ChowNow

APRIL 4, 2025

When someone searches for your restaurant online, what do they see? Whether you like it or not, your restaurants online reputation is shaping first impressions long before a guest walks through your doors or even places an order. What is Online Reputation Management and Why Does it Matter? And those impressions matter.

Management

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 22, 2024

With 90% of diners checking a restaurant online before visiting, you also need a strong online presence to attract and boost reservations. Let’s explore 26 proven online marketing strategies to help your restaurant thrive. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you could be losing out on potential customers.

Book

ChowNow

JANUARY 23, 2025

Regular customers make up the backbone of any restaurants sales , but if you put a group of restaurant owners around a table, the conversation inevitably focuses on growth through new customer acquisition. But first, why is customer retention such a big deal? Thats huge! All you have to do is keep them happy. And when you do?

2025

ChowNow

MARCH 7, 2025

Its the number one way customers discover new restaurants and if your business isnt showing up in the search results, youre losing diners to competitors who are. Local restaurant SEO is the best way to attract new customers, and its easier than you thinkyou dont need to be a technical expert to start seeing real results.

SEO

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Email marketing might not be as flashy as social media marketing, but for restaurants, its possibly the most effective way to stay connected with customers. Unlike social media platforms, where the algorithm overlords dictate who will and will not see your posts, emails go straight to your customers inboxeswhich they check daily.

Email Marketing

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

By the time you finish this article, youll know how to approach restaurant marketing the right way and not waste time doing guesswork, crossing your fingers, and then hoping you see new customers walking through the door. Customers have more choices, higher expectations, and countless ways to discover (or overlook) your restaurant.

2025

ChowNow

MARCH 21, 2025

Understanding your target market is the foundation of making smart decisions for your menu, pricing, and overall guest experience. In this article, you will learn: How to define your restaurants target market to guide your business decisions. Key customer factors that influence dining preferences, from demographics to behavior.

Marketing

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

When customers are looking for a new place to eat, one of the first steps in that journey is checking reviews. After reading this article, you will realize that reviews are your most valuable online asset, and leaving them unattended is unthinkable. We all do it. Its to protect our time, our wallets, and our tastebuds.

2025

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

If your business isnt keeping up with the changes, you risk falling behind and not meeting modern customer expectations. Diners want the convenience of ordering, booking, and engaging with their favorite restaurants straight from their phones. Online ordering and delivery apps.

2025

ChowNow

APRIL 4, 2025

For a long time, third-party delivery apps seemed like the easiest way to get your restaurant online and in front of new customers. Instead of giving up control to outside platforms, some restaurants are shifting to a more direct approach: first-party ordering. First-Party vs. Third-Party Ordering: Whats the Difference?

Ordering

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

In this guide, youll learn how to use ChowNow tools along with a handful of other effective strategies to increase order volume, boost your current customer traffic, and grow your overall sales. Returning customers order up to 25% more after receiving these emails.

Ordering

ChowNow

JULY 18, 2025

How you approach restaurant marketing can be broken into two main categories: Attracting new customers to your restaurant Earning more from the customers you already have Most restaurant operators pour time and money into the first, but often overlook the massive opportunity in the second. Let’s say you run a neighborhood pizza shop.

Loyalty Program

ChowNow

APRIL 11, 2025

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. Whether someones deciding where to make a reservation or who gets their lunch order, what others say about you online carries real weight.

Online Ordering

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. A strong restaurant brand goes beyond a logo.

Social Media

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 9, 2025

These small, unassuming eateries—often with fewer than 20 tables—have long been celebrated for their cozy charm, unpretentious cuisine, and a welcoming spirit that turns every meal into a moment of connection. Small dining rooms feature dim lighting, vintage decor, and closely spaced seating that fosters conversation.

Fine Dining

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

EATER

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Rifrullo Café, a cozy farm-to-table restaurant in Brookline, Massachusetts, hums with customers on a steamy July mid-morning. As a chef, I have a responsibility to do my best to create good environments for people, customers, and the community,” says Marnell-Suhanosky. These restaurants try to tackle them all. Community, environment.

Compost

ChowNow

MARCH 27, 2025

Menu pricing isnt just about covering costsits about finding that sweet spot where profitability, customer perception, and operational reality meet. Too high, and youll drive customers away. High-end restaurants can charge more for the experience, leaving wiggle room for a higher food cost percentage.

Pricing

ChowNow

JANUARY 30, 2025

The ultimate goal of branding is to create an emotional connection with your customers that encourages them to choose you over your competitors. Thats why we created this easy guide to restaurant branding: to make certain you never miss an opportunity to connect with your customers. But how do you get there? for that exact same meal.

Email Marketing

The Rail

DECEMBER 2, 2024

By Kateryna Reshetilo, Contributor Are you a restaurant owner looking for ways to keep up with the fast-changing demands of your customers? Today, more than ever, restaurants are turning to custom-built apps to improve convenience, streamline operations, and foster customer loyalty. Real-time order tracking.

Delivery

Goliath Consulting

APRIL 5, 2025

Providing a seamless, enjoyable restaurant experience is essential for long-term success. Heres how to craft an experience that leaves customers delighted and eager to return. Efficient Seating and Ordering Process Minimize wait times and ensure smooth transitions from arrival to seating.

Customer Experience

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 22, 2024

89% of people do dining research on their phones, so if you’re not making the most of your online presence, you're missing out on a huge opportunity. When a restaurant participates in local events or partners with local businesses, it becomes part of the neighborhood’s fabric.

Marketing

ChowNow

MARCH 28, 2025

AI is no longer just a buzzword, its a reality that is reshaping how restaurants operate, interact with customers, and make decisions. From automating routine tasks to enhancing customer experiences, AI is revolutionizing the restaurant industry in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.

Front of House

ChowNow

MARCH 14, 2025

Every day, youre juggling staff, food quality, inventory, customer service, purchasing, and moreall while trying to cultivate a dining experience that wows your customers enough to keep them coming back. Customer Service and Experience Great food and drink is only truly enjoyed when its coupled with a great service experience.

Operations

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

Yes, it does take time, but not as much as youd think, so long as you follow these seven stepsyour team will learn faster, retain information better, and not disrupt business. Between a busy service, tight schedules, and our natural human tendency to resist change, its no surprise that getting everyone on board can be a challenge.

Training

ChowNow

JUNE 6, 2025

77% of diners go online to research a restaurant before deciding where to eat. That’s a significant amount of lost business tied to something you can improve on your own, but the problem is that most operators have no idea where to begin fixing the issue. It’s also a solid way to collect and showcase positive reviews.

Social Media

ChowNow

MAY 16, 2025

Understanding what customers order, when they order, and how often is an untapped goldmine of information for restaurant operators. Using that data can help you answer questions like: Are we pricing our bestsellers too low or overpricing items customers arent buying? Ordering data includes more than just what gets sold.

Ordering

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 18, 2024

It is atop the list for restaurants looking to modernize, differentiate, and elevate experiences. The question now becomes – how to make sense of that data and use it to elevate the dining experience. consumers now use digital wallets as they seek a convenient, contactless payment experience. Data, Data, Data.

2025

ChowNow

MAY 2, 2025

Your customer email list is your most valuable marketing asset, giving you an incredible ROI of $42 for every $1 you spend. You own it, it costs very little to maintain, and its a direct link to your customers any time youd like to reach themno complicated algorithms or third-party platforms getting in the way.

Email Marketing

ChowNow

APRIL 15, 2025

Restaurant KPIs are numbers that go beyond basic accounting to help you see how every part of your business is performingfrom your profit margins to your guest experience. Instead of relying on gut feelings and guesswork, they give you clear, measurable data you can track over time to meet your key business objectives.

Operations

ChowNow

JULY 11, 2025

When going through the ordering process, diners want three things: Speed Ease Clarity Your menu categories have more to do with delivering on those expectations than you might think. A well-organized menu—whether it’s a physical menu or an online menu—guides guests quickly to what they’re craving.

Menu

ChowNow

JANUARY 23, 2025

Are your regulars ordering the same drink and entree every time they come in? Does the energy feel flat, and the customers look bored. Get some fresh customers through the door and start the neighborhood talking about whats happening in your restaurant again. Has your restaurant hit a plateau?

Events

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 28, 2024

A bar is a profitable business option if you’re looking to enter the food industry. For example, if you serve craft cocktails or premium wine, customers may be willing to pay more because of the perceived value. You can introduce themed drinks or seasonal specials that keep your customers coming back for something new.

Point of Sale

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Finding a well-rounded bar manager can be the determining factor in the success of your business. They play a big role in overseeing your inventory and attending to customer complaints. What would you do if a customer claims they were overcharged? How would you handle a conflict between a bar staff and a customer?

Bar

ChowNow

MAY 23, 2025

If your restaurant profit margins arent healthy, it doesnt matter how busy you areyoull always be playing catch-up. From food costs and labor expenses to inflation and unpredictable sales volume, operating a restaurant business comes with constant, non-negotiable bills. What Are Restaurant Profit Margins?

Point of Sale

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 30, 2025

In recent years, consumer behaviors have drastically changed to now preferring delivery services and an increased willingness to pay a premium for a seamless experience. The data revealed that 60 percent of consumers surveyed prefer human staff versus AI-managed customer support, despite the potential for increased service efficiency.

Fast Casual

Goliath Consulting

APRIL 18, 2025

Service is about accuracy and efficiencytaking an order, delivering food, clearing a table. Whether its remembering a regulars order or simply offering a sincere greeting, small actions can build emotional loyalty that no discount or trend can match. Hospitality is how you make someone feel during that process.

Hospitality