Site name: Buca di Beppo URL: www.bucadibeppo.com Background information: Buca di Beppo is a neighborhood restaurant where guests feast on family platters of real, immigrant, southern Italian specialties in a boisterous, celebratory environment that recalls the Italian American supper clubs of the 1940s and 1950s. In immigrant fashion, the restaurant serves food family-style, in portions meant for sharing.

Site name: Chili’s URL: www.chilis.com Background information: Chili’s offers a distinct, fresh, healthy mix of grilled American favorites prepared in a way that keeps guests coming back. Chili’s is part of a family of restaurants operated by Brinker International.

Site name: Bahama Breeze URL: www.bahamabreeze.com Background information: Bahama Breeze combines Caribbean-inspired food, handcrafted tropical drinks, vibrant atmosphere, and fun service. Founded in 1996, Bahama Breeze is part of a family of restaurants operated by Darden Restaurants.

Site name: Outback Steakhouse URL: www.outback.com Background information: Outback offers high-quality food and service, generous portions at moderate prices, and a casual atmosphere suggestive of the Australian Outback. Although beef and steak items make up a portion of the menu, Outback also offers a variety of chicken, ribs, seafood, and pasta dishes.

Exercises:

a. What characterizes a good restaurant Web site from a marketing standpoint?

What elements should be present on a Web site to make it an effective marketing tool?

b. Which of the above Web sites do you believe presents the best marketing effort?

Why?

c. Which of the above restaurants advertises promotional merchandise on its Web site?

How effective do you believe promotional merchandise is in attracting customers?

d. Overall, discuss how effective you believe Internet Web sites are in marketing a restaurant concept. Why?