Posted by Munchies Bluues is a very successful pizza restaurant where reservations are required and often need to be made days in advance.
Through careful observation we have compiled a top ten list of DOs and DON’Ts to follow if you want to make it as a restauranteur in San Juan del Sur.
1. DO specialize in one food. If you serve pizza don’t offer other Italian options like pasta.
2. DON’T allow menu substitutions. If someone makes a request for something silly like Hawaiian pizza simply ask them to leave.
3. DON’T take walk in traffic and DON’T do takeout. Reservations only!
4. DON’T worry about location, location, location. It doesn’t matter so DO set up in a remote location…like in the jungle…20 minutes from town…nowhere near a public transit route.
5. DON’T worry about signage. If you aren’t cool enough to be in the know, then you aren’t cool enough to go. That same adage applies to the phone number needed to make a reservation.
6. DON’T have staff. Customers can learn to write their own kitchen tickets, serve themselves beverages and tabulate their own bill at the end of the night.
7. DON’T over-extend yourself. Opening three nights a week is more than enough. Opening for lunch is for losers. 6:30 PM until everyone is fed and watered is the recipe for success!
8. DON’T advertise on Facebook or in local newspapers. And DON’T worry about a website. Word of mouth is all you need although there seems to be no way to avoid that pesky Trip Advisor from finding you.
9. DON’T take shit from anyone! The customer is NOT always right. And if people refer to you as the Pizza Nazi wear the title like a badge of honour.
10. And last, but certainly not least, DO serve the best authentic, thin crust, wood oven pizza in Central America!
Although items 1 through 9 seem counter intuitive this business model not only works, but has stood the test of time for long time resident Nicaraguan expat Sergio.
Roman native Sergio Tarantini offers only the best ingredients served in the traditional way. He is a unique individual and restauranteur who loves to entertain in the kitchen. With his eclectic song selection pumping through the speakers (all of which are pointed towards him) he dances while spinning pizza crusts in the air.
Sergio’s is a place to hang out with old friends and make new ones while sipping wine, feasting on delicious pizza and enjoying a night away from the hustle of San Juan del Sur. It’s a dining experience must for travelers in the San Juan del Sur area and a great meeting place for expats.
We are feeling charitable today so we will provide Sergio’s phone number (505) 8814-8530, but you’ll have to figure out where it is located on your own.
HINT: Refer to item number five in the list.