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“Through expansive experiences that inspire our guests paired with the ambiance of the space and the food on the plate, we’re setting new standards for the industry and creating truly spectacular moments for all who enter our restaurants and bars.”
Why did you want to open a marketing firm with a bar/restaurant/hospitality niche and what is the significance of the name Embark? I was on my own at a young age, and working in restaurants, hotels, and bars gave me the financial independence I needed to survive and eventually thrive. The service industry truly saved my life.
Cheese debuts a new arcade concept for adults who want to be kids Emerging Brands Big Way brings a fast-casual take on hot pot This 13-unit chain from Canada recently opened its first U.S. Only this one is fast casual. Guests can further customize at the sauce bar, and they can add flavors, like soy sauce, vinegar or kimchi.
Fast-casual Condado Tacos—which prefers calling itself “next-gen casual”—has long had a bar program with a selection of conventional margaritas and beers to go with its Mexican-style menu and vibe. But those same margaritas had been on the menu since 2014 when the bar, so to speak, was set a bit lower.
It's not just the merch on the menu that is driving traffic to the brand with a misison to create spaces that blend sports and leisure and offer innovative cocktails, next-level architecture and high-end designer decor with elevated bar bites, retro games, and exclusive event nights. BUT most importantly I put it on all staff!
News prices commodities Breakfast Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. Investors are leery about fast-food chains and they’re jumping onto a few key casual-dining bandwagons. Sign up here. View All Articles by This Author Want breaking news at your fingertips?
The casual, no-frills atmosphere makes it a comfortable place to grab a filling meal, especially for folks who like honest, straightforward barbecue without the extras. The menu keeps things simple with pulled pork, burgers, and smoked turkey sandwiches served in a casual, diner-like setting. The restaurant is known for items like St.
Not quite yet Food Spinoffs of the TikTok-famous Dubai Chocolate Bar surge on chain restaurant menus The classic flavor combination of chocolate, pistachio and crisp phyllo is showing up in everything from shakes to doughnuts, matcha and desserts. By Patricia Cobe on Jun. Photo courtesy of The MilkShake Factory. By Patricia Cobe on Jun.
Its your chance to turn casual diners into consistent regulars, promote new menu items before they even hit the table, and build a real sense of community around your restaurant. Weekly can work tooespecially if you have frequent special offers, rotating menu items, or upcoming events you want to promote.
Fine dining venues benefit from understated elegance through embroidered logos on professional attire, while fast-casual concepts can leverage more dynamic graphics and color palettes to reflect their energetic atmosphere. Strategic use of color should inform uniform design decisions.
Captain’s also handles catering, offering the same attention to detail and flavor for private events. 27 – Eli’s Bar-B-Que Source: Eli’s Bar-B-Que Eli’s Bar-B-Que in Dunedin is a small, family-owned BBQ stand that has earned loyal fans through its simple setup and focus on flavor.
The setup is casual, with indoor seating and a bar that serves local craft beer. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, with live music featured at some locations and a solid selection of local craft beers. Its long history, casual setup, and consistent food have helped make it a lasting favorite in Virginia. #24
Over the next 20 years, Perez built and added onto Don Pepe’s, which was a full-service concept, later adding in music and a full bar. News Emerging Brands coffee franchising Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts.
The combination of smoky cooking, rich spices, and casual setup keeps people coming back. It’s not just about serving barbecue, but also about offering a full experience that includes cooking classes and local events. #27 It also features a full bar and hosts live music events, which adds to its popularity as a local hangout spot.
The setting is casual and friendly, giving off the kind of small-town feel that many people appreciate. 27 – Bunyan’s Bar-B-Q Source: Bunyan’s Bar-B-Q Bunyan’s Bar-B-Q in Florence, Alabama has been serving up classic Southern barbecue since 1972. Even the cheese biscuits are made fresh each day.
To avoid costly damage, your kitchen equipment, bar fixtures, storage units, and decor pieces require careful handling. Is your restaurant casual and quirky? Get involved with local events, sponsor community initiatives, or collaborate with nearby businesses. Is there a bottleneck at the bar? Elegant and upscale?
Those looking for convenience (for example, work schedule, spending time with family, or group events) are more satisfied than those ordering due to need (e.g., Customers using the service for family time or group events generally perceive higher value. What's Fueling QSR and Fast Casual Visits?
The restaurant keeps a casual and relaxed atmosphere, offering a straightforward barbecue experience that focuses on quality and consistency. Portions are generous and served quickly in a relaxed, casual setting. The barbecue is served in a casual setup with covered picnic seating that gives it a laid-back and welcoming feel.
Are you an established bar trying to boost traffic on a slow weeknight? With the right information, you can improve your happy hour drink specials to match your customers preferenceswhether they prefer craft cocktails, local beers, or classic bar drinks. READ: Why you should consider adding tiny cocktails to your restaurant bar menu 3.
The restaurant often has live blues music on the weekends, creating a laid-back and casual setting. The casual setting includes a full bar and is family-friendly, offering a welcoming tone. The space is casual with a friendly tone, and though hours are limited, people make the drive for the food.
"Gastropub" has become a popular restaurant industry term, alongside "fast casual" and "small plates." " The term gastropub combines "gastronomy" and "pub," promising high quality food and drinks and a down-to-earth, casual vibe. Experiment with having guests order at the bar or via QR code.
technology News Tech Check Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. Trending Food Spinoffs of the TikTok-famous Dubai Chocolate Bar surge on chain restaurant menus Financing How is Roark Capitals track record? Get today’s need-to-know restaurant industry intelligence.
introduced "Perkins Griddle Go," a fast-casual concept for quick on-the-go meals, in 2024, with the first store opening in late October. 65 percent of survey respondents say they are more interested in food festivals/culinary events this summer. Perkins American Food Co. Increasing Competition and Market Saturation The U.S.
27 – Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q Source: Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q brings a Texas-style barbecue experience to Oklahoma with locations in Norman and Oklahoma City. The atmosphere is casual with counter service and a dining room that keeps things simple and focused on the food.
So much data is generated at every point within a restaurant, whether fast casual or fine dining. – Sarah Moore, CMO of Cracker Barrel Chef Driven Fast Casual Chef driven fast casual restaurants feed consumers’ desires for high quality menu items delivered quickly and on the go and will continue to gain momentum.
Photos courtesy of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill With nine locations in Florida, fast-casual Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is David to Taco Bell’s Goliath. As part of an expanded partnership with Florida-based Tabañero, all Lime Fresh locations rolled out a co-branded hot sauce bar along with the two pizzas. By Patricia Cobe on Jul.
The event is expected to attract over 13,000 visitors from 150 countries, as well as more than 430 exhibitors and 120 roasters, making it one of the largest international B2B specialty coffee trade shows. Many brands will also organise their own afterparties and unofficial events across the three days.
It's an offer that blends fresh produce, prepared meals, event-led activations and communal dining, appealing equally to weekday shoppers, local office workers and international tourists. But Market Pavilion is not an isolated trend. Publique @ Parramatta Square The key to Parramatta’s success?
The casual-dining chain is introducing two new menu categories, bowls and bites, featuring a selection of items ranging in price from under $10 to $16. News casual_dining earnings Menu Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. By Joe Guszkowski on Jul. Sign up here.
The casual dining atmosphere, along with options for takeout and delivery, makes it a convenient choice for both locals and visitors. 27 Heavy Smoke BBQ Source: Instagram Heavy Smoke BBQ in O’Fallon, Missouri, has earned a strong following by blending competition-level barbecue with a casual, welcoming setting.
Special events have become a big reason for going out, making unique dining experiences more important than ever. Special events have become a big reason for going out, making unique dining experiences more important than ever. . I’m happy to say it’s come back, with people holding big business and social events again.
Turnover rate may be higher in fast-casual or quick-service restaurants compared to fine-dining establishments. Servers should ask customers whether theyre new to the establishment or have been there before, says Boyd Hoback, CEO of Bad Daddys Burger Bar. Metric used in the restaurant industry to assess operational performance.
Many restaurant owners had believed they would be covered in the event of something like the pandemic, and found themselves without a safety net. – Mary Pillow Thompson, founder of foh&boh Five years after the pandemic, Tom's Watch Bar has gained valuable perspective on what drives people to gather.
Frequency: Weekly Typical cost: $25 each for a casual dinner, $50-60 each after tax and tip for a slightly more upscale dinner, less of a limit for special occasions Isa S., With R, they typically pay; it feels more of a special event when Im able to treat them. If Im deciding, I try to play it more casual.
A bar or brewery is considered to be the highest profit margin restaurant business with a gross profit margin on alcohol that's around 80%. But many owners don't account for the high fixed costs of bars —like repairs, insurance, and alcohol theft which can leave them with less profit than expected. More on that below.
Lille Allen From casual kickbacks to formal family dinners, heres a playlist sure to please any crowd December belongs to the at-home entertainers. Early winter holidays and cooler weather offer myriad reasons to host events at home, from casual Christmas cookie swaps to intimate, cozy dinner parties. Choose a solid theme.
Jimmy Carter before moving into high-end New York kitchens, including Momofuku Ssam Bar, Morimoto and Earl’s Beer & Cheese. Corey Cova, Metropole on Walnut Metropole on Walnut in Cincinnati has named Corey Cova executive chef. A Navy veteran and Culinary Institute of America graduate, Cova cooked aboard the U.S.S.
” Qu’s 2025 State of Digital Report identified six trends driving fast casual and QSR profitability this year: Shift from third- to first-party ordering : Forty percent of brands say first-party digital sales represent their biggest revenue growth potential in 2025, followed by catering (24 percent) and on-premises ordering (14 percent).
Within QSRs, fast-casual restaurants led the way, growing transactions by 2 percent in March. State of the Plate Olive Garden is the most popular casual dining restaurant with Americans in 2025, with 19 percent having dined at the Italian-themed restaurant in the past 90 days, according to a new report from YouGov.
Despite softer nationwide searches for malls, restaurants/food businesses contribute to many of the top growing categories since 2019, including bubble tea, vegan food, beer bars, waffles and Filipino food, and make up 17 of the top 25 brands seeing the most consumer interest in malls. Vodka held on with a 1.3 percent), rum (-9.1
Promoting new menu items or events. This can be especially effective for cafs, casual dining spots, or lunch-focused venues. Paid Membership Some restaurants offer VIP clubs with a monthly or annual fee in exchange for perks like priority reservations, complimentary drinks, or members-only events. What do you want to achieve?
shops Value pressure comes to the fast-casual sector Financing These full-service restaurant chains opened the most locations last year In an overall down year for full-service unit growth, these five brands bucked the trend. sports bar segment. The answer might surprise you, in more ways than one. Sign up here.
For restaurants, bars, cafs, and other food businesses, this season marks a stretch of opportunity, with holidays like Cinco de Mayo, Mothers Day, and Memorial Day Weekend right around the corner. If your menu, event, or experience isnt part of that conversation, someone elses will be. After the event, the work isnt over.
For instance, Abdow recommended that restaurants format website content in a question and answer format, because that is how users will typically input queries into the search bar. News Tech Check technology Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. Abdow said.
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