sandy has returned to serving. “She is doing really great with the menu and the computer,” Lisa says of Sandy.
For Lisa, one of most beneficial aspects of the Restaurant: Impossible experience was the food-cost lesson she received from Robert. She says, “I couldn’t thank him enough for sitting down with me to show me how it should be done.” Today Rohrer’s spends about 34 to 36 percent on food, but Lisa notes that she is “still working diligently on making it lower.”
Looking back on the transformation, Lisa tells us, “It has truly been a blessing and brought life back to not only me but to my staff.”
More From Restaurant Revisited:
Poco’s on the Boulevard (November 21)
Oleander Bar and Grill (October 17)
Valley Inn (October 10)
Whistle Stop (October 3)
The Maple Tree Cafe (September 26)
Michele’s (September 19)
Paliani’s Restaurant (September 12)
Frankie’s (September 5)
Gusanoz (August 29)
Stella’s (August 8)
Italian Village (August 1)
Zandi’s (July 25)
The Main Dish (July 18)
Longbranch Steak and Seafood (July 11)
Horton’s Kids (June 13)
Pollard’s (May 30)
University Grill (May 23)
Ristorante Barolo (May 16)
Pappas (May 9)
Mama Lee’s (May 2)
Pelican Grill (April 25)
Valley View (March 14)
-
More posts from Maria Russo.
As a fine artist and designer, I loved this design. It is bright, cheerful and make me want to visit the restaurant. I find it sad that some who comment accent the negative. Kudos to all on the show. Next time in this part of Ohio, will stop in for dinner!
Have you heard of tongs? Also, she said she couldn't eat fish – nothing said about touching fish. Besides, if she is wearing those latex gloves that most restaurant cooks wear, she never touches the fish. Regardless, you can touch something and not have a problem versus eating something in many cases. It all depends on the person adn the allergy.
From reading the comments, I believe that's why they are asking for more information regarding her allergy. I too am curious how she is able to manage her allergy in an environment where she is surrounded by the food that she is allergic to.
How about that "subtle" FedEx Office plug? LOL. I guess the Lexus ones weren't bad enough. Always makes you wonder what else in a show like this is staged from the beginning. Quite lame.
I guess they shouldn't try to make money….how dare they.
The Fedex product placement wasn't supposed to be subtle.
They are a new sponsor. Someone has to pay the $10,000 and for all the expenses.
That guy Tom that does the construction is great. He has to be paid, right?
We sit through the ads, that's how they get paid, the reset is pure greed, poorly placed and seems tacky.
Har. I guess you prefer the show be interrupted by brief playlets and illustrated lectures about the purchase of consumer goods? I don't.
I like a well done product placement, which actually shows the product being used. It's better than those viagra ads, isn't it? [polldaddy 6735596 http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/6735596/ polldaddy]
It is acceptable because they are doing this for the restaurant owner for free. It is expected.
Besides, FedEx Office is pretty great.
I own a business and use them all the time.
Design this season is a big disappointment. Even taking into account the large area to be renovated on this episode, other designers on the show have managed a more polished look.
I love the show. But when the owner keeps saying "no one ever taught me that," I always wonder if these people ever heard of taking a class at the local college. Especially, if something as important as your house or kid's college fund is at stake.
True enough, but sometimes you just don't know what you don't know.
I agree with this. I keep hearing that, and ESPECIALLY at this point with this show now in the 5th season, you have to think that these folks have watched previous episodes so would know to look at this stuff. But otherwise, it just seems like common sense to have an idea of food, labor, utilities, etc. costs.
I always wonder if they've ever heard of the internet, you can learn a lot about restaurant management just by searching. Maybe the internet can't teach you to be a good manager, but you should at least be able to figure out what your food cost is and what it should be.
or better yet, just watch resturant impossible
i swear u can learn everything just by watching
It's easy to arm chair quarterback it when watching a show. Having been part of several restaurant start-ups I can tell you it is stressful, and even with depth in understanding the needs of customers, employees, and owners, there is always something more to learn. When you don't know, someone else tells you – and that person may not always be right.
To say this owner "should have" only negates the fact "she did". She stepped out, did with what she had to do with, and when she was at her wits end, she reached out to the experts. I have to commend her on not shutting the doors and walking away like thousands of other owners. If only people would set aside their pride and seek help, we would see greater success in many small business. I commend her.
They had that computer POS after the remodel, but I also saw them writing up checks.
I wonder if the show got them the POS and they might have had none before this. I am no restaurant guy but I imagine that if used correctly can help keep a handle on your sales and expenses.
And you know which servers are doing the job by average check $. That's important.
About the prices, I bet a good part of what Robert Irvine does is give the owners a reality check. They don't know their costs and are charging too little. With poor quality food, a bad looking and smelling place and bad service, it's a vicious cycle.
With proper food quality and good service you can expect to pay more, and you are now eating at a restaurant that is not poised to go out of business.
I for one like the idea of that.
Having worked in restaurants for 15 years, I can tell you that even if there is a POS, you generally have to jot down the order so you don't forget before you enter it into the computer. The POS means that every order is tracked, and the chef doesn't have to decipher your handwriting. But most servers do make handwritten notes at the table.
Lynn is the worst designer on this show. Please please please fire him. His colors and designs are awful.
you must be over 50
@stupid teabagger What does being over 50 have to do with it? I'm curious to know.
I agree on this designs the bar was horrible and the inside shouldn't look like the outside colors were awful
As so many others have already commented, Lynn, the so called designer, is horrible. Not only do his design skills lack, it doesn't seem like he has any original ideas of his own. He's annoying, hard to watch and is making what was once a never miss program, one that when he's on, I don't even want to watch anymore. RI needs to follow their own advice, listen to their customers, in this case their viewers, and replace Lynn.
o give him a break, i think his design had more colour, the other ones are usually monotone
i think he is the best
I think he's great, too.
I wonder if Taniya won't work with Robert anymore? Out of all the designers, I've always liked her best. I don't think that Lynn was as garish here as he was with Poco's, but it's not to my taste.
Lynn didn't design Poco's, Tom did, and Angelo was builder.
my theory is that there are different designers for different locations, and their availablity
About the fish allergy, my son and I both work in a seafood restaurant. He is HIGHLY allergic to shrimp, but yet he was able to peel and clean them using gloves. However, if he didn't wear gloves and just touch one, he would immediately break out and swell up.