Theme
Theme
CRACKS HOSPITALITY STUDIO
BUILDING HOSPITALITY ICONS, ONE RESTAURANT AT A TIME
OUR METHOD
Clear, Grounded, Built to Last
We believe the best atmosphere is a full, happy dining room. Our work is designed to drive repeat visits — aligning pricing, experience, and team culture to what guests truly value.
Every concept we build has a clear identity and cultural soul — brought to life through design, food, and storytelling that feel honest and relevant.
We make every decision with execution in mind. From day one, we ensure your teams can deliver experiences that are profitable, practical, and consistent.
Our concepts are globally aware but never out of place. We root each project in local insight — because context isn't just important, it's everything.
SERVICES
STEP BY STEP
Smart Start — Capital Efficiency from Day Zero
With over 50 openings across 3 continents, we help you avoid costly mistakes and make high-impact decisions early. From location choice to layout and budgeting, we protect your investment before the first guest walks in.
Revenue Activation — Maximising the Top Line
We engineer multiple revenue streams, from brand partnerships to service design. Our strategies are built into your operations, marketing, and menu — ensuring momentum from opening day.
Sustained Profitability — Long-Term Performance
We stay involved beyond the launch. From systems to leadership tools, we ensure your business is resilient, scalable, and tuned for consistent financial performance.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
Comprehensive restaurant consulting services tailored for high-end establishments, from concept development to operational excellence.
Our concept development packages—Blueprint, Framework, and Launch—are designed to meet you where you are. Whether you need help validating an idea, developing a full concept, or going all the way for opening, each package offers a tailored set of services to match your needs. From strategy and branding to operational systems and launch execution, we provide the structure, expertise, and support to bring your vision to life.
Our Management package provides continued operational support after your successful opening. We work alongside your team to optimize performance, implement systems, and drive sustainable growth through data-driven strategies and operational excellence.
Cracks Hospitality Studio works with a network of vetted specialist partners who can provide complementary services not included in our core packages. We can coordinate and oversee these partnerships to ensure seamless integration with our consulting work.
To help you get your restaurant up and running. Feasibility study, concept review, menu development, and operational audits.
FEES
Our fees are structured around three distinct packages tailored to your specific needs and scope of work. Whether you need support with concept development only or comprehensive guidance from initial planning through to opening day, we offer flexible engagement options that align with your project's complexity and your level of involvement.
Project Information
* Travel expenses are billed separately according to our International Consulting Engagement Policy.
* All fees are subject to applicable taxes. For detailed terms and conditions, please refer to your consulting agreement.
* For custom projects or special requirements, please contact us.
BLUEPRINT
STRATEGIC PLANNING & CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
The starting point, providing the essential groundwork for a successful hospitality concept. We validate your vision through market analysis, concept refinement, and financial modeling to ensure your project stands on solid ground before significant investments are made.
Estimated Timeline:
6-8 weeks
VALIDATING YOUR IDEA:
MARKET & COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
- Comprehensive market opportunity assessment
- Site location evaluation and recommendations
- Identification of market gaps and opportunities
- Customer persona development
- Spending pattern analysis
- Lifestyle and preference mapping
- Suggested pricing models
- Detailed competitor analysis (up to 5 direct competitors)
- SWOT analysis
- Unique selling proposition development
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
- Brand story and concept articulation
- Menu direction and pricing strategy (includes sample menus)
- Service style recommendations
- Basic design brief
- Space planning support
- Manuals to guide venue design
FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY & INVESTMENT PLANNING
- Initial investment estimation
- Projected profit and loss statements (3-year outlook)
- Break-even analysis
- Return on investment projections
- Capital requirement assessment
- Funding option recommendations
RISK ASSESSMENT & MITIGATION
- Identification of potential operational risks
- Market vulnerability analysis
- Contingency planning foundations
OPERATIONAL TOOLS & HR TEMPLATES
- HR templates: job descriptions, job advertisements, HR handbooks
- Training templates: cycle of service, wine service, bar training materials
FRAMEWORK
STRATEGIC PLANNING, DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Building upon your validated concept, this option guides you through transforming your vision into a physical space. We work with your design and construction teams to ensure the operational efficiency and aesthetic appeal of your establishment.
Estimated Timeline:
12-18 weeks
EVERYTHING IN THE BLUEPRINT PACKAGE, PLUS:
RESTAURANT DESIGN COORDINATION
- Designer selection assistance
- Operational flow optimization
- Design brief development
- Guest journey mapping
KITCHEN & BAR DESIGN
- Workflow efficiency planning
- Station configuration
- Equipment specification and sizing
- Capacity optimization
- Kitchen consultant assistance
LAYOUT OPTIMIZATION
- Space utilization analysis
- Traffic flow planning
- Seating configuration recommendations and planning with the designer
- Operational bottleneck prevention
EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATION
- Detailed equipment lists with specifications
- Vendor recommendations
- Budget-conscious alternatives
- Long-term cost analysis
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
- Timeline development and tracking
- Milestone establishment
- Coordination between stakeholders
- Once-a-week progress reporting
VENDOR COORDINATION
- Preferred supplier network access
- Contract negotiation assistance
- Quality and price evaluation
- Order tracking and delivery coordination
QUALITY CONTROL
- Design integrity verification
- Construction milestone inspections
- Equipment installation oversight
- Systems testing and validation
BUDGET MONITORING
- Cost tracking against projections
- Variance analysis
- Budget adjustment recommendations
- Value engineering when necessary
TEAM PROFILING
- Full development of key stakeholders' job descriptions
- 3 final interviews for key leaders (kitchen, wine, floor, and bar)
LAUNCH
FROM ZERO TO CASHFLOW
Designed for owners who wants to delegate their project and be hands off. The Launch package delivers comprehensive support from kick off meeting to construction through grand opening.
Estimated Timeline:
20-28 weeks
EVERYTHING IN BLUEPRINT AND FRAMEWORK PACKAGES, PLUS:
COMPLETE OPERATIONAL SETUP
- Customized standard operating procedures development
- POS system setup and configuration
- Reservation system implementation
- Inventory management system installation
- Back-office systems integration
STAFF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
- Recruitment assistance
- Comprehensive training program development
- Management team coaching
- Service standards implementation
- Team building and culture development
MARKETING & PR STRATEGY
- Brand launch plan in coordination with your Public Relations team
- Digital presence development planning
- Public relations campaign guidance
- Opening event planning
- Media relations management
- Marketing plan collaboration with your media company
LAUNCH SUPPORT
- Opening timeline creation
- Soft opening coordination
- Grand opening execution
- Initial guest feedback collection
- First 2 weeks of hands-on operational monitoring
QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEMS
- Quality assurance protocols
- Customer service standards
- Product consistency measures
- Cleanliness and maintenance routines
REVENUE OPTIMIZATION
- Pricing strategy implementation
- Upselling techniques
- Menu engineering and costing
- Promotion planning
- Reservation/table management optimization
ONGOING SUPPORT
- Weekly operations review (first month)
- Monthly performance assessment (first three months)
- Course correction recommendations
- 24/7 emergency consultation
- Management mentoring
- Full tastings: food, drinks, and wine — menu development with owners and key stakeholders
PERFORMANCE MONITORING
- KPI setup and tracking
- Customer satisfaction measurement
- Staff performance evaluation
- Financial target monitoring
TEAM
- Full management training
- Smart rostering systems
- Key stakeholder recruitment in collaboration with your HR team and external recruiters
- Job descriptions and job ads for all team members
- RASCI Matrix for each team member outlining responsibilities
- Full onboarding support with the management team
- Compensation and benefits table
PROJECTS
Cento, translating to 'hundred' in Italian, embraces a 'one hundred years' mentality across all aspects of its operations. It symbolises a commitment to enduring excellence, inviting guests to indulge in an unforgettable dining experience rooted in the beauty of uncomplicated simplicity.
Where Buenos Aires meets Bangkok. Set within Bangkok's only castle, Quilombo is pure Argentine tradition—fire, exceptional beef, and wine—honoured with reverence and executed with precision. A steakhouse built the old way.
A modern interpretation of traditional Japanese robatayaki dining. Precise, elegant, and deeply rooted in Japan's cooking heritage. Designed as a destination dining experience within a luxury hotel, it celebrates the ancient art of charcoal grilling with a disciplined focus on ingredient quality, technical precision, and the theatrical performance of culinary craft.
A sophisticated Italian dining destination that captures the effortless elegance and sun-drenched luxury of the Italian Riviera while celebrating authentic Italian culinary traditions. The design evokes the feeling of dining at an exclusive beach club in the Mediterranean or a terrace overlooking the Italian Riviera.
Cento, translating to 'hundred' in Italian, embraces a 'one hundred years' mentality across all aspects of its operations. It symbolises a commitment to enduring excellence, inviting guests to indulge in an unforgettable dining experience rooted in the beauty of uncomplicated simplicity.
THE TEAM
We are hospitality experts with proven track record of creating and scaling restaurants across multiple regions with over 40 years of experience combined.
Manuel Palacio
Serial Founder & Hospitality Visionary
A hospitality innovator who combines operational excellence with brand magic to create some of Asia's most successful restaurant concepts.
As Co-founder of Pirata Group, he built Hong Kong's leading restaurant portfolio, scaling to 27 venues across 13 brands including PICI, The Pizza Project, TMK, TokyoLima, Pirata, and more, while driving a culture-first team model with industry-leading retention rates and multi-million dollar EBITDA growth.
Today, he serves as Chairman of Pirata Group, leads Cento — a modern Italian eatery redefining luxury casual dining in Bangkok — and runs Cracks Hospitality Studio, helping visionary operators across Asia develop next-generation F&B concepts that balance authenticity with scalability.
His approach, centered on Soul & Scale, operational excellence, guest obsession, and distinctive brand storytelling, continues to shape the future of hospitality across the region.
Nacho López
F&B Strategist & Concept Builder
A seasoned hospitality professional with 15+ years of experience transforming raw spaces into high-revenue destinations by blending European roots with Asian agility.
He has built and led high-performing teams across Spain, Hong Kong, and Thailand, scaling operations while maintaining brand integrity and mentoring talent to create sustainable management structures.
As Operations Manager of Pici Hong Kong, he helped elevate one of the region's most celebrated pasta concepts, while earlier directing large-scale beach operations at Cala Bassa Beach Club in Ibiza and founding MamaQuilla in Madrid, a vibrant Latin dinner show experience.
Today, he leads Cracks Hospitality Studio, shaping next-generation restaurant concepts with purpose and performance, while also consulting for hotels and operators to create high-yield venues.
His approach, known as The Nacho Method, focuses on building people-first cultures, engineering concepts for operational success, and designing guest-centric experiences that consistently drive revenue and loyalty.
Contact Us
Ready to elevate your restaurant concept? Get in touch with our team to discuss how we can help bring your vision to life.