Tabletop/Front Of House News

Most of you reading this know how tough the hospitality business is, particularly over the past few years with economic pressures, labor issues, and shifting customer expectations. Many probably wonder at times if it’s worth it, so how can operators reignite their spark and rediscover their clarity, confidence, and purpose? Based on her 30 years…

Think of Parisian cafés, garden restaurants, rooftop bars and even beachside eateries. They all have one thing in common: their indoor-outdoor dining experience sets them apart from the rest and meet guest needs. Sixty-nine percent of adults like having the option to sit outside, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2023 State of the Restaurant…

Restaurants are known to be physically and emotionally taxing environments with staff under constant pressure to produce. This atmosphere is one of the reasons staffing is reported to be a continual struggle for operators. Dan Simons, co-owner of Farmers Restaurant Group, implemented policy-level mental health support, including free online therapy for all employees and their…

If you’re in the marketing world and know what SEO is, you may have heard of digital PR. Digital PR has picked up in popularity over time, especially with the introduction of AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini. This is because search engines have gotten much smarter about how they analyze backlinks and brand…

In quick-service restaurants, time is everything, especially when it comes to training new employees in high-turnover, leanly staffed environments. The old industry saying goes: “If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean.” But today, more brands are giving that motto a modern twist: “If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time…

In 2026, restaurants may be backed into a financial corner. Turbulent trade policies could raise food costs when many diners are already tightening their discretionary spending, forcing operators to get creative to keep sales healthy. “Restaurants are set for a humbling year,” BTIG analyst Peter Saleh wrote in the analyst firm’s December 2025 forecast for…

The challenge facing the Shakey’s Pizza Parlor team was to refresh their look while staying true to the brand’s roots. “The redesign reflects our effort to recapture the classic ‘parlor’ atmosphere that defines Shakey’s,” said John Tilley, Creative Visionary and head of Jacmar Companies, owner of Shakey’s USA. “It is a one-of-a-kind brand for which…

What will dining look like in 2026? For some, it’s stepping into an immersive atmosphere that feels like a world of its own. For others, it’s picking up takeout from their favorite restaurant in record time––a habit that has become the norm, with 46 percent of U.S. consumers preferring to ordering online, according to DoorDash’s…