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Biography

Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D.

 Contact Jonathan

Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D. is our Advice Guy and Professor of Culinary Arts and Science at Drexel University in Philadelphia. He is the co-author/editor of eight books, including The Anti-Inflammatory Family Cookbook (Simon & Schuster, 2021).

Articles by
Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D.

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Workforce

Who should clean the restaurant restrooms?

Advice Guy: In an ideal scenario, a dedicated staff cleaning person or contractor, who doesn’t handle food, would take care of restroom cleaning.

Operations

How can I avoid double-booking catering gigs?

Advice Guy: Even if your catering proposals have a low conversion rate, it’s a good idea to put a time limit on them and keep track of which proposals went out for each event date.

Operations

How can I keep diners from lingering too long?

Advice Guy: Subtle cues like clearing every possible item from the table may only be effective with savvy customers or those who want to leave anyway.

Operations

Should a server disclose prices when announcing restaurant specials?

Advice Guy: It used to be seen as classy not to mention prices in an upscale environment. But transparency matters, too.

Workforce

When a restaurant employee fails a food-safety exam, who pays for the retake?

Advice Guy: No one likes unexpected costs, but this one is modest and important.

Workforce

What’s the best way to change a tip-out policy?

Advice Guy: To make such changes thoughtfully, look at past data and model what the new program would look like for each position in the restaurant.

Workforce

What questions should I be asking prospective restaurant employees?

Advice Guy: It can be tough to predict how someone will perform on the job from an interview, but the more practical your questions are, the better.

Workforce

My recent hire didn’t work out. Do I still have to pay them for training?

Advice Guy: Making a bad hiring decision doesn’t get you out of paying for training.

Workforce

Is it OK to ask a job applicant for their preferred pronouns?

Advice Guy: While this question likely aims to indicate that your restaurant is a positive and inclusive workplace, in general, interview questions should be related to the candidate’s ability to do the job.

Workforce

Is it smart to close my restaurant for a week to give staff time off?

Advice Guy: Despite some downsides, there are many reasons to consider a vacation closure.

Operations

How should you be compensated for menu development?

Advice Guy: Consultants should clearly state what they're willing to do as part of business development and what would require a paid contract.

Is it OK to charge no-show fees when a party size changes last minute?

Advice Guy: While it’s frustrating to have a smaller-than-expected group show up, the revenue gained may not be worth the potential loss of goodwill and future business.

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