Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 9, 2025

Customers expect seamless online ordering, loyalty programs, and delivery options, and franchise systems need to invest in tech to stay competitive. Customers expect seamless online ordering, loyalty programs, and delivery options, and franchise systems need to invest in tech to stay competitive.

Loyalty Program

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 23, 2024

Smart owners will seize on this opportunity and use reviews as a powerful tool to fill their dining rooms and online ordering queues. First, overwhelmed by ads and overly polished social media content, customers now see reviews as a reliable and authentic source of truth. Here’s how: 1.

2025

EATER

OCTOBER 21, 2024

The tool from the East Coast vegan chain — a digital take on a split-flap mechanical display that appears on its website and in the chain’s ordering app — estimates the amounts of water, land, CO2, and oil saved by eating vegan burgers. The “ PLNT Impact Tracker ” on PLNT Burger’s website wants you to think about what you’re eating.

Sustainability

EATER

APRIL 30, 2025

. | Adam Friedlander/Eater NY Eric Huang of NYCs Pecking House talks grassroots growth A version of this post originally appeared on April 30, 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.

Serving

ChowNow

MARCH 7, 2025

Every online order, email sign up, and reward program interaction generates valuable insightsbut if that data just sits there, youre missing a major opportunity. Think about it: What if you could automatically send a special offer to a customer who hasnt ordered in a while? Restaurants collect a ton of customer data.

Loyalty Program

ChowNow

MARCH 21, 2025

Key customer factors that influence dining preferences, from demographics to behavior. These are the people most likely to dine with you based on factors like their age, income, dining preferences, and lifestyle. Every successful restaurant has one thing in common: they know exactly who they are serving.

Marketing

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Today, customers rely on Google searches, online reviews, and social media to decide where to eat. People want convenience, transparency, and a connection to the brands they support, and that starts with how you market your restaurant online. A strong online presence means more visibility, more orders, and, ultimately, more revenue.

2025

EATER

MAY 14, 2025

Wonho Frank Lee Ryan Bailey of Kato in LA says more square footage has actually helped operations A version of this post originally appeared on May 14, 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

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

77% of diners look at a restaurants website before going out to eat or ordering takeout or delivery. If you dont have a website, that means over three-quarters of the people near your restaurantyour potential customerswill never come in or place an order because they have no way to find you when theyre looking for a place to eat.

Social Media

ChowNow

MARCH 7, 2025

With a few key optimizations, your restaurant can rank higher on Google, get noticed by people searching for places to eat, and ultimately drive more foot traffic and online orders. Restaurants that rank higher in local search results get more foot traffic, online orders, and reservations.

SEO

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

There will *always *be something your staff can do to enhance a patron’s dining experience. Customers on average will order more menu items, resulting in a larger bill for the restaurant and a larger tip for the employee. However, productivity is more easily trained than managed.

Mobile Ordering

Restaurant Clicks

JULY 22, 2025

30 – Hog Heaven BBQ Source: Hog Heaven BBQ Hog Heaven BBQ in Laurel is a local go-to for classic Southern-style barbecue, served from a small spot on Ellisville Boulevard. Mississippi has a strong barbecue scene rooted in tradition and local pride. Many are family-run, and their methods have been passed down over time.

Back of House

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

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

EATER

MARCH 27, 2025

population that dined out at least once in the past month, hoping to better understand how Americans are approaching dining out in this new era. Here are some key takeaways: Each generation discovers and researches restaurants differently, with younger generations relying more on online review platforms and social media.

Social Media

ChowNow

JANUARY 30, 2025

Restaurant branding is not easy, but when done correctly, the reward is a packed dining room every night with a steady stream of to-go orders out the side door. Guest experience is the heart of your restaurants brandits how customers feel when they interact with your space, your team, and your online presence.

Email Marketing

ChowNow

JULY 11, 2025

You can’t control your online reputation if you’re not in the driver’s seat. Encourage guests to check in on Yelp or upload their own photos while they’re dining. A glowing five-star write-up can boost your average and bring in more customers, but one harsh comment from an unhappy customer can drag your score down and scare people off.

Customer Service

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 11, 2025

Adaptability became non-negotiable as takeout, delivery, and digital ordering shifted from secondary revenue streams to essential lifelines." Self-ordering kiosks, QR codes, mobile apps and loyalty reward cards have created more personalized experiences, which increase the likelihood customers will return.

Front of House

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. The good news is there are plenty of ways to engage in local marketing, both online and offline.

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

The Rail

JUNE 6, 2025

Changing the restaurant enhances the dining experience and demonstrates to the patrons that the company values them. 1 Simplify the Dining Area for Comfort and Style Updating the dining area produces a friendly environment that invites guests to remain longer and enjoy their food.

Social Media

ChowNow

MARCH 20, 2025

A single missteplike a delayed order or a system glitchcan throw off an entire shift. Whether theyre grabbing takeout, dining in, or ordering delivery, diners dont have patience for long waits or clunky systems. The easier it is for customers to place orders and receive their food, the smoother operations run. The result?

Operations

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 31, 2025

This reflects the positive impact loyalty programs have on driving revenue, with 83 percent of restaurant leaders saying their loyalty program successfully drives up order or basket size, as well as repeat visits (82 percent) and return on investment (78 percent). ” A Year of Challenges U.S. ” A Year of Challenges U.S.

Marketing

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

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

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 24, 2024

These trends are driven by Millennial and Gen Z consumers, who are more willing to pay a premium for sustainable products; those consumers also tend to be more online and acutely aware of the impact of business practices on the lives of people and the future of the planet. Green Restaurant and Slow Food were others we considered.

Certification

ChowNow

AUGUST 1, 2025

With 73% of the US population active on social media, it’s one of the easiest ways to reach new customers, show off your food, and drive more direct orders—especially among younger generations who discover new restaurants by scrolling their feeds, not searching Google Maps. Here’s what makes it so effective.

Social Media

ChowNow

MARCH 27, 2025

One way to offset costs and give you more breathing room for pricing is by encouraging guests to place orders through direct website ordering. A $16 sandwich might feel like a splurge at a deli, but totally reasonable at a trendy caf that sources local, organic ingredients and has a curated vibe. The special-occasion spot?

Pricing

ChowNow

MAY 16, 2025

A great dining experience starts long before someone walks through your door. If your site is clunky, hard to navigate, or missing basic features like a prominent online ordering button, your potential customer will bounce because diners have little to no tolerance for friction or confusion when theyre looking for food.

Mobile Ordering

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 30, 2025

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features delivery data, tariff troubles, summer dining trends, and Beer Serves America. Additional findings indicate that 44 percent favor a balance of human staff and some technology, while 41 percent prefer no AI use at all in their dining experience.

Fast Casual

Restaurant Clicks

JULY 28, 2025

30 – Cotton BBQ Source: Cotton BBQ Cotton BBQ in Bowling Green is known for its Texas-style barbecue cooked fresh daily over a wood-fired pit. 29 – LX BBQ Source: LX BBQ LX BBQ in Lexington is one of Kentucky’s newer barbecue spots, but it’s already building a strong local following.

Fast Casual

The Rail

MARCH 31, 2025

By Jose Chavez, Contributor Managing multiple locations is tough in the restaurant business. Communication is hard when multiple locations can get teams and office spaces out of sync. This uncertainty makes it hard to hit organizational goals, communicate consistently, and build a company culture across multiple locations.

Technology

Restaurant Clicks

JULY 18, 2025

30 – Blackburn’s BBQ Source: Blackburn’s BBQ Blackburn’s BBQ in Eagle Lake has become a local favorite since opening in 2017, first as a food truck before moving into a full restaurant. 28 – Smokin’ D’s BBQ Source: Smokin’ D’s BBQ Smokin’ D’s BBQ in St. Keep reading to see which BBQ places made the cut. #30

Back of House

ChowNow

APRIL 25, 2025

Why Restaurant Branding Matters More Than Ever Restaurants have more competition than ever, giving customers a near-endless number of dining options, and the restaurant they choose largely has to do with a restaurants brand, not just its great food. Ask yourself: Why does my restaurant exist beyond serving great food? What do we believe in?

Mobile Ordering

ChowNow

JANUARY 23, 2025

Are your regulars ordering the same drink and entree every time they come in? An easy way to collect customer emails is through your online ordering system. Does the energy feel flat, and the customers look bored. Seeing those glazed-over eyes is unsettling, and youre starting to think, Maybe its time to shake things up a bit.

Events

Restaurant Clicks

JULY 30, 2025

This list was created after looking at customer reviews, online rankings, and local recommendations. 30 – Big Ant’s BBQ Source: Big Ant’s BBQ Big Ant’s BBQ in Glassell Park, Los Angeles, has built a strong following since opening in 2019. Keep reading to find out who made the cut. #30

Outdoor

Squirrel Systems

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

No longer just a payment processing tool, your POS system can handle everything from order taking and payments to inventory tracking and customer data management. Enhancing Customer Loyalty with Data-Driven Personalization In todays competitive dining landscape, personalized service is key to building customer loyalty.

2025