ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

The right marketing strategy helps you get the most out of every dollar by increasing customer retention , boosting order volume, and encouraging repeat visits. Between online reservations, third-party delivery apps, and direct ordering from your website, digital interactions often happen before a guest ever steps through your doors.

2025 195

2025 Marketing Email Marketing Operations 195

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 27, 2025

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features the present and future of AI use in F&B, The Splintered Path to Purchase, the Datassential 500 Awards, and where chefs are earning six figures. At the same time, U.S. chain sales grew just 3.1 percent in 2024 — falling short of the 4.1

Loyalty Program 371

Loyalty Program 2025 Customer Experience Customer Service 371

ChowNow

MARCH 28, 2025

It allows AI to understand and respond to human language, which is how virtual assistants can answer customer questions or take online orders. Front-of-House AI Applications One of the best things about AI is that while it helps your staff, its also giving your customers a better experience. More than you think.

Front of House 195

Front of House Back of House Online Ordering Email Marketing 195

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

77% of diners look at a restaurants website before going out to eat or ordering takeout or delivery. If you dont have a website, that means over three-quarters of the people near your restaurantyour potential customerswill never come in or place an order because they have no way to find you when theyre looking for a place to eat.

Social Media 195

Social Media Online Ordering SEO Email Marketing 195

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 20, 2020

In March, social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic came into effect and restaurants en masse were forced to close in order to stop the spread of the virus. Lacking cash reserves and the resources to access money (traditional bank loans), most restaurants were forced to lay off their employees. Two months of rent and utilities.

Front of House 525

Front of House Back of House Reservations Seating 525

ChowNow

APRIL 11, 2025

From managing reservations at the host stand or firing orders straight to the kitchen from table side, tablets are changing the way restaurants run. Before you spend the money and roll out a dozen new tablets across your front of house and kitchen, its worth asking: Are these things actually built for the job?

Front of House 195

Front of House Allergens Online Ordering Back of House 195

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Simplify Front of House Processes. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced restaurants to innovate, creating new revenue-generating workflows, including enhancing their to-go offerings and integrating with to-go order applications. Automation technologies can improve back of house operations as well. trillion each year.

Training 489

Training Front of House Food Safety Back of House 489

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 13, 2020

While states have opened back up and businesses are navigating their "new normal," they’re now facing an uptick in COVID-19 cases. People have been both eager and hesitant to venture back out into the world as stay-at-home orders have lifted. Contactless payments is another trend that’s surged.

Food Safety 539

Food Safety Consumer Goods Hiring Customer Service 539

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 7, 2021

Reservation processing. Last year, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants went through some unwanted but necessary changes. As a precaution, dining areas were closed and at one point, even eating al fresco was prohibited in certain areas. Fast forward a year later and the economy is recovering, albeit at a slow pace.

Technology 492

Technology Operations Food Safety Kitchen Safety 492

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

You are sitting in your favorite restaurant and have placed an order on a tablet at your table. After a few seconds of placing the order, a notification appears on your messaging app. Ding* ‘Your order is being prepared by Chef Bot 19 and will be delivered to your table in approximately 19 minutes.

Front of House 528

Front of House Mobile Ordering Loyalty Program Back of House 528

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 18, 2023

If 2020 and 2021 were all about helping operators find new revenue streams to reach guests when they couldn’t come into restaurants, then 2022 was all about getting customers back in. These could, for example, help a waiter suggest a special Italian wine pairing to match a guest’s usual lasagna order.

2023 474

2023 Guest Recovery Back of House Customer Service 474

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 17, 2023

Automation tools also provide value through mobile ordering apps, AI solutions, digital reviews apps, and online reservation software. Mobile Order Applications Mobile smart order apps for waiters help to speed up the service and manage the orders right at the guest’s table.

Mobile Ordering 518

Mobile Ordering Cash Management Online Ordering Front of House 518

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 13, 2020

Rakuten Ready surveyed more than 100 customers to measure how behaviors around dining have, or are anticipated to change around the perceptions and impact of COVID-19 on restaurants, food delivery and order for pickup. Up the restaurant’s hygiene and cleanliness standards: fully sanitize tables, menus and chairs after each reservation.

Front of House 499

Front of House Back of House Restaurant Law Food Safety 499

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 12, 2021

Restaurants have made great strides in the digital realm—from contactless payments to online ordering—but 32 percent of them feel like they could add to their technology stack to optimize operations. Gives front-of-house teams the resources to provide better customer service. The real money is with repeat business.

Mobile Ordering 493

Mobile Ordering Front of House Communication Online Ordering 493

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 30, 2020

While there is no single answer as to how best to do so, if we look back at the pandemic’s impact thus far, it’s clear that the ability to effectively pivot offerings and communicate with your customers is critical to a restaurant’s survival. Be Transparent About Safety. Think Beyond Your Four Walls.

2021 563

2021 Marketing Food Safety Back of House 563

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 20, 2020

After all this is over, you'll stand a much better chance of retaining this new business – thus helping you get "back to normal" as quickly as possible. To say that the current COVID-19 crisis represents a major change to the way we live our lives is, at this point, probably a bit of an understatement.

Mobile Ordering 585

Mobile Ordering Email Marketing Online Ordering Back of House 585

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

While the restaurant and foodservice industry added back 1.7M While the restaurant and foodservice industry added back 1.7M Additonally, ninety-six percent of operators experienced supply delays or shortages of key food or beverage items in 2021 – and these challenges will likely continue in 2022. million by the end of 2022.

2022 518

2022 2030 Food Supply Recruiting 518

ChowNow

JANUARY 23, 2025

You love seeing them come in, and you say hello, but is that enough to keep them coming back for years down the line? You love seeing them come in, and you say hello, but is that enough to keep them coming back for years down the line? Time Management: 80% of tasks completed often come from 20% of the effort. Thats huge!

2025 195

2025 Loyalty Program Operations Email Marketing 195

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 15, 2021

The best restaurants are those that keep back-of-house processes running smoothly to ensure a great front-of-house experience for guests. Thankfully, technology is pushing the industry forward, and improving everything from reservations to ordering to dishwashing. Washing Away Profits. A Window into Warewashing.

Kitchen Safety 508

Kitchen Safety Front of House Food Safety Equipment 508

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 7, 2024

Contactless Ordering, Inside and Out Door Dash, Uber Eats and other third-party delivery services will continue to expand. On the other hand, contactless ordering while you are sitting in the restaurant has been a big failure. Restaurants tried the QR codes at the table for menus and ordering.

2025 474

2025 Loyalty Program Waste Compost 474

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

But you didn't sign up for all the time-consuming back-office work. But the back-office duties don't stop there. As managers, our foundation was built in the front-of-house as servers, bartenders, or hosts (even if we started out in kitchen.) Let Technology Do the Back-Office Work.

Technology 493

Technology Front of House Tip Distribution Back of House 493

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 28, 2022

Back-of-house essential equipment includes some of the most expensive items a restaurant can buy, and while the business can’t function without them, these CapEx purchases aren’t going to generate more business year over year. You get to choose how to acquire this equipment: buy or rent. EaaS for Big Business.

Small Business 493

Small Business Equipment Cash Management Back of House 493

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

WiFi connectivity is also crucial for operational management and enhancing the customer experience, allowing patrons to interact digitally with the restaurant for orders, payments, and feedback. At the core, these solutions include high-speed internet, ensuring all digital operations run smoothly and without interruption.

Operations 472

Operations Front of House Customer Service Customer Experience 472

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 5, 2022

Restaurants that incorporated digital solutions such as contactless ordering and delivery have been able to continue safely serving customers despite closures and shortages. The benefits provided by in-house tech will persist beyond the pandemic, helping to reduce errors and increase efficiency.

Technology 418

Technology Online Ordering Front of House Back of House 418

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 1, 2024

Knowing these customer experience factors can help you create a positive and welcoming environment that will keep guests coming back for more. Ordering process 74% of customers won’t hesitate to leave a long queue, and 70% are only willing to wait up to 15 minutes for an item or service. “That saves me a lot of time.”

Customer Experience 397

Customer Experience 2024 Online Ordering Customer Service 397

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 12, 2024

Balancing operational and guest needs involves adopting technology that makes back-end processes more efficient and improves the front-end customer experience. For example, implementing a seamless online reservation system optimizes the restaurant's scheduling while offering convenience to customers.

Loyalty Program 473

Loyalty Program Mobile Ordering Dietary Restrictions Customer Experience 473

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 26, 2022

On Valentine’s Day, restaurants fill up quickly with reservations from couples eager to spend a romantic night together. In order to attract more customers, advertise your prix fixe Valentine’s Day menu on social media, flyers, and more. A prix fixe menu also gives off an air of elegance. Host a Party or Event.

Social Media 563

Social Media Seasonal Menu Advertising Events 563

Culinary Cues

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

If you fit the mold – then you possess a special value reserved for just a few, value that – to the chef goes way beyond the ability to prepare breakfast items. When the order is placed the cooking is almost instantaneous. . Grill cooks, sauté, prep, garde manger, bakers and pastry chefs are all very unique. The list goes on and on.

Back of House 520

Back of House Dine-in Restaurant Law Ordering 520

Culinary Cues

APRIL 1, 2024

Looking back can provide us with context and content for making future decisions – lessons learned and all that, or it can also help us to relish what worked and hold on to that for inspiration. SOME TIME IN THE LATE 1960’S: Walking through the back entrance to the Statler Hilton Hotel was like stepping into a totally different world.

Back of House 424

Back of House Kitchen Safety Hotels Front of House 424

Modern Restaurant Management

AUGUST 25, 2020

In a post COVID-19 world, restaurant design must evolve and adapt to the new normal. With the evolution of the hospitality design, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems will need to adapt to the changing architecture. Additionally, restaurants will experience a significant shift in technology and customer service.

Design 531

Design Guest Recovery Consumer Goods Fine Dining 531

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Proper staff training keeps your team knowledgeable, confident, and able to provide the kind of customer service that keeps guests coming back. Front-of-house (FOH) staff, like servers and hosts, will need customer service training, upselling techniques, and communication skills. Focused training also speeds up the onboarding process.

Training 195

Training Kitchen Safety Food Safety Customer Service 195

7 Shifts

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

The ripple effects of the pandemic continue: the National Restaurant Association finds that off-premises dining continues to happen much more frequently than before, with 66% of consumers more likely to order takeout in 2023 than they were before the pandemic. ChowNow ChowNow is a customized online ordering app for restaurants.

Management 367

Management Management Operations Mobile Ordering 367

7 Shifts

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

After that, the most popular back-office technologies were accounting software (52%, up from 31% in 2018) and payroll software (50%, up from 28% in 2018), according to a study from Toast. Online and Mobile Ordering Systems. Online ordering and delivery are one of the fastest growing aspects of the restaurant industry, up 124% in 2020.

Technology 370

Technology Front of House Social Media Back of House 370

7 Shifts

MARCH 18, 2021

In order to support the restaurant industry through uncharted waters, our team at 7shifts has worked together to derive important labor trends and insights from our network of restaurant pros. Despite what the industry has been through, looking back can help us find ways to adapt today and prepare for the future.

Point of Sale 370

Point of Sale Back of House Front of House Outdoor 370

Culinary Cues

MAY 16, 2022

The reservation book was full for tonight – more than 200 recorded and no room for walk-ins. Tom and everyone else knew that more than half of those reservations would be crammed into the 7:00 hour; so, there would be no room for mistakes and no patience for a lack of adequate mise en place. Your dictionary.

Café 441

Café Front of House Point of Sale Back of House 441

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Guests will expect to know every aspect of sourcing and meal preparation, which will disrupt traditional back-of-house systems with technology that connects the farm to the food. We’re seeing massive disruption to front-of-house systems, too, delivering personalized guest experiences from order to payment to final delivery.

Mobile Ordering 539

Mobile Ordering Front of House Customer Service Customer Experience 539

Culinary Cues

DECEMBER 3, 2022

I can feel the knot in that muscle move slowly from the top of my ankle to the back of my knee. My focus will soon be on whether staff members show up as scheduled, will deliveries be on time and what will they short me today, how many reservations on the book, and moving through the day – one plate at a time. Can’t make it in.”

Back of House 437

Back of House Hotels Front of House Book 437