Saffron Table,
October 2026

October was the first full month of the fall menu and the first month you were ahead of last year every week. Dine-in climbed each week while delivery stayed flat at about 200 orders, which is the shape we want. Instagram reach rose 42% on the back of two kitchen reels under fifteen seconds; the tahdig clip alone brought 61 bookings through the link. Google is now one booking in four and costs nothing per table. The second Friday server paid for herself in covers and the braises brought food cost down to 30.5%.

What we are doing next

1. 1Switch on $25-a-head deposits for parties of six or more on Friday and Saturday from Nov 8, and watch no-shows for two weeks.
2. 2Open Thanksgiving pre-orders (whole lamb shoulder, sides) on Nov 10 and launch the office catering page the same week.
3. 3Film the tahdig reel: the rice crack clip reached three times more people than anything else in October.

Sales of $135,400 against $116,590 of costs left $18,810 in the business, the best month since May. Three catering invoices were paid on time and one, $850 from the Brooklyn Heights real-estate office, is ten days late; a reminder went out Nov 3. The operating account holds about two weeks of costs, which is thin for January; the gift-card push and catering deposits are there to build it. The $34,000 of sales tax for the quarter sits in the tax account and is due Dec 20.

The three leaks to plug first

All 7 leaks, with the arithmetic behind each, are on the Finance tab.

Deposits for parties of six or more on Friday and Saturday from Nov 8. Thanksgiving pre-orders open Nov 10 and the office catering page goes live Nov 12, both waiting on your approval. The Winter Table plan is approved; the film day is Nov 25 and the ads go live Dec 1 at half budget, full budget from Dec 6. Any ad set over $22 a booking for three days, with at least five bookings, pauses.

Waiting for your yes

• By Nov 7Instagram post: Thanksgiving pre-orders open · Anything published in your name waits for you.
• By Nov 8Weekend brunch: $500 more in November · Any budget change above 10% of the month's plan.
• By Nov 10Office catering page · New pages on your site need your yes before they go live.
• By Nov 14Thanksgiving email: "The lamb, for your table" · Every email to your list is approved by you first.
• By Nov 20Winter Table: the private-dining audience · New audiences are approved before they are built.
• By Nov 20Claim check: "4.8 Stars, 1,240 Reviews" · Every number in an ad must match a source we can show.

Approve or ask for changes →