frankly speaking
TRANSCRIPT
Ontario’s Best Restaurant
FRANK RESTAURANT
Art Gallery of Ontario317 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Exec. Chef Anne Yarymovich
Where is it in Toronto?
FRANKLY SPEAKING Previously Agora
restaurant Name originated from 3
different inspirations:Frank Gehry: architectFrank Stella:
contemporary painter and sculptor, artist, focus in main room, large steel winding sculptural piece that hangs over 3 floors
Frank & honest cuisine!
About Chef Anne
Attended George Brown College, came out ahead of her class
Worked at: Parrot (1985-1988), Mildred Pierce (1990-1996), Agora (1996-2005), AGO (2005-present)
Mentor: Donna Dooer, philosophy of eat, breathe, & sleep hospitality, generous, customer royalty, treats staff well, both in kitchen and FOH
Restaurant Concept & Philosophy
Ambiance: Contemporary feel, causal, chic, furniture is functional and comfortable, warm
Not egocentric, or too pretentious Desired accessibility:
Street front entrance 5 venues
Marketing
Target customer: AGO members Patrons who visit the museumOff the street Local traffic – art focused people, OCAD
students, schools18-60’s years of ageFamilies
Needs & Buying HabitsTarget Customer:Able and willing to spend a large amount of money for the
experience (i.e. King Tut exhibit and pre-fix menu Egyptian inspired)
Need to feel that they are a part cultural and community experience
Expect food to be art oriented - a continuation of experience from AGO (i.e. Down to details of menus – “a composition of red, yellow, blue”), expressed through decor, food, and general ambiance of the restaurant
Expect top quality food without the pretentiousness of a Michelin star restaurant (familiar food upscale with some innovation) – needs will met with the familiarity of food, cater to wide range of guests
Expect front of house staff to be knowledgeable of food and wine, treated well, professionals
Willing to spend money for good food for a great price
Positioning Chart
Their uniqueness (niche market) especially with their connection to the AGO narrows their competition down
Competitors: Peter Pan – upscale bistro The Hoof Cafe – causal extension, charcuterie bar The Black Hoof – charcuterie restaurant, smoke lounge Le Papillon on the Park
Style
Graphics:
Exterior – simple graphics, all uppercase block letters, to the point and direct, door front
Window – lettering same, but placed sideways
Style Graphics:
Interior: Sample Menu and Wine List
Aspect of Service Type of staff – young (be not too young –
around 25-35yrs old), not under 18 years, with some experience in other restaurants), elegant
Staff uniform – Maitre D’ – or seating hostess, black with
an accent colour on top (bright solid gem colours)
Sommelier – bar tenders, all black uniform, collared neck
main servers: black and charcoal grey strips on white blouse, collared neck, black pants, black aprons, hair tied back
Style of service – very attentive to needs of customers, approachable, friendly
30 front of house staff team Attitudes and expectations of staff –
knowledgeable of menu, tastings, professional, experienced (working in restaurants of same calibre)
Interior Design/Decorations
Floor Plan and traffic patterns
Wheelchair accessibility – ramp, street level!!!
Restaurant concept – art deco inspired
Modern, contemporary, clean lines, bold colours, geometric shapes
Restaurant Layout
Kitchen Layout
Floors/Windows/Walls
Black cork flooring, tile-like, clean polished, kept noise to a minimum, practical
Floor length windows at front, natural lighting, sky light to emphasize hanging sculptural piece in back dining room
Douglas fir wood, light colour, stucco plain white wall
Theme: Douglas fir wood, steel and glass
Furniture
Tables – fiber glass tabletop, different bold colours, no table cloths, weave place mats instead
Functionality – comfortable, leather seating, leather swivel chairs, tons of elbow space, spacious, longue, long cornered banquettes, square tables that were not permanent, easily flexible to change to table size
Lighting Art deco inspired Ceiling lights: large canvas lighting,
abstract, ability for dimming effect, angular, geometrically shaped, contemporary , spot lights
Banquette lighting: behind back seating ,back light shadowing wall
Table top: candles Bar: wine rack back lit, bar area, hanging
lights
Tableware Table coverings China Glassware Cutlery Riedel stemware Eclectic use of many different brands of plates
used:
No table cloth Use of weaved dark wooden like place mats for
each individual
Flowers
Simple, sleek, elegant, glass vase, platform set, not your typical arrangement, arranged by Chef Anne
Music
Smooth contemporary, easy listening, sound level appropriate, above table level not to interfere with conversations
Food Contemporary comfort cuisine that is honest and direct yet
made lovingly and with gusto Chef Anne’s motto: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.’
– Michael Pollan (funny, portion sizes were large) Dedication to using best local
ingredients – emphasis such as Crambrae farms
Strict Ontario wine list – large wall (wine rack) in main dining room displaying this
She and staff annually visit wineries for tasting, etc.
“You must never discount the enjoyment factor. That is as nourishing and soul-building as everything else.”
Menu
Displays of Food and Drink Food: open concept kitchen – line
Drink: wall wine rack, bar
Food Presentation
Use of different shape and sizes plates Bread in baskets (grissini sticks,
different breads), butter – house made, English salt in cleaned oyster shells
Apps
Mains
Dessert
Kitchen & Kitchen Staff
Kitchen design is a collaborative effort between the designer, Longo Kitchens, and Chef Anne
Exec. Chef Anne Sous-Chef Jeff Dueck, Chef de cuisine
Martha Wright Mostly female Outfit: rectangle, AGO logo, hair tied back Service – calm and quiet, show case
There’s More! 5 venues for revenue:
Restaurant – 130 guests at one seatingCafe Espresso bar Banquet – cater to special events and occasions such
as weddings, business affairs, etc., c an do 300 covers in 12 min.
Members Lounge – The Grange – National Historic Site (1970 – national historic and architectural significance), symmetrical 5-bay facade and central pediment reflect the conservative influence of the British classical tradition of the 18th century, restored
Group Photo!