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 Revenue growth in 2024 was largely driven by menu price adjustments.

2024

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. A well-informed team improves service, enhances the dining experience, and reduces errors in the kitchen.

Training

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 25, 2025

If We Have an Opportunity for Curbside Dining, is that Space Considered our Premises? Specifically, you will want to ensure your liquor liability, general liability, and umbrella policies are in place and ready to protect you if problems arise in your outdoor dining area.

Insurance

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 18, 2024

So much data is generated at every point within a restaurant, whether fast casual or fine dining. The question now becomes – how to make sense of that data and use it to elevate the dining experience. For the first part, click here and for the second part, click here. Data, Data, Data. As of 2024, over half of U.S.

2025

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. Fine-tuning every touch point a customer has with your restaurant will elevate their experience from: Yeah, I liked it to I want to go there twice a week.

2025

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 22, 2025

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.

Uniforms

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 31, 2025

“In 2025, restaurants are walking the fine line between automation and hospitality,” said Ming-Tai Huh, Head of Food & Beverage at Square. “In 2025, restaurants are walking the fine line between automation and hospitality,” said Ming-Tai Huh, Head of Food & Beverage at Square.

Marketing

ChowNow

JULY 25, 2025

This is a problem because without a firm grasp of your food cost percentage, it’s nearly impossible to make informed decisions on pricing, purchasing, and profitability. Fast-casual spots tend to operate on the lower end, while full-service or fine dining may run higher. How often should I calculate food cost percentage?

Food

ChowNow

MARCH 13, 2025

Without clear, consolidated data, making informed decisions about delivery becomes nearly impossible. Its a recipe for chaos, leading to mistakes, slower service, and shrinking profit margins. But what if all your food delivery apps were in one place? This constant back-and-forth leads to confusion, missed orders, and costly delays.

Delivery

ChowNow

JULY 11, 2025

For more information on menu psychology, read our article, Digital Menu Psychology: How to Influence Ordering Decisions Online. Good example: A fine dining restaurant using just five clearly defined sections—Small Plates, Mains, Sides, Desserts, and Beverages. It’s called decision fatigue , and it kills conversions.

Menu

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Solo dining – a time dedicated to eating a meal alone at a sit-down restaurant – is an opportunity for diners to practice self care over a meal, whether that be by relaxing and reflecting at the end of a long day or even by engaging the mind with a book or catching up on the news. Just the “cover count.”

Customer Experience

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

For operators, restaurant apps mean higher sales, greater customer retention, and smoother day-to-day operations. Why Restaurant Apps Matter in 2025 Consumer habits are evolving, and convenience is at the heart of it. Why Restaurant Apps Matter in 2025 Consumer habits are evolving, and convenience is at the heart of it.

2025

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Seasonal Menus & Event Announcements If you roll out seasonal dishes, holiday specials, or themed dining experiences, let your audience know in advance. For example, a Christmas Sweater Party email informs guests of the event while also encouraging them to make a reservation. Ask your existing customers.

Email Marketing

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. Its tough, and cant be done passively.

Operations

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Since 2014, online ordering has grown 300% faster than dine-in and now accounts for roughly 40% of restaurant sales. When customers order through a third-party app, you dont get access to their contact information, making it harder to bring them back. In 2025, the US online food delivery market is expected to reach $424.9

Online Ordering

The Rail

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Have you noticed how food delivery apps are becoming essential in attracting and retaining diners? If so, you’re not alone. Today, more than ever, restaurants are turning to custom-built apps to improve convenience, streamline operations, and foster customer loyalty. The global online food delivery market size was valued at USD 221.65

Delivery

ChowNow

MARCH 27, 2025

Set prices too low, and youre leaving money on the table. Too high, and youll drive customers away. Somewhere in between is the number that makes sense for your food costs, your market, and your restaurants unique position. Most operators aim for food costs to be around 28-35% of the menu price, though this can change from restaurant to restaurant.

Pricing

The Rail

APRIL 10, 2025

This shift is driven by growing environmental awareness, social media scrutiny, and increased access to digital information. These efforts offer a dining experience thats informed and easy to navigate. Consumers, particularly younger generations , are more eco-conscious than ever. Consumers are paying attention.

Food Supply

SpotOn

APRIL 1, 2025

However, getting more guests in seats through outdoor dining can also come at a cost, both in time and money. Joe Nicholson was a manager and tech consultant at one of the busiest restaurants in Sacramento, CA—Tower Cafe. Patios can be quite lucrative. Decorate walls, fences, and overhead structures with vibrant plants. Live music.

Seating

EATER

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Did the celebrity judges actually have the talent, technique, and sufficient awareness of the culinary traditions that inform the globally influenced dishes landing in front of them? And that’s what makes it great. In food competition shows, there’s always some degree of conflict or drama over the question of objectivity.

Social Media

Lavu

MARCH 21, 2025

Multilingual Menus for Restaurants are transforming the dining experience by breaking language barriers and enhancing customer satisfaction. By leveraging this technology, restaurants can optimize their operations and deliver a seamless dining experience, ultimately improving customer retention and driving higher profits.

Customer Experience

ChowNow

APRIL 11, 2025

Slim and stylish is fine, but in a restaurant, function beats form every time. Tablets are everywhere in restaurants these days, and with good reason. Their sleek design and intuitive user interface make them a natural fit for a modern restaurants day-to-day operations. Lets break down what to look for in a restaurant tablet.

Front of House

SpotOn

APRIL 14, 2025

Their commitment to high-quality ingredients and memorable dining experiences has made them a standout destination for tacos, cocktails, and more. SpotOn grows in popularity amongst restaurants committed to delivering unique, community-driven hospitality experiences.

2025

Lavu

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

POS systems are transforming dining by making personalized experiences easy and efficient. How POS Systems Enable Menu Personalization: Key Features Collecting Customer Data and Insights Creating personalized menus starts with understanding what customers want, and POS systems are built to gather and analyze this information.

POS

Lavu

MAY 30, 2025

In this article, well walk you through 7 easy steps to increase table turnover effectively, helping you boost your bottom line while maintaining a great dining experience. Turnover rate may be higher in fast-casual or quick-service restaurants compared to fine-dining establishments.

Seating

Black Box Intelligence

DECEMBER 3, 2024

Research shows that even a half-star improvement in ASR can lead to substantial sales growth: Casual Dining : $61,000 per location annually. Fine Dining : Up to $110,000 per location annually. Guest feedback is a treasure trove of data that informs both ops and marketing.

Fine Dining

The Restaurant Group

APRIL 12, 2025

How It Works in the Restaurant Business In the restaurant biz, influencers share their dining experiences, spotlighting your culinary delights to their audience. Make It Easy for Them to Share Content Provide them with information, hashtags, and any specific messages you’d like conveyed. What Is Restaurant Influencer Marketing?

Influencer

ChowNow

AUGUST 1, 2025

And don’t be scared to mention how to order in your posts—repetition is how information sticks. A trendy coffee shop might thrive on TikTok by leaning into playful content and trending sounds, while a fine dining restaurant might find more success on Instagram with moody food shots and elegant Reels.

Social Media

Lavu

APRIL 17, 2025

It captures transaction details like sales trends, customer preferences, and dining habits. Customer Analytics for Restaurants Steps to Collect and Analyze POS Data for Personalized Restaurant Marketing Turning raw POS data into useful marketing insights starts with a clear approach to gathering and analyzing the information.

POS

Lavu

NOVEMBER 30, 2024

These systems offer: Real-time tracking of ingredient costs Automated inventory updates Insights into menu item performance Detailed reports on profitability "Menu engineering is a practical way for restaurateurs to optimize their menu for peak profitability and a better customer dining experience."

POS

Lavu

MAY 9, 2025

Lightspeed : Excellent for complex menus and inventory management, ideal for fine dining or multi-location setups. From quick-service spots to fine dining restaurants, it offers tools to meet a variety of operational needs. In the competitive restaurant industry, choosing the right Point of Sale (POS) system is crucial.

POS

Lavu

JULY 18, 2025

In this post, we’ll explore five essential POS features designed to reduce wait times and deliver faster, more efficient dining experiences. Real-Time Order Tracking : Keeps customers informed about their food status, reducing anxiety and follow-up inquiries. In the fast-paced world of food service, every second counts.

POS

ChowNow

MARCH 14, 2025

Since 2014, these channels have grown 300% faster than dine-inand the trend isnt slowing down. For more information on food photography, read our article How to Take Menu Photos Like The Pros. If you want to increase order volume for your restaurant, focusing on online takeout and delivery is key.

Ordering

Lavu

MARCH 13, 2025

For instance, if your restaurant experiences a 20% sales boost every December, you can use this information to better prepare for the holiday rush in the future. These numbers show how profitable certain times are and highlight dining habits over different periods – like daily, weekly, or yearly.

POS

Lavu

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

This helps visually impaired users understand what’s being shown and make informed choices. These insights help you measure success and create a better dining experience for everyone while staying compliant with accessibility guidelines. Restaurants must ensure their digital menus are usable by everyone, including the 61 million U.S.

2024

Lavu

APRIL 25, 2025

Consumer dining preferences have shifted and today customers are looking for experiences, not just a meal. Efficient Operations : Track ordering patterns ( dine-in vs. delivery ) to optimize staffing and inventory, ensuring smooth service. POS systems track patterns across dine-in, takeout, and delivery orders. The result?

POS

SpotOn

MARCH 21, 2025

You need to know what your competitors are charging and gauge the boundaries of what guests will pay for the dining experience. For fine dining establishments, or other restaurant concepts with inherently high food costs, lowering food costs might not be an option. Menu pricing is a delicate dance.

Pricing