Restaurant group logo needs some sizzle in their pan!

Romulus Restaurant Group

We are a restaurant investment group that is currently the largest single franchisee and developer of IHOP Restaurants. We have also recently added a second restaurant brand to our portfolio- Slim Chickens. Logo should not be brand focused, as to allow for portfolio diversification. We believe in people (our employees are our greatest asset), passion (for what we do in the restaurant space) and partnership (with the community and giving back).

Some feedback from the CEO:
- Like to focus on the "R" as a "Logo" outside of the font
- Would like to include a little blue somewhere (as a nod to ihop)
- Would love it if there was somehow a hidden nod to IHOP, while still allowing for brand diversification

Logo should:
- allow for brand diversification within the restaurant franchising space
- be easily identifiable that we are in the business of "food"
- Be workable from both an investment firm side, as well as a more people focused, restaurant side

Hi- just an edit to my brief. Please note that our concepts are family friendly and fast casual concepts- so our offerings do not include beer/wine. We are especially interested in designs that include cutlery in some manner. Thanks!

Update- the CEO would like to see the following:

- Possibly the inclusion of the color blue
- Challenge: "Hidden Pancake" - because we own almost 100 IHOPs, we'd love something that includes a nod to IHOP or pancakes, but not in an obvious way, as to allow for brand diversification! Thanks!