The Flavor Comes First “Substance over appearance.” When we visit a restaurant, we’re not interested in how grand the corporate headquarters is, but in the flavor of the food. No matter how impressive the headquarters may be—even if it’s a 50-story building in the middle of Manhattan—it’s useless if it doesn’t satisfy the customers. What matters is the essence.

The success of a restaurant doesn’t lie in its building or its signboard. It lies in the ‘flavor’ of the food. Maintaining that initial flavor consistently is key. It’s often said not to lose your beginner’s mindset. When you lose that, you forget the essence, and surprisingly, customers notice and stop coming. No matter how flashy the exterior is, it can never deceive the taste buds.