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RB1970

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Mar 13, 2012
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Dear friends,

Am new to this forum and would like to thank all the members for posting valuable info practically on all the subjects.

To intoduce I am from India and was thinking for quite sometime now to relocate to DR. Back in India I am running my own business.............................howewver at this juncture am looking to pursue my passion and was wondering how good or bad it will be to start INDIAN FUSION FOOD ( restaurant, outlet or may be even take away and in which city).

Would appreciate if members can also share highs and lows of relocating to DR, life in general and other info which may be of help to me.

Regards


RB
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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Welcome to the forum. Speaking generally, there are already more than enough restaurants. They come and go and only a few seem to do well. This is not to suggest yours would not be successful, but competition is tough and the rewards are small or non existent for many.

One problem right now is that tourism is not booming and a great many that come here stay in all inclusive resorts with their meals included in the price of the room.

If you don't have the resources to keep going for 6 months or a year while you try to build your business, and would be dependent on the business to support you when living here, I would think long and hard about walking away from a successful business there to open a restaurant of one sort or another here.
 

donP

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Dec 14, 2008
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I love Indian Cuisine.

... how good or bad it will be to start INDIAN FUSION FOOD ( restaurant, outlet or may be even take away and in which city).

Good in Las Terrenas, where a multinational community would welcome such a restaurant. Also in other places where many 'gringos' reside.
However, your business would mainly depend on foreigners and well-to-do locals; the majority of Dominicans are not much into spicy food and eat their 'bandera' 365 times a year...

A's to all other Q's are found via the search function.

All the best.

donP
 

Chirimoya

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Dec 9, 2002
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It would work in one of the two big cities, in a location that attracts middle class/wealthy Dominicans + expats, or on the east coast (please!).
 

RB1970

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Mar 13, 2012
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Thank you for your valuable inputs folks.

Just checking, are there many Indian Restaurants around? It's a myth that Indian food is spicy.. I am talking about authentic Indian. As per your suggestions, I am assuming that places like Santo Domingo or Punta Cana should work better (more touristy places)?

I have visited most of the DR sites online but wanted first hand information about life in DR, cost of living, quality of life. How much would one need to lead a comfortable life? I have a five year old daughter so a good school is a necessity.
 

Chip

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I think Indian food may have a go in one of the larger cities. I would recommend having the the typical Dominican food along with the Indian food as many Chinese restaurants have done. If you are frugal it can probably be done.
 

Robert

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Jan 2, 1999
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Thank you for your valuable inputs folks.

Just checking, are there many Indian Restaurants around? It's a myth that Indian food is spicy.. I am talking about authentic Indian. As per your suggestions, I am assuming that places like Santo Domingo or Punta Cana should work better (more touristy places)?

I have visited most of the DR sites online but wanted first hand information about life in DR, cost of living, quality of life. How much would one need to lead a comfortable life? I have a five year old daughter so a good school is a necessity.

No Indian restaurants. Does that tell you something?

If you do plan to open one up, focus on the local market, forget tourists, unless you want o be poor or broke. Work out how you're going to get authentic spices etc into the DR.
 

Robert

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I think Indian food may have a go in one of the larger cities. I would recommend having the the typical Dominican food along with the Indian food as many Chinese restaurants have done. If you are frugal it can probably be done.

I disagree...

You don't need to put Dominican food on the menu to have a successful restaurant.

The successful Chinese restaurants in Santo Domingo are just that, Chinese food.
The successful Italian, International, Steak, specialist etc restaurants in Santo Domingo are the same.

Then again, if your market is the barrio, then Chip is right.
 

RB1970

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Mar 13, 2012
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dear robert

is it that in past people tried running indian restaurants and it did not work, or no body ventured .....................opening indian restaurants.


there was this chutney or chutnay restaurant in San domingo.....is it still operational operational..............on web link it said please reserve 2 days in advance ?
 

Chip

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As if there was something the matter with having a "barrio" restaurant.

What I have seen after travelling all over the DR is that inevitably in the medium size town and larger there is always Chinese restaurants and generally they have "combination" menus. Yes they are catering to the locals and seem to do well. I don't know why this wouldn't work for an Indian restaurant as long as the food isn't spicy and is tasty.

I vote the OP moves to Santiago close to PUCMM and I will tell all my friends about it.
 

HumbleHindu

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Welcome to the forum. As far as I know there is no typical Indian Restaurant. I tried several times to visit Chutney on my trips to Santo Domingo but I could not make it. There was another one similar run by pakistani and they offer some dishes but that cannot even be compared with the Indian foods. I went there last week and it was in closing down stage.

Yes it can be done but not as take away type. You had to concentrate on the expat population and for that Santo Domingo will be best. It has sizable population of expats who love spicy food. Pulling dominicans to spicy food is nearly impossible. But if you can make all those exotic Indian sweets, it will be a hit with Dominicans. I introduced them to my Dominican friends and every time I return to DR, they will ask me to bring the sweets for them. Sometimes friends visiting my house will try my foods and they are developing taste for the spicy foods. But patience is the key.
 

Robert

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As if there was something the matter with having a "barrio" restaurant.

What I have seen after travelling all over the DR is that inevitably in the medium size town and larger there is always Chinese restaurants and generally they have "combination" menus. Yes they are catering to the locals and seem to do well. I don't know why this wouldn't work for an Indian restaurant as long as the food isn't spicy and is tasty.

I vote the OP moves to Santiago close to PUCMM and I will tell all my friends about it.

I never said anything bad about "barrio" restaurants. Although 95% of the Chinese ones serve crappy food :)

I said you don't need to serve Dominican food to be successful.
The best restaurants in Santo Domingo stick to what they are good at and known for, that's why they are successful.

You need to understand his potential cliental, it's not Juan Fulano from the barrio, unless he wants to serve average food at very low margins.
 

RB1970

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Mar 13, 2012
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thanks a ton for inputs..............................do you have any idea about indian population size in santo domingo.....any specific area for opening indian restaurant.

any cost indications in terms of rentals of commercial areas.............say for 1000 sq.ft
 

Chip

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I never said anything bad about "barrio" restaurants. Although 95% of the Chinese ones serve crappy food :)

I said you don't need to serve Dominican food to be successful.
The best restaurants in Santo Domingo stick to what they are good at and known for, that's why they are successful.

You need to understand his potential cliental, it's not Juan Fulano from the barrio, unless he wants to serve average food at very low margins.

You are an apparently well off guy who travels the world and knows fine dining. Still maybe this guy is ok with selling food to Dominicans and living off what he can make. As far as "bad" Chinese food people are eating it and don't know any better apparently, like myself. Then again I've known quite a few Chinese(college, girlfriend, wife of best friend) and have had a lot of home cooking and imo some the cheap Chinese food here ain't too bad.

Best of luck to the OP.
 

HumbleHindu

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Not much Indians but there is substantial population of asians. Also there are students doing medicine in one university, UNIBE???. Also you should remember if you think of only Indians for your restaurant you will not succeed.


thanks a ton for inputs..............................do you have any idea about indian population size in santo domingo.....any specific area for opening indian restaurant.

any cost indications in terms of rentals of commercial areas.............say for 1000 sq.ft
 

Robert

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You are an apparently well off guy who travels the world and knows fine dining. Still maybe this guy is ok with selling food to Dominicans and living off what he can make. As far as "bad" Chinese food people are eating it and don't know any better apparently, like myself. Then again I've known quite a few Chinese(college, girlfriend, wife of best friend) and have had a lot of home cooking and imo some the cheap Chinese food here ain't too bad.

Best of luck to the OP.

It has nothing to do with me traveling all over the planet, it has to do with me living and working here for 15 years.

The problem is Chip, your stuck in the "barrio" and think all Dominicans are alike.
The most successful and long standing restaurants in this country do not cater to "your" demographic.

If you consider the "Peeeeking Pollo" two doors down from the colmado a successful restaurant, then you need you need to get out more. If you think they are serving good Chinese food, then that just confirms what I thought. Once again, I suggest you get out more and maybe visit a decent Chinese restaurant in Santo Domingo.

So lets leave the barrio and viralatas behind and get back to the OP's questions.

If you're serious about opening a successful Indian restaurant here, then you need to target upper to middle class Dominicans and to a lesser degree the expat community. Keep it small, within one of the better neighborhoods (house), focused on good food and service. It will only be successful with networking and will take time to take off, so you better have some deep pockets to account for the slow times. I can show you niche restaurants in Santo Domingo that have done exactly this and have successfully built up a solid and consistant client base, whilst retaining a relatively low overhead, thus keeping their pricing attractive.
 

RB1970

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Mar 13, 2012
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Not much Indians but there is substantial population of asians. Also there are students doing medicine in one university, UNIBE???. Also you should remember if you think of only Indians for your restaurant you will not succeed.


thanks


no i do not intend to start this venture for indians only, any .............................suggestions on specific location .............................. per se
 

RB1970

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Mar 13, 2012
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thanks rob


i intend to keep it small not only in size but in menu too.........................r u suggesting that i shud target middle and upper class dominicans only and few expats..........................just to share i have trotted the globe like anything be it US, Europe, South East Asia, Mexico, Canada, Uk and many more countries.....................and have learned one thing in food industry.....................the more you travel the more you explore in food.................. back in India we make it a point to explore new food every weekend from acrosss the globe ........................ i personally think expats too can be targetted........................any indications on per head cost of good dinner ( assuming we offer induian food) with and without drinks
 

Robert

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As I said... Upper to middle class Dominicans and to a lesser degree the expat community. The expat community is nice, but will not sustain your business. You need the local market to be successful here.