Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen & Blues Joint MySpace page
Social network Web sites are no longer just for individuals. Many businesses and companies have taken advantage of the opportunity to network and relate to customers on a more personal and frequent level. For local businesses such as restaurants, social network pages can also be a cost-friendly (free) alternative or addition to paying for their own Web sites.
One example is Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen. I had the pleasure of visiting this restaurant last Saturday and enjoyed some of the best southern soul food I’ve had in Oregon (and I would know, being from Texas). The pork was melting off the rib bones, the mac n’ cheese was hearty, and the collard greens were salty and flavorful – not to mention the giant piece of milk chocolate cake for dessert. If you want to hear all about the amazing cuisine at Papa’s, there are plenty of reviews to check out on Web sites including Yelp and Citysearch.
Although review sites say a lot about the food, there isn’t much of a focus on the atmosphere, which is an important factor to restaurant patrons. This is where Papa’s MySpace page comes in, featuring a play list, artwork and a link to a Web site for the band Papa’s Soul Kitchen. Visitors get a feel for the southern music and art influences that manifest in the live music and hanging artwork at the restaurant. Papa’s MySpace friends include everyone from local blues musicians to frequent customers that vouch for the soul food experience to be had at Papa’s.
Though a PDF of a menu would be nice, it certainly doesn’t seem like a necessary addition. Patrons including myself have been enticed to visit through the excellent reviews and the passion for southern culture exhibited on Papa’s MySpace page.
