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The restaurant business is a tough game - according to a study by Cornell University about 30% fail in their first year. So it's not surprising that restaurants have certain tactics to keep costs down and diner numbers up.
餐馆业的竞争十分激烈--据康奈尔大学的一项研究显示：30%的餐馆在营业第一年就会倒闭。所以餐馆用一些策略降低成本、吸引更多的顾客，也就没有什么大惊小怪的了。
Here are some of the ways eateries ensure success, according to Imogen Edwards-Jones (and her anonymous insider), who wrote the book Restaurant Babylon, available from Amazon.
Imogen Edwards-Jones（和她的匿名内部人士）写了一本叫做《巴比伦餐厅》的书，亚马逊网站上即可购买。据她所述，小饭馆有一些确保成功的方法。
DINERS WHO BOOK BY PHONE ARE PREFERRED…
打电话预订的顾客优先……
Apparently, people who book by email are less likely to show up so restaurants prefer customers who call to reserve a table. Email bookers also tend to be computer-literate and that may mean they're a blogger or a reviewer - always a worry for restaurants. They're also harder to track down if they leave without paying.
很显然，用邮件预约的客人不太可能会来餐馆吃饭，所以电话预约的客人有优先权。用邮件预约的人也往往会使用电脑，所以他/她可能是位博客或评论员--对餐馆来说总是个担忧。如果他们吃完不付钱就走，也很难再找到他们。
…AND SO ARE PEOPLE WHO JUST WALK UP
直觉来餐馆的客人也同样优先
An increasing number of restaurants don't take bookings, or only offer a small number of reservations. This is, in part, because eateries can 'turn a table' three times with walk-in diners, while customers who book tend to stick around for longer. This policy can work against restaurants, however - it can be harder to move diners on if there's no subsequent booking for their table.
越来越多的餐馆不接受提前预约，或者只提供少量的预约桌。部分是因为提前预约的客人往往会停留的更久一点，而同样的时间内，直接来吃的客人可能已经换了三批了。然而，这个策略可能也会不利于餐馆--如果没有人陆续预约，那么餐馆很难继续经营下去。
LUNCH DELIBERATELY TAKES LONGER
故意让午餐更久一点
Because everyone wants to eat lunch at the same time -restaurants are likely to stagger bookings, keep you waiting for your table, or get waiting staff to chat to you so the kitchen can take the strain.
因为所有人都想在同一时间吃午餐--餐馆很可能会交错安排预约，让你一直在等待，或者让工作人员与你聊天，这样厨房就可以不用那么热火朝天了。
VIPS AND PRETTY WOMEN GET BETTER SEATS
贵宾和美女的座位更好
The more attractive or famous you are the more likely you are to be seated at the front of the venue. Dating couples and overweight businessmen tend to get relegated to the back.
越有魅力、越出名的人就越有可能坐在餐馆的前排位置。约会的情侣和肥胖的商人们往往坐的位置比较靠后。
CHEAPER RESTAURANTS ARE OFTEN A FALSE ECONOMY
便宜的餐馆通常都是虚假节约
You may not be able to afford to spend a fortune on an upmarket meal but you could be getting better value for money if you do. Ingredients, staff, linen, flowers and rent all have to be factored into the pricing of dishes.
可能你去不起高档饭店吃饭，但如果你去了可以让钱花的更有所值。配料、员工、桌布、鲜花以及租金都涵盖在了菜价内。
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