Top 6 Movies for Restaurant Owners

June 1, 2017

The movies that connect with us on a personal level are the ones that linger in our memories forever, especially when it deals with food and the drama in a commercial kitchen. 

Achieving that level of intimacy in the fictional world of movies is easier said than done. For those who are passionate about the culinary arts, it is even harder to find a portrayal of a commercial kitchen.

There are so many movies that you can relate to if you are in high school, a secret agent or a worn out wall street investment banker. Even with over 14 million people working in the food industry in the United States, finding a movie that truly captures the restaurant experience is a bit rare. Nonetheless, there are few great movies that will appeal to those in the restaurant industry. These 6 movies that will make you remember what you love about owning, working in, or managing a restaurant.

  1. Chef (2014)

This movie will make you feel special if you belong to the restaurant industry. Jon Favreau plays the role of Chef Carl, a food truck entrepreneur (pretty much a commercial kitchen on wheels). Despite hateful critics, Carl carries out his passion for delivering great food to his customers. It is an inspiring story of the amazing results that can come from being in the business for the right reasons.

  1. Big Night (1996)

Don’t look down on Big Night just because it’s older. This movie is a big one. With its comedic undertone, the two brothers running an Italian commercial kitchen will remind you of the one big night that you loved in your restaurant. You will find it easy to relate to this movie if you love what you do.

  1. Burnt (2015)

In the most recent movie on our list, Bradley Cooper goes up against strong competition as he strives for a comeback in the restaurant industry. He partners with Sienna Miller, and together they are led by their passion to raise their game in their commercial kitchen. If you have ever started your own restaurant, you will certainly relate to the obstacles and the drive it takes to overcome them.

  1. Spinning Plates (2012)

If you need motivation, inspiration, and insight about running a restaurant, this is the movie for you. You will be able to compare three restaurant owners in terms of their approach to business. One lesson you will pick from this movie is the great importance of teamwork in running a commercial kitchen.

  1. No Reservations (2007)

Change can bring about mediocrity if you do not know how to respond. If your personal life is clashing with your professional in the restaurant, turn on No Reservations. This movie will brace you for the many challenges of running a commercial kitchen.  

  1. Hundred Foot Journey (2014)

This is a story of two very different people that learn to work together. Even though the two families are cooking healthy foods for their customers, they are in an unhealthy feud. Even if you are not working in a commercial kitchen, you will see a reason to watch this movie more than once.

Proper Use of Cutting Boards

Proper Use of Cutting Boards

Food safety is vital to every restaurant – consistent inspections make sure of it!  Unfortunately, the day-to-day operations can sometimes mean that safety falls through the cracks. One thing that can get overlooked in a busy kitchen is the safe use of cutting boards....

read more
Four Myths About Food Trucks

Four Myths About Food Trucks

You probably know that the food truck industry is booming – it’s grown by 7.3% in the last five years and shows no signs of slowing down. That makes it an attractive industry for anyone interested in serving food – from established restaurants to new entrepreneurs....

read more
Kitchen Equipment: Choosing the Right Cutting Board

Kitchen Equipment: Choosing the Right Cutting Board

Every kitchen, from a food truck to a large restaurant, needs cutting boards. From vegetables to bread to meat and fish, your chefs and cooks have to chop things every day. Have you put a lot of thought into this important piece of kitchen equipment? Like many other...

read more
Catering to Generation Z

Catering to Generation Z

As time marches on, we continue to have new generations arising behind the ones we’ve already named. Most recently everyone has been focused on Millennials, whose tech-savvy and focus on experiences over things have shifted the face of every industry. Now, there’s a...

read more
4 Ways to Keep Your Restaurant Employees Engaged

4 Ways to Keep Your Restaurant Employees Engaged

You can have everything you need to run an amazing restaurant – a great menu, incredible chef, the best location, perfect pricing, and top-of-the-line kitchen equipment. But even with all of that, you won’t succeed if your employees are disengaged and unprofessional....

read more
Kitchen Fun : Food and the Oscars

Kitchen Fun : Food and the Oscars

Hollywood’s biggest night was February 24th, 2019, and was it ever a show. There were stars, glitz, glamour, and amazing outfits everywhere. There were also cameras catching every moment, from the red carpet to the after-parties. What happened at the show and after...

read more
4 Keys to Successful Commercial Kitchen Design

4 Keys to Successful Commercial Kitchen Design

If you’re opening a new restaurant or renovating your existing kitchen, you probably already have some ideas about how it should look. However, it’s important to look beyond your own ideas and understand the keys to good design in general. This will help you...

read more
Bring Together Your Back and Front of House

Bring Together Your Back and Front of House

Does your restaurant feel like a simmering battle between the back of house (BOH) and front of house (FOH)? Or do both units get along famously? If your restaurant is like many, you find yourself somewhere in the middle. Rarely do you have an all-out war, but...

read more
Commercial Kitchen Fun: Cooking With Mustard

Commercial Kitchen Fun: Cooking With Mustard

One of the things that make owning a restaurant so fun is the ability to be creative with your menu. With the help of your chef and cooks, you can come up with some really fun dishes to serve. To get your imagination going, we’re going to share some fun dishes that...

read more
Restaurant Supplies to Help Ensure Food Safety

Restaurant Supplies to Help Ensure Food Safety

Food safety is one of the most important issues facing restaurants. As Chipotle can tell you, even the very best branding and a very popular product doesn’t stop you from losing a lot of money when food isn’t safe. What steps can you take to keep your food safe? There...

read more
Drive Traffic to Your Restaurant From Instagram

Drive Traffic to Your Restaurant From Instagram

You have a lot of restaurant equipment that you need to make your location run smoothly. You might think about your point-of-sale system, refrigeration units, cooking equipment, and more. But what about Instagram? That’s right, a social media platform can be one of...

read more
Handling Theft in Your Convenience Store

Handling Theft in Your Convenience Store

Running a convenience store is challenging to say the least. You need to staff it, but not with too many people. Then again, too few and you have a lot of problems – including theft. There are three groups that can be responsible for product and money loss in your...

read more
Kitchen Equipment Spotlight: How Clean is Your Coffee Pot?

Kitchen Equipment Spotlight: How Clean is Your Coffee Pot?

If you were going to rank kitchen equipment based on how much work it does, the humble coffee pot has to be near the top. In almost every restaurant, people order coffee with their meal or dessert. The problem is that because the coffee pot is working so hard, it...

read more
Should You Add a Food Truck to Your Restaurant?

Should You Add a Food Truck to Your Restaurant?

If your restaurant is doing well, you might be thinking about opening a second location. After all, that’s usually the next step when it’s time to expand, right? Before you jump in, though, consider another option. Maybe having a food truck would be a better choice....

read more