SpotOn

DECEMBER 11, 2024

Fast casual restaurants are popping up faster than you can say "build your own grain bowl." " They're somewhere between a full-service casual dining restaurant and a quick-service restaurant or fast food chain. Looking for tips on starting your fast casual restaurant?

Fast Casual 52

Fast Casual Casual Loyalty Program Online Ordering 52

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 9, 2025

Joe Gale has more than 30 years of sales, operations and account management experience, including 20 years with Coca-Cola North America Foodservice where he worked closely with numerous QSR and fast casual brands. What have been key challenges to Pancheros growth through franchising and how important is training?

Franchising 221

Franchising Franchise Loyalty Program Training 221

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

The research stems from in-person chef interviews and a nationwide survey of more than 400 restaurant owners and operators spanning 47 states with respondents ranging from fine dining establishments to fast-casual venues, breweries, and caterers. "This Restaurants are also implementing innovative retention strategies.

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2024 2023 2025 Loyalty Program 251

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

We provide full training, marketing support, and ongoing guidance to help them succeed. JA: We have strict guidelines, standardized recipes, and regular training. I believe as far as ourniche in casual dining experiences we’re at the top of the food chain. Experience is great, but notr equired.

Franchising 221

Franchising Franchise Social Media Influencer 221

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 30, 2024

A centralized hub can provide easy access to training materials, operational updates, and ensure consistency across all locations. QSR and fast-casual franchises continue to drive the expansion of the franchising sector. Despite ongoing economic challenges, QSRs remain on a steady path of growth.

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Loyalty Program Franchising Franchise 2025 251

ChowNow

JANUARY 23, 2025

Does every cook prepare each dish exactly the same as the chef trained them to? To ensure guests leave happy, invest in regular staff training and implement quality checks. In-person conversations: Train your staff to ask customers for feedback during their visit. Does front of house greet every customer the same?

2025 195

2025 Loyalty Program Operations Email Marketing 195

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

There may be many reasons for this, including the fact that QSRs' fast, casual, and affordable nature may appeal to younger generations and individuals whose eating habits have changed post-pandemic. To make progress in both areas in 2025, managers should focus on offering more in-depth training and elevating the employee experience.

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2025 2024 Recruiting Employee Relations 474

The Rail

MARCH 31, 2025

Standardized Training Programs: Newbies get uniform training with digital training tools across multiple locations. This approach not only makes it easier to train new staff on familiar machinery but also simplifies maintenance and reduces downtime. Time saving: Managers can focus on customer service.

Technology 130

Technology Management Management Operations 130

ChowNow

MAY 23, 2025

Restaurant type: Whether you run a fine dining, fast casual, or quick service concept plays a big role in potential margins. Cross-train team members to handle multiple roles during slower shifts. They create room to handle unexpected costs, like a spike in food costs or a broken walk-in, without throwing your whole month off balance.

Point of Sale 195

Point of Sale Insurance Fast Casual Customer Service 195

ChowNow

JUNE 12, 2025

In this article, you will learn: Tactics that increase restaurant check sizes without slowing down service How to boost restaurant sales through your own digital channels Proven ideas for driving repeat business from loyal and casual guests alike 1. You can also train restaurant staff to mention popular pairings in person.

Loyalty Program 195

Loyalty Program Social Media Online Ordering Email Marketing 195

ChowNow

JULY 18, 2025

That might be two years for a casual spot, or five years for a local favorite with strong customer loyalty. Train your team to spot them, treat them like VIPs, and give them reasons to keep showing up. Purchase Frequency : How often your repeat customers visit within that same period—weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.

Loyalty Program 195

Loyalty Program Online Ordering Customer Experience Customer Service 195

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 27, 2025

The chain’s documented emphasis on training shows in its strong performance on service quality and value. What's Fueling QSR and Fast Casual Visits? Overall, the research found that 93 percent of consumers are visiting fast casual restaurants monthly, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t without pain points.

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Loyalty Program 2025 Customer Experience Customer Service 371

ChowNow

MAY 23, 2025

Try renaming them with a more enticing menu description, giving them better placement in your menu layout, or training your staff to recommend them more consistently. Diners comments, even casual ones, give you clues about customer preferences and what holes you might need to fill with new dishes.

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Menu Seasonal Menu Point of Sale Online Ordering 195

Restaurant Business

APRIL 9, 2025

The state of the industry report found that 30% of restaurants planned to devote resources to kiosks, which can assist with inventory, employee trainings, menu control, and so much more. A Technomic Ignite Consumer report found a significant increase in average checks at both quick service and fast casual establishments.

Take-out 186

Take-out Technology Fast Casual Inventory 186

ChowNow

JULY 11, 2025

Create Moments Worth Talking About Train your staff to recognize occasions when guests are clearly happy and lean into those moments. Unlike other review sites, Yelp’s guidelines prohibit asking for reviews, even in a casual way. But it also means personal touches that turn first-timers into loyal customers.

Customer Service 284

Customer Service Social Media Customer Experience Online Ordering 284

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 3, 2025

We were entering the saturated fast-casual burger space and knew we needed to make an impact. First, You need toensure you’re maintaining brand consistency across multiple locations, and that involves streamlining logistics, sourcing, and staff training to keep quality high across your chain.

Social Media 251

Social Media Customer Experience Email Marketing Loyalty Program 251

The Eat Restaurant

MARCH 13, 2025

Offering exclusive perks or special events for referrals can deepen customer loyalty and turn casual diners into dedicated fans. This includes clear instructions for using your POS system, providing training and support, and ensuring access to necessary tools. Turns customers into super fans: People love to feel appreciated.

Loyalty Program 78

Loyalty Program Reference Customer Experience Social Media 78

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Consider a large Mexican fast-casual chain that implemented a tuition coverage program for employees pursuing degrees in fields like agriculture, culinary arts, and hospitality. What impact does a modern approach to workforce education have? Investing in employee education can yield substantial returns for QSR owners and operators.

Education 221

Education Loyalty Program Leadership Customer Service 221

Clover - Restaurants

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Even something as simple as a marketed half pour could be eye-catching for the casual drop-in. Train staff to sell specials No matter how great your drink specials are, they wont sell as much as they could if your staff isnt promoting them effectively. Mini options Offer small versions of popular drinks.

Menu 52

Menu Social Media Entertainment Customer Experience 52

ChowNow

JANUARY 23, 2025

Get training dialed in right away so youre not having to make big changes on the fly day of. Plus, the casual vibe and camaraderie make it a go-to night for fun and relaxation. Being ready means ensuring your team is prepared and knows their roles. Itll stress out your staff, and your guests will feel their anxiety.

Events 195

Events Seasonal Menu Social Media Customer Experience 195

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Add your ordering link to: Your websites homepage, with a bold Order Now button Social media bios, posts, and Stories Google Business Profile (so customers can order directly from search resultsread this article to set that up) Email signatures and SMS marketing messages Train staff to guide customers toward direct ordering: When customers call (..)

Ordering 195

Ordering Email Marketing Online Ordering Social Media 195

Lavu

JUNE 20, 2025

How Virtual Reality Is Shaping New Restaurant Technology for Staff Onboarding Training a new hire takes time and patience, whether it’s to be a server, a cashier or cook. Have you wondered about the possibilities of training new hires without the risks and costs of a normal training session? The good news is that now you can.

Technology 78

Technology 2025 Online Ordering Fast Casual 78

Lavu

MAY 30, 2025

There are numerous ways to improve your table turnover rate, such as implementing efficient reservation systems, optimizing menu design, and training staff to handle table management effectively. Turnover rate may be higher in fast-casual or quick-service restaurants compared to fine-dining establishments.

Seating 140

Seating Mobile Ordering Customer Service Customer Experience 140

Lavu

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

24/7 Customer Support Lavu provides around-the-clock technical support, along with onboarding help, training materials, and tutorials. These examples show how Lavu helps businesses – from casual eateries to wineries – overcome unique challenges and improve their operations.

Loyalty Program 78

Loyalty Program Cash Management Inventory Customer Service 78

ChowNow

JANUARY 30, 2025

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. Train your staff to embody your brand values, ensuring their interactions reflect the tone and personality of your brand. Consistency builds trust.

Email Marketing 195

Email Marketing Mobile Ordering Customer Experience Online Ordering 195

EATER

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

Zinara Rathnayake Wade, deep-fried urad dal patties sold on a train. Hotel: Not only places to bed down, hotels can refer to casual eateries for affordable, filling food. Zinara Rathnayake Orange-husked king coconuts on the streets of Colombo. Fox Jaffna A full spread at Fox Jaffna.

Hotels 260

Hotels Seasonal Menu Back of House Small Business 260

The Restaurant Group

JANUARY 26, 2025

They turn casual diners into loyal patrons, driving growth and securing long-term success. Points-based rewards work well for casual dining. Train Staff and Promote the Program Ensure your team understands the programs benefits. Train them to explain it confidently to customers.

Loyalty Program 78

Loyalty Program Point of Sale Mobile Ordering Customer Experience 78

The Restaurant Group

MAY 31, 2025

Automated email marketing campaigns remind diners of memorable experiences, converting casual visitors into loyal patrons and building robust customer relationships. Collecting Emails from Your Customers Ask Customers When They Dine In Train staff to politely request emails during customer visits.

Email Marketing 78

Email Marketing Loyalty Program Online Ordering Seasonal Menu 78

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 31, 2024

To combat revenue challenges, 36 percent of leaders said their top investments would be in enhanced sales and marketing technology, promotions, and loyalty programs, alongside 27 percent who are planning staff investments, including enhanced training, salaries, recruitment, and benefits.

Franchising 221

Franchising Franchise 2024 Mobile Ordering 221

QSR Automations

JUNE 10, 2025

Used in 21 of the nation’s top 25 casual dining chains, QSR Automations leverages data to create customized solutions that make calmer kitchens, simpler workflows, and happier guests. The combined company will deliver all of these capabilities, completing the full kitchen operations lifecycle. Media Contact: For Crunchtime Cindy Poulos Sr.

Technology 87

Technology Management Management Kitchen Safety 87

SpotOn

DECEMBER 27, 2024

Or perhaps you run a casual dining restaurant , and you want guests filling tables beyond peak hours. These are popular with chain restaurants and fast casual restaurants. Different programs will help you achieve different goals. Do you have an existing customer pool, but you're trying to gain more frequent customers?

Loyalty Program 52

Loyalty Program Point of Sale Online Ordering Front of House 52

The Restaurant Group

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

A well-trained team and a smart menu design make a huge impact on success. A well-trained server builds rapport by offering timely suggestions based on what the guest enjoys. Effective Upselling Strategies Training Your Staff Identifying Upsell Opportunities Servers should recognize when to suggest meal upgrades or add-on sales.

Loyalty Program 68

Loyalty Program Customer Experience Customer Service Email Marketing 68

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

The key to achieving this is proper staff training, adopting and leveraging technology to enhance the dining experience and manage operations, as well as cultivating a personalized experience and welcoming environment for all solo diners. Cultivating a Personalized Experience and Welcoming Environment Casual dining or fine dining?

Customer Experience 450

Customer Experience Fine Dining Seating Catering 450

ChowNow

APRIL 25, 2025

You can also train staff to mention sign-ups casually during checkout. Start simple: place small signs or table tents near the register or on each table with a QR code that links to your sign-up form. Keep the language clean and inviting, for example, Join our email list for monthly deals and exclusive perks.

Email Marketing 195

Email Marketing Marketing Loyalty Program Online Ordering 195

Restaurant Business

JULY 16, 2025

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. Even though the pizza platform was entirely new, it didn’t require much training. “My By Patricia Cobe on Jul.

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Menu Fast Casual Leadership Email Marketing 154

The Rail

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

The restaurant staff must be well-trained in customer service , from greeting visitors with a nice smile to anticipating expectations and effectively addressing any concerns. Whether it's a casual restaurant or a fancy dining one, regularly presenting excellent cuisine is crucial.

Customer Service 130

Customer Service Customer Experience Back of House Consumer Goods 130

Lavu

JULY 4, 2025

However, it means you will need to juggle multiple software systems and you will need to train new hires on multiple tools. Fast-casual restaurants like Panera have embraced self-service kiosks , which allow customers to place to-go orders or dine in, just by tapping on a POS system.

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POS 2025 Front of House Back of House 78