Which one would you most want to INVEST in?
This is drastically different than which one you would most want to eat at. For example, you might love Indian food but not believe in Spice Coast as a restaurant to invest in. You might hate Soul food but believe Soul Daddy will make you a pile of money. As an investor myself, I realize you don't have to like something to believe in it. There are things I believe in the business model of, but would never personally use.
So, here's the question: If you were one of the judges--and at this point it's become clear they're more food snobs trying to host a cooking competition than actual business minds looking for investments--or, even better, an actual investor thinking about basic things the judges aren't like menu pricing, food costs, etc. which would you invest in? Feel free to include ones that have already been eliminated too.
For me it goes kind of like...
10. Spice Coast: There is not one national Indian food chain. NOT ONE. Clearly, this type of food has trouble going into franchise mode so I'm out. Plus, the guy is clearly going to be more comfortable in a sit down, less fast paced environment and he isn't doing anything special with the food. It's just straight up Indian food. If there were a twist, maybe, but as is you're just asking to franchise something that has been around forever but has yet to launch a single national franchise.
9. Harvest Sol: The food's not bad, but the person behind the wheel is. She doesn't really know anything but is arrogant about it. First she wouldn't even change the name from Compleat, then she changed everything but her hair color when she almost went home. Then she didn't want to serve a sandwich because most people aren't "mobile while eating" she said they sit down and eat at a desk. She's a young corporate lawyer used to hour long power lunches where people sit down and eat a salad at some over priced restaurant. She does not, fundamentally, get the type of food she's being asked to serve.
8. Sports Wraps: Actually I think this could catch on, but the problem is it already has. She's not really doing the wraps with a twist. This is the type of place you might eat at at an airport terminal waiting for a plane and there's few choices, but I'm not sure anyone is going to beat a trail to this place. Still, worth a second look, but since the judges didn't keep her around long enough I guess we'll never know.
7. Saucy Balls: The food looks delicious but it has limited appeal. The name is actually not bad, and would let it distinguish itself easier. It catches on as memorable in a way "Sports Wraps" or "Harvest Sol" just don't. Still, the food does have limited appeal. I think you might eat there every other week, but certainly not on the regular.
6. Fast Wok: If the judges--Curtis Stone in particular--had not been so obsessed with what is "proper" stir fry (who cares? again, they let being food snobs cloud the issue) this could have caught on. Also, the wrong person was at the helm probably, but I do think there's potential here.
This is where it gets harder because I would probably invest in any of these:
5. Soul Daddy: I think it can work, I think it will work regardless of if he wins this competition. Problem is there's a lot of overlap between Soul Food and country food and I personally would eat at Grill Billies before I would eat at Soul Daddy. Plus, some of his side items have limited appeal--and I'm from the South, even I don't think black beans, greens, cabbage, etc. is a good idea for a fast casual setting--so I would probably just go down the street to Boston Market instead.
4. Revolutionary Tacos: They cut this guy too soon. He had spent time on the food (arguably not very strong) but more importantly the mood of the entire restaurant. That's very important, but the judges are under estimating it so far.
3. Melt Works: The judges were wrong to keep pushing a straight forward grilled cheese, and he was right. And the sauces? Puh-leeze. In a way it was a blessing he got cut from the competition because he will do better outside of it. This is the kind of guy (clean cut, clearly business minded, does his research, pricing, actually knows about business which the judges don't like) that could go to a bank, and get a loan tomorrow. He'll do well. This is the kind of guy real investors like. You won't lose your shirt with him. Curtis Stone showed extreme ignorance for criticizing Eric for actually doing some research into HIS own restaurant concept. [The judges are forgetting that investors don't run the show, they find a restaurant they like and invest in it].
2. Grill Billies: Probably because I just love that type of food and it works best in a fast casual setting. There are dozens of chains in the South that have made a bundle doing this type of food, but it works in New York/LA as well. I don't know about Minnesota but who cares? That's a strange location for the third restaurant anyway. It should have been in Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Charlotte, etc. where this restaurant would clean up.
1. Sinners and Saints: I don't know if the food is really as bad as the judges say but it's fixable. The food she has made looks pretty good to me, but most imporantly the concept is great. I could see this being a restaurant with the least amount of work, and the concept just has this thing, like...it's not new food but it's done in a new way, which is the mark of a national chain.