2024

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Restaurant Trends to Look For in 2025

Modern Restaurant Management

History will show that COVID was the line of demarcation for the hospitality industry in the 21st century. In almost every conversation I have with other industry professionals, someone will say “before COVID… ” or “since COVID… ” As a matter of fact, in many of my articles I make the same comparison. Since COVID, technology in the restaurant industry has moved at lightning speed.

2025 189
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Restaurant Math Isn’t Working

EATER

Lille Allen Six chefs and restaurant owners from across the country explain why restaurants feel so expensive right now, and how they’re coping with high prices and customer complaints Dining out involves calculating the intangible: What is hospitality worth to you? On the one hand, you get the possibility of technique and flavor you cannot, or don’t want to, create yourself, plated and served with attention.

Pricing 145
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Trending Sources

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Tupperware, no longer a kitchen staple, files for bankruptcy

The Salt

Tupperware's reliance on people selling its storage containers at home-and-garden parties or through social media was once its strength. Now it's a weakness, the company says in its bankruptcy filing.

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Shake Shack reinvents the labor deployment model

Restaurant Business

The burger chain joins a growing number of fast-casual chains using AI-driven technology to better manage staffing.

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Reduce Bias in Hiring: Structured Interview Questions for Employers

Structured interview questions are a valuable tool for reducing bias in hiring. They help: Ensure all candidates are asked the same questions in the same way Level the playing field so all candidates have a fair chance of being successful Improve credibility, reliability, and validity Download the guide to get the most out of your interview questions!

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Revealing Data: Minimum Wage, Closures, and Macroeconomic Trends

Modern Restaurant Management

Restaurant industry eyes have been fixed on the impact of the minimum wage law for fast-food workers in California. Data is bringing a fuller story more into focus. While QSRs did see a spike in closures after the law was signed – 71 percent in California compared to 25 percent nationally – that has leveled off where closures are at the same pace as nationally/comparable states and more related to economic factors than the law, according to “ Assessing the Impact of California&

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Please Put Your Light Away at the Restaurant

EATER

Alex Staniloff/Eater NY No one asked to be part of your content The conversation was easy and lively, the way it always is when the four of us are together. We sat in the bustle of a packed brunch at Pastis , sipping our masala chai at the Dishoom pop-up , the restaurant moving with the grace and bang of a Broadway number. We weren’t just eating, we were part of an organism of service and communion.

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The Inherent Queerness of Cheese

EATER

Bug Robbins Cheesemaking requires a willingness to take risks and trust the process — just like navigating queer existence When I was little, I loved to group things. Categorizing helped me make sense of the world — I would feel exhilarated by the vastness of what was out there, and relieved the moment I could figure out where it all belonged. An errand run to the specialty food store was a thrill ride.

Document 133
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How to Cook a Squirrel

EATER

World Champion Squirrel Cooker hopeful Addie Hayes preps her dishes on a Coleman stove. Professional chefs and amateur cooks compete for Arkansas pride in the annual World Champion Squirrel Cook Off As the kitchen manager at the Odd Soul , a pizzeria and bar in Springdale, Arkansas, Addie Hayes is used to spending Saturday mornings in front of a stove.

Events 132
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Chefs Love Wonder, the Latest App Trying to Disrupt Delivery. Will Diners Follow Suit?

EATER

Tomekah George Wonder’s big idea for food delivery is to own every aspect of the process, from recipe development to the moment it ends up at your door A few weeks ago, chef JJ Johnson launched a new restaurant concept in downtown Brooklyn. It’s called Bankside, with a menu that includes peel-and-eat shrimp, clam chowder, crispy cod sandwiches, and a lobster roll.

Delivery 134
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What Women Want: A Place to Watch the Game

EATER

A Bar of Their Own opened in Minneapolis March 1. Sports bars that center women’s sports are opening across the country — and doing big business “I was sick of always feeling like an afterthought in fandom when it came to public spaces to view sports,” says Jillian Hiscock, the owner of A Bar of Their Own, a sports bar focused on women’s sports which opened in Minneapolis March 1.

Sports 140
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Food & Beverage Industry Report 2024

Driven by a diverse and exciting ecosystem of passionate, ambitious, and often young entrepreneurs, the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector is a highly competitive environment full of immense challenges and exciting opportunities. Expert Market’s 2024 industry report, sponsored by Toast, is informed by a survey of 522 U.S. food and beverage professionals, from restaurant owners to food service managers, providing insights into the real-time challenges and opportunities within the industry.

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The South Korean Coffee Culture Wave Hits LA

EATER

Los Angeles’s Seoul-style cafe operators embrace the essence of South Korean coffee culture, where, often, nothing is off limits — or left off social media

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Could Surge Pricing Actually Make Fast Food Better?

EATER

Getty Images Probably not, but Wendy’s thinks so Have you ever been eating a cheeseburger and fries, procured from a drive-thru, and wondered “Wow, I wish I could pay even more for this incredibly mediocre lunch?” If so, you’re in luck! Fast food chain Wendy’s has announced plans to test “dynamic pricing” at its locations across the country, beginning in 2025.

Pricing 136
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How ‘This Must Be the Place’ Became the Ultimate Restaurant Song

EATER

Does David Byrne know that the Talking Heads’ “This Must Be the Place” has made it onto countless restaurant playlists? | Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images One song about food and a building It happened again. I was hanging out in a chic pizza place run by a well-known chef, and I heard the same bouncing bassline and whistling synths that have lived in my heart ever since my dad showed me Stop Making Sense when I was 14.

2016 118
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Momofuku Says It Will No Longer Enforce ‘Chile Crunch’ Trademark

EATER

David Chang during an appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” | Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images After drawing backlash, Dave Chang released a special podcast episode to explain his side of the chile crunch trademark controversy Last week, chef Dave Chang drew ire across the food community after the Guardian reported that Momofuku, the packaged goods brand that Chang spun out of his popular restaurants, had begun to enforce its trademark on the term “chile crunch” and was sending cea

2008 145
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Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide

Managing HR tasks like payroll, compliance, and employee data can overwhelm small businesses. That’s where a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution comes in. Our eBook, Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide , shows how an HCM system automates tedious processes, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient. You’ll learn how to simplify payroll, eliminate costly errors, and empower your employees with self-service tools.

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Momofuku Says It Will No Longer Enforce ‘Chile Crunch’ Trademark

EATER

David Chang during an appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” | Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images After drawing backlash, Dave Chang released a special podcast episode to explain his side of the chile crunch trademark controversy Last week, chef Dave Chang drew ire across the food community after the Guardian reported that Momofuku, the packaged goods brand that Chang spun out of his popular restaurants, had begun to enforce its trademark on the term “chile crunch” and was sending cea

2008 145
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How did the cost of food delivery get so high?

EATER

Food delivery apps have recently added new fees in response to minimum pay rules in New York City and Seattle. | Getty Images/iStockphoto As delivery discourse rages, don’t forget the middlemen: apps like UberEats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. No one is happy about the delivery apps. Not the customers, who feel gouged by an avalanche of fees. Not restaurants, who feel gut-punched by the commission apps take from them.

Delivery 145
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The Complicated Legacy of ‘Super Size Me’

EATER

Morgan Spurlock | FilmMagic, Inc The fuzzy line between the man Morgan Spurlock and his work results in a thorny legacy for the late, disgraced documentarian’s most influential film, Super Size Me , which turned 20 this year There’s an awkward scene toward the beginning of Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! — the unheralded sequel to the Oscar-nominated Super Size Me documentary — where Morgan Spurlock calls to inquire about procuring a bank loan to buy his own chicken farm.

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The Godparents of the Filipino Food Movement Say Goodbye

EATER

Amy Besa surveils the Purple Yam dining room on the Wednesday evening of its final week of service. Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan are closing their beloved Filipino restaurant Purple Yam, which helped shape the modern Filipino food scene On August 30, Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan will — for the last time — serve food at Purple Yam , the Filipino restaurant in Brooklyn that they opened in 2009.

Food 132
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Maximize Restaurant Profitability: 5 Key Strategies to Control Costs Effectively

Running a profitable restaurant requires more than great food and service. Our guide breaks down five actionable strategies to help you control costs and maximize profitability. Learn how to track and reduce food waste, optimize labor costs with smart scheduling, make data-driven decisions with regular P&L reviews, and manage fixed and variable costs efficiently.

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Should Momofuku Own the Term ‘Chili Crunch’?

EATER

Jars of Homiah and Momofuku chili crunches alongside other popular chile crisp brands. | Louiie Victa How the company acquired the “chile crunch” trademark to begin with — and why it’s sending cease-and-desist letters to small businesses using both spellings of the phrase Chile crisp — an infused chile oil condiment layered with crispy fried ingredients, with roots in Asian cuisines — is beloved across cultures, inspiring dozens of entrepreneurs to launch their own brands and at least one standa

2023 139
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MOD Pizza acquired by Elite Restaurant Group

Restaurant Business

In a deal that aims to avoid bankruptcy, the Bellevue, Washington-based fast-casual pizza chain has agreed to sell 100% of its equity to a Southern California-based group that has owned brands like Slater's 50/50, Project Pie and Patxi's Pizza.

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Report: Red Lobster is preparing for bankruptcy filing

Restaurant Business

The struggling seafood chain is hoping Chapter 11 protection will help it restructure its debt while keeping its restaurants operating, according to Bloomberg.

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Is It Okay to Ask Your Dinner Party Guests to Venmo You?

EATER

Illustration by Michael Hoeweler ; Collage by Lille Allen Cash app notifications have a way of testing the definition of hospitality Welcome to Rules of Consumption, a column where Eater staff writer Amy McCarthy answers any and all questions you have regarding dining etiquette. Have a conundrum? Email advice@eater.com for answers. Dear Amy, Last week, I drove to a friend’s apartment for a dinner party with a bunch of our mutual college buddies.

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Best Practices to Streamline Compensation Management: A Foundation for Growth

Speaker: Joe Sharpe and James Carlson

Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.

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Why Does ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Still Celebrate Toxic Chef Culture?

EATER

FOX Image Collection via Getty I After 22 seasons, Gordon Ramsay’s show remains a safe space for unhinged workplace aggression There’s a point in most Hell’s Kitchen episodes where Gordon Ramsay stops dinner service. There’s a problem: The beef Wellington is raw. Or the scallops are raw. Or the salmon is raw. It upsets Ramsay so much that he’s forced to chuck the beef against a wall or punch the salmon, the full force of his fist making raw fish shards fly everywhere.

2005 140
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‘The Bear’ Wants to Confront Toxic Restaurant Culture, But It Can’t Decide Who’s to Blame

EATER

Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) stands in a sterile kitchen as he glares menacingly in a moment depicting his role as both a recipient of workplace trauma and a chef bound to cause collateral damage. | Chuck Hodes/FX Initially celebrated for delving into the complex traumas of kitchen labor, the show — now in its third season — is bogged down by star-chef cameos that call its sincerity into question This post contains spoilers for Season 3 of The Bear.

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Massive port strike is expected to severely disrupt supply chains

Restaurant Business

The work action by 45,000 longshoremen is shutting down 36 of the nation's largest gateways for imports. Economists project a cost to the economy of $5 billion a day.

Supplies 126
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The New Season of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ Hits Netflix Next Week

EATER

A new cast of bakers joins the tent. | Netflix Right when we need a new cozy watch Just in time for what promises to be a stressful few months of American political news, a new season of reigning comfort-watch The Great British Bake Off will hit Netflix later this month. The first episode of what it’s calling “Collection 12” will air on Friday, September 27, according to a press release from the streaming service.

Design 124
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Pricing for Profit: How to Set, Negotiate, and Succeed

Speaker: Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader

In today’s competitive market, pricing is more than just a number — it’s the cornerstone of profitability. The right pricing strategy ensures that you capture the true value of your offering, paving the way for sustainable growth and long-term success. Join Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader, in this exclusive session where he will explore how a well-crafted pricing approach balances customer perception with business objectives, creating a powerful tool for securing both competitive advantage a

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So Now I’m Supposed to Eat Silica?

EATER

I was given clear instructions. | Shutterstock A new Erewhon smoothie includes liquid silica. I thought we were famously not supposed to eat that. If there’s one thing I know about silica, the common compound found in nature as quartz, it’s that you’re not supposed to eat it. I thought we were pretty clear on this, having been repeatedly reminded DO NOT EAT on every packet of silica gel that falls out of a package.

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Tender Greens parent One Table Restaurant Brands files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Restaurant Business

The operator of Tender Greens and Tocaya is seeking a buyer, but there are no plans to close any of the 39 restaurants between the two fast-casual brands. It is one of a number of recent restaurant bankruptcies.

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Taco Bell’s New Giant Cheez-It Is the Stuff of Fast Food Fever Dreams 

EATER

It’s weird, but it works. | Taco Bell The chain’s latest menu gimmicks are improbably good After a decade or so of writing about food, I am relatively immune to a fast-food gimmick. I no longer trust that a chain’s decision to make a sandwich that uses fried chicken instead of buns, a la the KFC Double Down , is actually going to be good. The key exception to this rule is Taco Bell, a chain that always seems to stick the landing when it comes to an absurd culinary mash-up.

2012 132
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MOD Pizza shuttered 26 restaurants during the first quarter

Restaurant Business

Five units were in California but the fast-food wage there was not to blame, the fast casual said. The closed restaurants in 10 states and the District of Columbia were "underperformers.

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3 Steps to Successful & Strategic Year-End HR Planning

Year-end can be a hectic time for HR professionals, but with proper planning and organization, you can navigate it smoothly. Learn the main watch outs for year-end HR prep with Paycor’s helpful checklist covering employee data, wage and tax information, and special situations. Ensure compliance and efficiency by downloading today!