It's time to turn the tables
The pandemic forced all of us to turn the tables. With the new Yelp for Restaurants, you can turn them in your favor.
The pandemic forced all of us to turn the tables. Restaurateurs across the country found new ways to turn industry struggles into game-changing shifts, and we found a source of inspiration — our customers. In 2020, we turned the tables ourselves. We created a team called Yelp for Restaurants and a software product called Yelp Guest Manager to help local restaurants meet, greet, and seat the millions of diners looking for them online.
Turn the Tables like Ann of 21 Spoons
Meet Ann from 21 Spoons in Richmond. After years of teaching children how to cook at her culinary school, she turned a pandemic vacancy into a new restaurant that sells only Richmond cuisine. Instead of closing down, she opened a restaurant, went all-in on local ingredients, and turned 21 Spoons into a destination.
The pandemic wasn’t kind to restaurants, and Richmond was no exception. As she saw well-regarded places close, Ann knew she had to do something. The open space next to her culinary school was the key. Opening a restaurant mid-pandemic was bold, but Ann created 21 Spoons as a local gathering place to celebrate Richmond. And gathering they do—the restaurant is a hit.
Turn the Tables like Ketsuda of Mestizo
Meet Ketsuda from Mestizo in Portland. She immigrated to this country with just two bags and built two restaurants from the ground up. To keep her staff paid and supporting the community, she rented her kitchen to local chefs.
Ketsuda had to literally board up her closed restaurant during the pandemic. She wanted to keep paying her employees, which meant getting a little creative. She opened her kitchen to struggling local chefs, allowing them to rent space to launch pop-up concepts. This creative solution not only helped put new flavors into the community, but Ketsuda covered her costs and kept her employees paid.
Turn the Tables like Glen Ishi of JiST Cafe
Meet Glen from JiST Cafe in LA. When the pandemic started, he brought back a classic recipe from his Grandmother to comfort the elderly in his community. Doubling down on tradition led to the dish being a hit with a younger audience, as well.
Third-generation chef, Glen Ishi, owns JiST Cafe. It’s been in his family for generations, and it specializes in breakfast and brunch meals that blend traditional Japanese dishes with a modern touch.
Glen grew up cooking traditional Japanese dishes with his mom since he could barely reach the stove. He built on that passion by seeking traditional culinary training before taking over the family business. When the pandemic hit, seniors in JiST’s home of Little Tokyo really struggled with the isolation. So Glen turned to his roots and brought back his grandmother’s 70-year-old chasu recipe. The original goal was to bring comforting, familiar flavors to those in need. But the dish became a best seller across the community. It brought customers, young and old, closer, even as they stayed apart.
Young Glen
Chef kids
Old Customers
Process
Client: Yelp for Restaurants
Agency: Y! Creative
CD: Joel Kennedy
Associate CD, Copy: Rowena Harris
EP: Tray Epps
Senior Copywriter: Danny Barry
Senior Motion Designer: Patrick Riggs
CD: Joel Kennedy
Associate CD, Copy: Rowena Harris
EP: Tray Epps
Senior Copywriter: Danny Barry
Senior Motion Designer: Patrick Riggs
Production: Seed Animation Studio
Director: Seed Animation Studio
CD: Morgan Powell
EP: Neil Kidney
Producer: Viki Bebok
Designer: Roberto Juárez, Akira Le, Morgan Powell
3D: Can Erduman, Ricky e’Sousa, Rik Goddard, Rich Hinchcliffe, Roberto Juárez, Akira Le
Director: Seed Animation Studio
CD: Morgan Powell
EP: Neil Kidney
Producer: Viki Bebok
Designer: Roberto Juárez, Akira Le, Morgan Powell
3D: Can Erduman, Ricky e’Sousa, Rik Goddard, Rich Hinchcliffe, Roberto Juárez, Akira Le
2D Character design: Juetofu
Music/Sound Design: Ana Roman
Voice-over: Laura Vandiver
Voice-over: Laura Vandiver
