GUIDE TO EFFICIENT RESTAURANT LAYOUTS

[Min_Hay 0]

IHOP UHOP's Guide to Efficient Restaurant Layouts

Introduction

Hello! At the IHOP UHOP restaurant, we pride ourselves on
squeezing every last gourmet point of out of our staff before they
collapse from exhaustion! This guide will show you how to build
efficient and effective restaurant layouts to maximize your bottom line!


Basic Strategies

1. Don't make your waiters walk
The less your waiter walks, the more time he spends serving and the less time he spends getting there.

2. Too many tables!
Resist the urge to add as many tables as you can afford. If you have
too many tables and not enough cooks, you won't get the food out fast
enough! I find that you should only offer 3 tables for each cook you have.

3. Center your stoves
Keep your stoves centered. A food order from any table can go to any stove. Don't keep all your stoves clustered in one area.

4. Use corners
Your waiter can service in all 8 directions, so use corners as much as possible to give him the most reach.


5. Box waiters in
Form a complete square or rectangle using your tables to trap the
waiters in. This way, they don't wander around needlessly to serve food.

6. Avoid the walls
Don't set your tables and chairs against a wall or the grass:


Customers aren't very courteous and they refuse to scoot in! The 3
empty seats shown above will always remain empty because the two
customers block them off.


Advanced Strategies

7. Count steps
A good, quick rule of thumb to judge a layout's efficiency is to ask
yourself: how many steps maximum do my waiters have to take?

Both these layouts have the same number of tables and stoves, but one is more efficient! Which one?



The answer is the first one, because waiters only have to travel a
maximum of 2 steps. In the second one, waiters have to travel a maximum
of 3.

8. Avoid diagonals
Look closely at your waiters' speed, you can actually see that they move slower diagonally! It takes 1.4
times longer to cross a tile diagonally than to cross it up, down,
left, or right (but it is still faster than going through 2 tiles!).
Whenever possible, within reason, try to remove diagonals from your
waiters' path.

9. A Note on "Island" Layouts
You'll sometimes see restaurants that have two or more "islands", each island having their own cooks and waiters, like this one:


These islands are very effective, because smaller designs (with less
cooks and tables) are much more efficient than bigger, bulkier designs.


But there's a catch! Your waiters will often seemingly end up in random
places, and there's no guarantee that they'll always end up inside the
islands like you want them to. Every time you go to another screen (go
to the street, visit another restaurant, rearrange furniture, etc.)
there's a chance that your waiters will randomly end up somewhere and
then you'll have to manually set them again.

At the moment, I haven't found a way to consistently ensure that the
waiters will end up at the right places. Sometimes it will work,
sometimes it won't, and doing obscure things like dragging a stove
around will cause the waiters to appear differently. Until I establish
a fool-proof pattern, I'm wary of recommending any island designs.

However, if you are feeling adventurous, here is a 4 cook 2 waiter layout that works fairly consistently:

(Special thanks to Orphaen!)


Recommended Layouts

All right, enough talk, here are my recommended layouts!

2 Cooks, 1 Waiter


3 Cooks, 1 Waiter
(Special thanks to Orphaen)


3 Cooks, 2 Waiters
Keep the same layout as above (3 Cooks, 1 Waiter), because you'll need more cooks to handle more tables.

4 Cooks, 2 Waiters


5 Cooks, 2 Waiters



Check back often because these designs are always evolving and updating
thanks to feedback from the community. I will also add additional
designs as I get more cooks and waiters.

Thanks for reading and I hope that this was helpful!

(Information taken from playfish forum http://forum.playfish.com/showthread.php?t=534672)

[Gaiamaiden 0]

thanks for these pics min hay!!

[Min_Hay 0]

no probs gaia

[PiercedPrincess 0]

Wow.. They look great! I can see that things can get pretty hectic! I've only just started off and only get a couple of customers at a time hehee

[.miss lu 0]

wow thanks for the advices

[Platinvm 0]

Woa...SWEEETNESS....this is great...I've been trying to come up with new layout but my brain just doesn't work that way...this is totally kick a**...love it love it love it =)

[Platinvm 0]

Question...do you find it more efficient with 5 cooks 2 waiters or would 4 cooks 3 waiters work better?

[Min_Hay 0]

I find 4 cooks 3 waiters works better, but it depends what layout you have.

[Platinvm 0]

Min_Hay wrote:

I find 4 cooks 3 waiters works better, but it depends what layout you have.

Ya...that's what I'm going for now...

Come by my place and take a look...I would like your expert opinion on the layout of my restaurant :bounce:

Sorry about the "ghetto" look to it though...I need to save my coins for nice tables/chairs... :lol!:

[Min_Hay 0]

I like what you have done so far.... BUT

the waiter has to walk right around the cooks.... maybe work it so the waiters don't have to walk around stuff??? Will make things a lot quicker. but other than that....looking good *thumbs up* ( I miss that emoticon )

[Platinvm 0]

Coolio...thanks...I'll look into that =)

[GG 0]

hey....great and very helpful info. Thanx min hay! :-)

[glow88 0]

hey thanks alot!!!
this is super helpful!!!!!
i love the layout of the shop!!
haha thanks!

[glow88 0]

ok i got a question!
now they serve alot faster!!
and not really lot customers running away due to too slow!

but....!
hmmm cause with the layout above...we cant put too many tables!
cause if we put too many tables..they will serve slow..!
but if put only 12 tables means only 12 customers..
and when the customers come and there is no place for them to sit, they will run off wid giving u a BAD sign! and ur points will drop!

so what to do?!
><

[Platinvm 0]

Hey glow...what you can do also is make it so that it takes longer for the customers to get to their chairs...so you'll see some people with almost "mazes"...

Basically if you keep your workers above 80%, then they'll work fast enough that even though there's ppl not getting seats, you're still getting more points/money/rep...

If you need help just let me know...my little restaurant just passed level 17 =)

[Min_Hay 0]

glow88 wrote:

ok i got a question!
now they serve alot faster!!
and not really lot customers running away due to too slow!

but....!
hmmm cause with the layout above...we cant put too many tables!
cause if we put too many tables..they will serve slow..!
but if put only 12 tables means only 12 customers..
and when the customers come and there is no place for them to sit, they will run off wid giving u a BAD sign! and ur points will drop!

so what to do?!
><

hey glow, I had the same problem with only 12 tables, so I just added more.....

Here is my layout now........



and my rating went from 23-24 to mid 40's within 30 minutes.

[irshandy 0]

hmm.. tried the 3 cook-1 waiter layout.. it works well..
but its too hard to keep ppl having their own seat

[glow88 0]

Min_Hay wrote:

glow88 wrote:

ok i got a question!
now they serve alot faster!!
and not really lot customers running away due to too slow!

but....!
hmmm cause with the layout above...we cant put too many tables!
cause if we put too many tables..they will serve slow..!
but if put only 12 tables means only 12 customers..
and when the customers come and there is no place for them to sit, they will run off wid giving u a BAD sign! and ur points will drop!

so what to do?!
><

hey glow, I had the same problem with only 12 tables, so I just added more.....

Here is my layout now........



and my rating went from 23-24 to mid 40's within 30 minutes.

hey! ur layout rite..there is a problem rite? cause the waiter will be like at one side..and everytime u refresh..the other side wun have waiter..
will u have that problem?

[Min_Hay 0]

no cos I have 4 cooks and 2 waiters

if u don't have a lot of workers just have two stoves instead of four

[glow88 0]

Min_Hay wrote:

no cos I have 4 cooks and 2 waiters

if u don't have a lot of workers just have two stoves instead of four

yaya i have 4 cooks and 2 waiters too!
but rite..
the waiters very weird!
when u refresh..
they stay at one corner only!
and everytime u have to keep adjusting it!
did u try refreshing?

[Min_Hay 0]

I have had my restaurant like that for a couple of days now and I have never had a problem with the waiters. here is another screenshot, i actually have 4 cooks and 3 waiters now, 2 waiters are on the right and 1 on the left. I refresh all the time to trade ingredients and when i come back they are always right where I left them

[glow88 0]

this was my layout b4..! and the waiter keep stuck at the other side..and the left side always left blank

now this is my new layout..



hmmm! maybe i try ur layout again

[Love2save 0]

great advice, thanks so much, I need to go and redecorate lol

[Platinvm 0]

HOT DAMN Min_Hay...HOW did you get the golden sweeper award so fast?

Do you have friends that just leave their restaurants open but with nothing going on so you can sweet 200pcs of garbage a day? Hook me up with those friends...

[Platinvm 0]

Well this is the layout I'm currently using...

5 cooks, 3 waiters

I average between 47 - 50 rep ratings...just not sure if it's the one to use to gain the most points...

[Platinvm 0]

Well after some testing...the final layout from Min_Hay has come out on top...you can gain around 2,500 pts/hr with all 3 course dishes at level 10.

So for this is the best configuration I've found to date...so good job Min_Hay :cheers: :cheers:

If someone finds a more efficient layout..plz post a pic and stats.

I figured the above stats by doing a 15min. test run...will do a full 1hr test run later.

Keep you all up to date

[Min_Hay 0]

glad i could help plat, as for my gold sweeper award yeah my friends started playing and then didn't like it and everytime i refresh their shops are full of trash again hehe

[Love2save 0]

after reading this thread I rearranged my tables and my rating jumped up, thank you so much for the advice !!

[Min_Hay 0]

no problem. good luck with ur restaurant

[irshandy 0]

min_hay, you got the gold garbage guru already?? who is your friend that always keep his/her trash like that? may i add him/her? lol

[Min_Hay 0]

i have to ask her before i let people add her.

she is on holidays atm so when she comes back i will give u all her e-mail if she agrees

[irshandy 0]

sure thing

[glow88 0]

what u guys think of this layout! i saw tis in sumones shop..juz wondering is this layout good ornot!

[Platinvm 0]

About the above layout...I think it would depend on what you're trying to get...points or cash...for a cash game it's probably good 'cause there's lots of tables...but I think you might have the problem with waiters having to walk too far to get to a table...and you'll only have 2 waiters looking at this setup...

So they have to deliver food and clear the tables...you should watch that restaurant and see what "the people" are saying...

[Platinvm 0]

Here's my latest layout...it gives around 2700pts/hr.

The "power towers" don't help in points or anything...they just look cool...hehe

[glow88 0]

lol ur layout i c b4!^^
hehe..lot ppl use that too!
hehe i gona retry and test my layout later..!
when im free

[glow88 0]

hey plat...!
ur layout..
will the waiter go to both right side and left side no ppl?
rmb i wanted to use tis b4..and u said cant cause my waiter keep go other side..
but now u oso using..! so means it works?



look at mine!! the waiter keep going the other side!! how urs work?! dun ur waiter go the other side too!!
my customer keep running away when i on it..!
the waiter juz dun stay at there!
zzzzzzz

[GenuineGem 0]

Thank you soo much! Great help! Kudos

[Gaiamaiden 0]

great layouts guys/gals!

[Platinvm 0]

glow88 wrote:

hey plat...!
ur layout..
will the waiter go to both right side and left side no ppl?
rmb i wanted to use tis b4..and u said cant cause my waiter keep go other side..
but now u oso using..! so means it works?



look at mine!! the waiter keep going the other side!! how urs work?! dun ur waiter go the other side too!!
my customer keep running away when i on it..!
the waiter juz dun stay at there!
zzzzzzz

Ok...they way to fix this is like this:

1) When both waiters are on 1 side....RIGHT BEFORE the waiter is about to take a cooked meal you:
2) Go to "redecorate" and then switch the stove that the finished meal the waiter is about to take to the other side with one of your other stoves.

You might have to do this a couple of times before it stays permanent. Once you have it, it'll be ok even if you need to refresh at sometime in the game.

Hope it helps...if any questions just let me know on FB chat =)

[Gaiamaiden 0]

i was wondering how to do that thanks plat

[Platinvm 0]

np =)

[innocentboy 0]

wow..nice idea

[glow88 0]

I got a better way when that waiter is like on one one side..!

everytime when u guys assign ur waiter and cooks...!
pick ur two waiters first , then only pick the cook!
and hehe it always works =)

[Kedra 0]

I can't get the waiters to stay on their side if I splt the tables, so I had to redo it all again

[glow88 0]

Kedra wrote:

I can't get the waiters to stay on their side if I splt the tables, so I had to redo it all again

erm...someone told me b4..if u wan make them each side have one waiter, give job to ur waiter first then only assign ur cook..! try it...and c whether it works not =) it always work for me~~

[Kedra 0]

I'll give it a go and see Thanks hun x

[Platinvm 0]

I think for the "island layout" (like what I have)...it works best to assign 3 cooks, 1 waiter....then the other 3 cooks, 1 waiter.

If you find that the waiters are grouping together it works best to do the redecorating thing...'cause then once they're moved over and stay...it'll stay forever unless you change your layout again.

If you have any questions about it read the above or send me a msg/pm me on FB chat.

[glow88 0]

Platinvm wrote:

I think for the "island layout" (like what I have)...it works best to assign 3 cooks, 1 waiter....then the other 3 cooks, 1 waiter.

If you find that the waiters are grouping together it works best to do the redecorating thing...'cause then once they're moved over and stay...it'll stay forever unless you change your layout again.

If you have any questions about it read the above or send me a msg/pm me on FB chat.

plat~~ as i said, u dun have to redecorate things...!
someone from the playfish forum told me already, u can just pick ur two waiters FIRST, and then only pick the 6 cooks! ^^
understand ma? means dun pick ur cook first..pick ur waiters first and one wil go left, and other will go right..!
it always works...! not troublesome at all..
better than redecorating~~! :face:

[Celula 0]

glow88 wrote:

Platinvm wrote:

I think for the "island layout" (like what I have)...it works best to assign 3 cooks, 1 waiter....then the other 3 cooks, 1 waiter.

If you find that the waiters are grouping together it works best to do the redecorating thing...'cause then once they're moved over and stay...it'll stay forever unless you change your layout again.

If you have any questions about it read the above or send me a msg/pm me on FB chat.

plat~~ as i said, u dun have to redecorate things...!
someone from the playfish forum told me already, u can just pick ur two waiters FIRST, and then only pick the 6 cooks! ^^
understand ma? means dun pick ur cook first..pick ur waiters first and one wil go left, and other will go right..!
it always works...! not troublesome at all..
better than redecorating~~! :face:

Thanks for the advice, I'll try it right away, glow xD