ChowNow

JULY 11, 2025

On the flip side, a cluttered or confusing category setup can overwhelm guests, slow down ordering, and lead to missed sales opportunities. 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 195

Menu Dietary Restrictions Seasonal Menu Online Ordering 195

ChowNow

JUNE 6, 2025

Maybe you’re running a second-generation Italian restaurant, staying true to your family recipes, or maybe after years of working in fine dining, you opened a spot that felt more true to you. A well-written restaurant About Us page builds trust, sparks curiosity, and even helps you show up higher in search results.

Social Media 195

Social Media Fine Dining Front of House Customer Experience 195

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.

2025 419

2025 Loyalty Program Social Media Fast Casual 419

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. A spike in food costs, a drop in sales volume, or one slow season can wipe out months of hard work. For example: Lets say your restaurant made $100,000 in total sales last month. What Are Restaurant Profit Margins?

Point of Sale 195

Point of Sale Insurance Fast Casual Customer Service 195

ChowNow

MARCH 27, 2025

One approach is to use a contribution margin model : after youve calculated food cost, ask yourself how much money is left from the sale of a menu item to cover everything else. Set prices too low, and youre leaving money on the table. Too high, and youll drive customers away. Menu pricing has a lot to do with perception.

Pricing 195

Pricing Menu Point of Sale Customer Experience 195

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

For operators, restaurant apps mean higher sales, greater customer retention, and smoother day-to-day operations. For operators, restaurant apps mean higher sales, greater customer retention, and smoother day-to-day operations. The restaurant industry is going mobile, and restaurant apps are at the center of this transformation.

2025 195

2025 Loyalty Program Mobile Ordering Online Ordering 195

ChowNow

MARCH 13, 2025

A single mistakelike forgetting to accept an order on one app while preparing anothercan result in a frustrated customer and a lost sale. And without a single place to track all delivery sales, restaurant operators struggle to see the full picture of their off-premise business. Manual entry leaves room for more errors.

Delivery 195

Delivery Food Food Order Point of Sale 195

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Since 2014, online ordering has grown 300% faster than dine-in and now accounts for roughly 40% of restaurant sales. Online ordering has transformed the restaurant industry, turning what was once a convenience into an absolute necessity. In 2025, the US online food delivery market is expected to reach $424.9 billion in revenue.

Online Ordering 195

Online Ordering Ordering Email Marketing Mobile Ordering 195

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

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. When used correctly, restaurant email marketing keeps your restaurant top of mind, turning occasional diners into loyal regulars.

Email Marketing 195

Email Marketing Marketing 2025 Online Ordering 195

The Rail

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Comprehensive analytics dashboard for insights into customer preferences and sales trends. By Kateryna Reshetilo, Contributor Are you a restaurant owner looking for ways to keep up with the fast-changing demands of your customers? Have you noticed how food delivery apps are becoming essential in attracting and retaining diners?

Delivery 147

Delivery Food Loyalty Program Food Order 147

Lavu

MARCH 21, 2025

Restaurants can now use customer data to enhance restaurant menu design, creating smarter menus that increase profits and improve the dining experience. Spot Best-Sellers : Focus on the 16% of menu items that drive 80% of sales. This approach also helps reduce food waste and maximize customer satisfaction. Ready to learn how?

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Design Menu Seasonal Menu Point of Sale 78

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 110

2025 Innovation Fine Dining Equipment 110

Lavu

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Increases Sales : Personalized recommendations drive purchases. POS systems are transforming dining by making personalized experiences easy and efficient. This means menus can be updated to reflect what people actually want, making the dining experience more engaging and relevant.

POS 78

POS Menu Dietary Restrictions Loyalty Program 78

ChowNow

MAY 16, 2025

A great dining experience starts long before someone walks through your door. 77% of diners visit a restaurants website before they dine in or order takeout or delivery. Increase Direct Online Sales Your online ordering should be easy to find and use on your website.

Mobile Ordering 195

Mobile Ordering Loyalty Program Online Ordering Download 195

Lavu

APRIL 17, 2025

Personalized restaurant marketing using POS data is a powerful way to drive sales and foster customer loyalty. In this post, we’ll explore how integrating POS data into your marketing strategy can boost engagement, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately increase sales. Here’s how: What is POS Data?

POS 78

POS Loyalty Program Marketing Point of Sale 78

Lavu

MARCH 13, 2025

POS systems do more than handle payments they utilize POS data to help restaurants analyze and manage seasonal sales trends. Plan Inventory : Track sales velocity to stock up on popular items while avoiding overstocking. Monitor Key Metrics : Track sales, customer visits, and average ticket sizes to make data-driven decisions.

POS 78

POS Seasonal Menu Point of Sale Inventory 78

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 78

POS Waste Inventory Cash Management 78

Lavu

APRIL 4, 2025

favorite dishes, dining frequency). Personalized marketing helps restaurants connect with customers by tailoring offers and experiences to individual preferences. With 62% of consumers leaving brands that fail to personalize experiences , personalized restaurant marketing can increase revenue by 10-30%.

Marketing 78

Marketing Loyalty Program Email Marketing POS 78

ChowNow

MARCH 14, 2025

Since 2014, these channels have grown 300% faster than dine-inand the trend isnt slowing down. If you want to increase order volume for your restaurant, focusing on online takeout and delivery is key. Even when they manage to attract online orders, a lack of repeat business makes sustained growth feel out of reach.

Ordering 195

Ordering Mobile Ordering Online Ordering Email Marketing 195

SpotOn

DECEMBER 11, 2024

" They're somewhere between a full-service casual dining restaurant and a quick-service restaurant or fast food chain. The history of fast casual dining The fast casual concept was born in the 1990s but gained popularity in the mid-2000s with the massive success of Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Fast Casual 52

Fast Casual Casual Loyalty Program Online Ordering 52

Black Box Intelligence

JULY 16, 2025

Monthly Restaurant Trends Review Out of the Box: June 2025 Same-store sales rose 2.0% Only three of the past 22 months have posted stronger sales growth results than June 2025. The weakest regions in sales growth border the southern edge of the country; the strongest? Comp Sales -0.9% Comp Sales -0.9%

2025 52

2025 Fine Dining Point of Sale Fast Casual 52

Lavu

MAY 9, 2025

In the competitive restaurant industry, choosing the right Point of Sale (POS) system is crucial. 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.

POS 78

POS Loyalty Program Mobile Ordering Food Truck 78

Lavu

APRIL 25, 2025

Consumer dining preferences have shifted and today customers are looking for experiences, not just a meal. Smarter Menus : Analyze sales trends to adjust menu items, pricing, and promotions for what customers love most. POS systems track patterns across dine-in, takeout, and delivery orders.

POS 78

POS Loyalty Program Email Marketing Point of Sale 78

Lavu

JULY 18, 2025

Modern point-of-sale systems go beyond order processing—they streamline operations, reduce bottlenecks, and improve table turnover. In this post, we’ll explore five essential POS features designed to reduce wait times and deliver faster, more efficient dining experiences. Digital menus also play a role in speeding things up.

POS 60

POS Mobile Ordering Communication Customer Service 60

Black Box Intelligence

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

Comp Sales -2.5% Comp Traffic Best Region: New England Best Segment: Quick Service Best Cuisine: Chicken Worst Region: NY-NJ Worst Segment: Fine Dining Worst Cuisine: Sandwich The restaurant industry started turning a corner in August and September. Comp Sales -2.5% And recovery for the industry is continued into October.

2024 52

2024 Guest Recovery Point of Sale Fine Dining 52

SpotOn

MARCH 21, 2025

It requires accurate data on food costs, total sales, overhead costs, labor costs, and all the many costs in between. You need to know what your competitors are charging and gauge the boundaries of what guests will pay for the dining experience. When you go out to eat, you're not just paying for the food.

Pricing 52

Pricing Menu Point of Sale Seasonal Menu 52

Black Box Intelligence

JANUARY 16, 2025

Comp Sales -3.2% Comp Traffic Best Region: New England Best Segment: Family Dining Best Cuisine: Breakfast Worst Region: NY-NJ Worst Segment: Fast Casual Worst Cuisine: Sandwich The December 2024 Restaurant Industry Trends + A Year in Review 2024 saw many ups and downs. Decembers sales and traffic data may appear weak at first glance.

2024 52

2024 Point of Sale Front of House Fast Casual 52

Black Box Intelligence

APRIL 7, 2025

Out of the Box: February 2025 In This Issue: The Big Picture: Sales and Traffic Trends February 2025 Restaurant Industry Performance Trends In Detail Segment Focus QSR: Current Performance Trends -2.5% Comp Sales -5.7% Comp Sales -5.7% Sales +0.1% +0.6% +0.4% -0.1% -2.3% -0.4% +0.4% +0.5% +2.8% -0.3% +2.5% -2.5%

2025 105

2025 Point of Sale 2024 Fine Dining 105

SpotOn

JUNE 27, 2025

Misconception 1: You can just turn QR codes on at your restaurant without making any operational changes and it'll work just fine. Fine-tune your serving style What happens after a guest scans a QR code and places their order? That said, there are still a lot of misconceptions about how to best implement QR codes.

Mobile Ordering 52

Mobile Ordering Online Ordering Back of House Front of House 52

Paper Chase Accountancy

JULY 9, 2025

” Average Check: This represents the average amount that is spent by each customer dining. Food/Beverage Sales: What percentage of your revenue should be coming from food and what percentage of sales are from beverages. Restaurants that are not in high cost of living areas can still use these metrics as guidance.

Hospitality 59

Hospitality Fine Dining Fast Casual Loyalty Program 59

Black Box Intelligence

APRIL 25, 2025

Out of the Box: March 2025 In This Issue: The Big Picture: Sales and Traffic Trends March 2025 Restaurant Industry Performance Trends In Detail Segment Focus QSR: Current Performance Trends 0.9% Comp Sales -2.2% Comp Sales -2.2% Same-store sales growth was 0.3% Same-store sales growth was 0.3% reported for Q4 2024.

2025 52

2025 Fast Casual Fine Dining Point of Sale 52

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 11, 2025

Delivery/Takeout : COVID created a shift from in-person dining to takeout and delivery options, increasing reliance on third party delivery services, and on attractive takeout options. From a legal perspective, Insurance : the pandemic highlighted the limitations of insurance policies. Workforce : COVID fundamentally changed the labor market.

Mobile Ordering 418

Mobile Ordering Kitchen Safety Fine Dining Food Safety 418

Restaurant Engine

JULY 9, 2025

They may choose to dine out when they don’t want to cook, but they may also not want to dine in. Today, you can expect that your customers are always looking for convenience. So, that’s where carry-out services come into play. If you don’t offer carry-out services to your customers, you’re leaving money on the table.

Loyalty Program 52

Loyalty Program Marketing Email Marketing Online Ordering 52

SpotOn

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

Corkage fees are typically found in casual dining and fine dining restaurants, encouraging guests to select a bottle from the restaurant, instead of bringing their own.  Check the restaurant's wine list or dinner menu if there's some curiosity about corkage fees while dining out.

Fine Dining 52

Fine Dining License Point of Sale Website Management 52

Lavu

MAY 23, 2025

In today’s fast-paced dining environment, even a few seconds of lag can create a ripple effect that impacts your entire service flow. In this post, well break down five clear signs that your point-of-sale system is holding your restaurant backand what you can do to fix it. Manual PIN entry further slows things down.

POS 78

POS Online Ordering Mobile Ordering Inventory 78

Paper Chase Accountancy

MAY 20, 2025

In the bustling world of gastronomy, the art of restaurant bookkeeping often takes a backseat. It’s a nuanced dance, balancing income and expenditure, ensuring the financial health of the establishment. This guide aims to simplify the process, whether you’re a seasoned restaurateur or new to the industry.

Cash Management 52

Cash Management Hotels Hospitality Point of Sale 52

Restaurant Engine

MAY 14, 2025

For many restaurants, you have access to a loyalty program right through your point of sale system or digital platforms. Ultimately, youll increase the rate at which they dine with you, engage your customers, and increase your revenue. Points-Based Program Your customers earn points for each dollar they spend.

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Loyalty Program Website Management Point of Sale Customer Experience 52