Here is an interesting article from Restaurants and Institutions about how restaurants can use social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to their advantage. Examples include posting restaurant job openings, getting feedback on menu items and reaching out to potential customers. Do you use any type of social media to promote your restaurant? Tell us at the Restaurantin Forum!

Today I look at restaurant refrigeration. Not the sexiest restaurant topic, but an integral part of any restaurant. Restaurant refrigeration ranges from small coolers (like a dorm fridge) to massive walk-in refrigerators and freezers, and everything in between. Read on for a break down of all the different types of commercial restaurant coolers and freezers.

I am not a big lunch fan. I much prefer eating dinner out, give the choice. However, I recently had the pleasure of eating at my favorite hippie sandwich shop for lunch, nestled in the mountains of Western Maine. While I was sitting in the oh so funky dining room, I thought about why exactly, I liked the café so much. Beyond the yummy food and super friendly service, the café is located in a converted federal-period brick house, exuding warmth and welcome. The design of the dining room is cozy, with sofas and chairs intermingling at tables. (alas, no booths, though!) The music (I believe it was Ray Lamontagne, also a native of Western Maine) was perfect. All and all a great lunch! What gets you stoked about eating out? Share your story at the Restaurant Forum.

Are you thinking of opening a restaurant franchise? There are many different kinds of restaurant franchises on the market right now, from simple ice cream shops (think Cold Stone Creamery) to fast food restaurants (think McDonalds). Check out the About Guide to Franchises, Don Daszkowski, 10 reasons to buy a franchise as well as a list of restaurant franchise reviews for more information on buying a restaurant franchise.

More About Restaurant Franchises

-          Is a restaurant franchise right for you?

-          How to buy a restaurant franchise

Whether your restaurant is a fine dining establishment, a casual sports bar or somewhere in between, if you offer alcohol you probably have a bar. Here is a step-by-step guide for setting up a restaurant bar. It includes equipment, inventory and tips for service bars and full customer service bars.

More on Restaurant How-To Guides

• How to hire a restaurant bartender
• How to write a restaurant menu
• How to buy commercial restaurant equipment

Bad food, bad service, bad management. Those are just some of the reasons so many restaurants fail within the first two years of opening. Many reasons restaurants fail can be prevented with close attention to finances, customer service and general management. Do you have tips to avoid failure? Share them at the Restauranting Forum.

Are you looking to open your own restaurant? The biggest stumbling block for many would-be restaurateurs is financing. Check out this week's article which all about how to get financing for a new restaurant. It includes tips on creating a solid restaurant concept, writing a business plan, and preparing for your interview with the bank or potential investors.

I was chatting with one of my restaurant friends and she mentioned how the restaurant where she worked had to stay open an hour and a half later than normal, because a party of two was chatting. How do you handle these situations at your restaurant? I know restaurant owners and managers who politely ask customers to leave after a certain amount of time. I know others who would stay open all night, if that makes the customers happy. As a restaurant person, I sympathize with staff and never stay late at any restaurant. But there are plenty of non-restaurant folk who have no problem chatting over a free coffee refill into the wee hours of night. What do you think? Tell us at the Restauranting Forum.

Have you taken the polls about restaurants and local foods? How often does your restaurant use local foods? Tell us here! What are the biggest barriers between your restaurant and local foods? Distance? Cost? Availabilty? Tell us here!

 Want to know more? Check out 10 Reasons Restaurants Should Buy Local Foods.

 Do you have a local foods story to share? Tell us about it at the Restaurant Forum.