Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Businesses have been forced to pivot away from on-premises dining to offer on-line ordering and take-out services. Whether fine-dining or fast casual, great service now revolves around the customer experience you bring to every interaction. Prepare for Changing Conditions. Create Frictionless Transactions.

Customer Experience 598

Customer Experience Customer Service Fast Casual Mobile Ordering 598

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 29, 2021

“We are seeing sign-on bonuses at fast food and fast casual locations, something never seen before in the industry. Some operators are willing to have you work today, get paid tomorrow in order to get people in place to handle their minimum requirements. People were in between jobs or suddenly out of work.

Fast Casual 553

Fast Casual Hiring Online Ordering Front of House 553

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

New concepts, ghost kitchens, and delivery-only brands are popping up constantly, making it harder for any single restaurant to stand out. Today, customers rely on Google searches, online reviews, and social media to decide where to eat. A strong online presence means more visibility, more orders, and, ultimately, more revenue.

2025 195

2025 Marketing Email Marketing Operations 195

ChowNow

JANUARY 23, 2025

At this point, all it takes is one lousy dining experience to sever the connection you once had with a customer who potentially spent thousands of dollars at your restaurant every year. Its significantly more cost-effective to keep your regulars walking through the door than it is to get a new customer every time you take an order.

2025 195

2025 Loyalty Program Operations Email Marketing 195

ChowNow

MARCH 21, 2025

Without a well-defined target market, restaurants risk wasting resources on strategies that dont connect and menu offerings that dont selltrying to appeal to everyone, but standing out to no one. Climate & Seasonality: Does the weather impact what people order or when they dine out?

Marketing 195

Marketing Social Media Email Marketing Loyalty Program 195

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

But while some may predict a future with burger-flipping robots, it’s hard to imagine tech taking the place of a skilled line cook, experienced server, or seasoned marketer. Enter digital tableside ordering. For fast-casual or QSR brands, digital tableside ordering is equally beneficial.

Technology 563

Technology Loyalty Program Fast Casual Email Marketing 563

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Third-party delivery apps start out as a convenient way to reach new customers, but they always take a significant chunk of your profits. While these platforms do bring in orders, they also come with the price of high commission fees, loss of customer data, and a weaker connection between you and your guests.

Ordering 195

Ordering Email Marketing Online Ordering Social Media 195

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

Guests are dining out more often than last year and and rewarding great service, with the highest tips at bars and fine dining restaurants, according to hospitality industry data from Lightspeed Commerce Inc. percent) than they do in casual restaurants (16.5 percent at fast casual restaurants. percent to 8.07 percent average.

Fast Casual 493

Fast Casual Fine Dining Employee Relations Customer Service 493

ChowNow

APRIL 11, 2025

The last time you tried a new restaurant, what steps did you take before you walked through their doors? Did you scroll through the online reviews first? Online reviews have become one of the most influential factors in how consumers choose where to eat, especially for independent restaurants. Check the star rating?

Online Ordering 195

Online Ordering Social Media Customer Service Customer Experience 195

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 1, 2020

Since most major QSR and fast casual concepts have already made significant investments in boosting their digital and off-premises offerings, many brands have the infrastructure in place to succeed but are looking for ways to keep up with the increase in demand. Because patrons are not able to dine out, call-ahead orders have increased.

Technology 472

Technology Healthcare Social Media Mobile Ordering 472

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 16, 2022

Reports show that 81 percent of fine dining establishments, 78 percent of family restaurants, and 77 percent of fast-casual spots added curbside pickup, pivoting away from dine-in services after March 2020. consumers being new to ordering meal delivery services (up from 47 percent in March 2021). meal delivery consumer spending.

Online Ordering 472

Online Ordering Management Management Point of Sale 472

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 28, 2024

For example, if you run a social media campaign or pay for online ordering integrations, all of these contribute to your overall marketing expenses. Imagine you own a café, and you’ve just run a campaign to boost your online ordering. You spent $800 on Facebook ads and in-store promotions over a month.

Loyalty Program 195

Loyalty Program Fast Casual Social Media Email Marketing 195

ChowNow

MAY 23, 2025

Start by gathering two key data points for each menu item: Items Popularity: How often guests order it Contribution Margin: How much profit it brings in To do this, youll need to access your sales data and your food cost for each dish. These are the items that should lead your marketing, your online menu, and your limited-time offers.

Menu 195

Menu Seasonal Menu Point of Sale Online Ordering 195

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 15, 2020

As more restaurants focus their undivided attention on their off-premise offerings and guests adapt their consumption to this new environment, plus some of the government relief measures take effect, some small improvements may lie ahead.” Easy online ordering – Easy online ordering was nearly tied for second.

2020 491

2020 Point of Sale Fast Casual Online Ordering 491

ChowNow

MAY 23, 2025

A spike in food costs, a drop in sales volume, or one slow season can wipe out months of hard work. Thats what you actually take home. You can pull in millions of dollars a year and still struggle to stay open if your costs are out of control. Without it, one bad month can wipe out three good ones.

Point of Sale 195

Point of Sale Insurance Fast Casual Customer Service 195

ChowNow

MAY 9, 2025

When youre updating your online menu or online ordering system, its tempting to just copy over the dish names from your restaurant menu and call it a day. With a few simple techniques, you can write menu descriptions that sounds natural, highlight your best dishes, and help guests feel confident (and excited) about ordering.

Menu 195

Menu Dietary Restrictions Online Ordering Mobile Ordering 195

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 5, 2021

Casual Dining velocity has grown by 158 percent over the same period, suggesting many of the Casual Dining business models were able to maintain sales to some degree through pandemic restrictions. In fact, 30 percent of recent casual dining visitors think there is an opportunity to improve the quality of the beverage offer.

2021 490

2021 Coupons Loyalty Program Consumer Goods 490

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Fine dining establishments may require staff to have in-depth knowledge of each dish, including wine pairings and ingredient sourcing, while a fast-casual restaurant may focus on quick service and consistent food prep. Let’s say you run a fast-casual restaurant.

Training 195

Training Kitchen Safety Food Safety Customer Service 195

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 22, 2021

First of all, with so many people still working from home and taking regular video calls instead of meetings, breakfast and lunch demand has significantly dropped. Diners finally realized how much they can actually save by not eating out. Online Ordering Will Continue to Thrive. Make the Most Out of Data.

Allergens 520

Allergens Online Ordering Fast Casual Food Safety 520

ChowNow

APRIL 25, 2025

In this article, you will learn: How to turn in-store and online ordering guests into email subscribers What incentives and touchpoints actually grow a valuable restaurant email list How to automate your email marketing so it works while you sleep Lets start with why email still matters in the age of algorithms. So why does it work?

Email Marketing 195

Email Marketing Marketing Loyalty Program Online Ordering 195

Modern Restaurant Management

AUGUST 17, 2020

The survey found that 59 percent of US and 47 percent of UK consumers plan to dine-out as soon as they are able. But while limited dining options are available, people have shown an increased desire to help out independent restaurants. Mixed take-out bag. Can't touch this.

2020 493

2020 Mobile Ordering Loyalty Program Food Safety 493

ChowNow

JANUARY 30, 2025

What steps do you take to establish that emotional connection? Within this guide, youll discover proven strategies that help you stand out in a crowded market, captivate your ideal customers, and turn casual diners into lifelong regulars. But how do you get there? How do you know youre not missing a key component?

Email Marketing 195

Email Marketing Mobile Ordering Customer Experience Online Ordering 195

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

We’re seeing massive disruption to front-of-house systems, too, delivering personalized guest experiences from order to payment to final delivery. Restaurant groups that figure out how to find, compensate, motivate, and keep the very best people on staff will continue to disrupt the rest of their culinary competitors.

Mobile Ordering 539

Mobile Ordering Front of House Customer Service Customer Experience 539

EATER

MAY 28, 2025

Courtesy of Sabine Caf Rich Fox of Sabine in Seattle says leaning more casual has helped his bottom line A version of this post originally appeared on May 28, 2025, in Eater and Punchs newsletter Pre Shift , a biweekly newsletter for the industry pro that sources first-person accounts from the bar and restaurant world.

Seating 225

Seating Back of House 2025 Presentation 225

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 26, 2021

Indeed, we’ve entered a new era of customer habits –– much of it catalyzed by the pandemic, but some of which was already beginning to take shape even prior. Rather than dining in, more consumers are now opting for drive through, pick up curbside or carry out. Owning the End-to-End Experience.

Mobile Ordering 546

Mobile Ordering Download Customer Experience Fast Casual 546

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 31, 2021

Smart business owners who find inexpensive, creative ways to anticipate and fulfill customers’ needs will stand out through COVID-19 and beyond. If possible, restaurants should consider expanding into casual and comfortable outdoor seating arrangements that can feature a more pre-pandemic feel. Safety and Normalcy.

Customer Service 474

Customer Service Online Ordering Customer Experience Hospitality 474

ChowNow

MAY 2, 2025

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. Getting Your Restaurant Newsletter Set Up: Tools and Timing Before you start sending out your restaurant newsletter, you need to set yourself up for success.

Email Marketing 195

Email Marketing Loyalty Program Social Media Seasonal Menu 195

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 3, 2025

For a deeper dive into brand messaging, strategy, and authenticity, creating unified guest experiences, and the orchestration of physical and experiential touchpoints, Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine reached out to The Plaid Penguin’s Founder and Sir Idea Man Joe Haubenhofer. Having a digital presence is critical.

Social Media 251

Social Media Customer Experience Email Marketing Loyalty Program 251

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 21, 2020

New independents will arise out of the ashes. The new wave of restaurateurs will learn from the recent crisis and will focus on sustainability of operations by leaning hard into delivery, take-home, curbside pick-up, contactless payment, and other enabling technology. Restaurateurs will fully embrace digital ordering.

2021 478

2021 Online Ordering Email Marketing Advertising 478

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 1, 2020

Q1 Yelp Economic Average (YEA) , which takes a holistic look at the local economic changes since the start of 2020, focused on the economic impact of COVID-19. “We have a long way to full recovery, but brands can take heart that we are starting from a place of trust and confidence.” Yelp Economic Average. In the U.K.

2020 479

2020 Food Safety Fast Casual Guest Recovery 479

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Last Year, By the Numbers Whether you're celebrating a romantic evening out or opting for a cozy night in, one thing is clear—Valentine’s Day is big business for restaurants as diners splurge on premium meals, wine and desserts. However: 41 percent said they planned to dine at home instead of dining out.

2024 221

2024 Fine Dining Book Reservations 221

Restaurant Business

JUNE 27, 2025

He poured over cookbooks and learned what he could, testing recipe after recipe with his young son helping out. Jeff had nailed bagel making by then, and started selling his bagels online, using social media. “The We’d sell out. Another bagel baker wanted out and offered his assets. She reached out. She’s on time.

Fast Casual 170

Fast Casual Franchising Franchise Leadership 170

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 21, 2021

Here are a few examples of restaurants with names that ooze concept: Parm: Casual Italian, known for their Chicken Parm Sandwiches. Umami Burger : Casual burger spot with an empaths on flavor. Conversely, a casual neighborhood sandwich shop may name their sandwiches after local heroes or landmarks. Menu design.

Fast Casual 370

Fast Casual Food Truck Casual Customer Service 370

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 30, 2025

This has led to many perks for consumers, such as reduced wait times, contactless ordering, and more personalized offers and rewards. The market is influenced by evolving consumer lifestyles, the growth of digital ordering, and consumer demand for convenient and affordable dining. percent from 2025 to 2033 and reach US$ 345.6

Fast Casual 251

Fast Casual Food Point of Sale Mobile Ordering 251

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 15, 2020

Paul Wahlberg is Chef/Co-Owner of Wahlburgers, a casual dining restaurant and bar founded by the chef and his brothers Mark and Donnie. Unfortunately, we’ve since had to close all of our locations until further notice as we wait out this crisis. Everyone is chipping in and getting the job done no matter what it takes.

Food Safety 515

Food Safety Social Media Loyalty Program Consumer Goods 515

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 21, 2020

Yet at the same time, every marketer blasted out email updates “we’re in this together” filling consumer’s inboxes, rendering email virtually ineffective and driving down open rates from the pre-pandemic abysmal 20 percent. When you give back to the community, the community takes care of you.

2020 450

2020 Online Ordering Customer Experience Point of Sale 450

ChowNow

JUNE 27, 2025

The problem is, with dozens of restaurant review sites online, which ones should you focus on to give you the most impact, and how can you optimize each site to work in your favor? Think of it as the online hub of your restaurant’s online reputation, and it’s often the first impression you make in local search results and Google Maps.

Website Management 195

Website Management SEO Book Customer Experience 195