Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 17, 2024

With so many people leaving the industry, restaurants stepped up—raising wages, creating new opportunities, and doubling down on the employee experience. Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry experts for their views on what trends and challenges owners and operators can expect to see in 2025.

2025 419

2025 Loyalty Program Customer Experience Online Ordering 419

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 8, 2021

Last year completely upended how customers ate: Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) heavily relied on drive-thrus for business. Pre-pandemic, strategic investments in dine-in were justified as dine-in represented the largest contribution to revenues. Joe Erlinger, head of McDonald’s U.S.

Customer Experience 531

Customer Experience Customer Service Point of Sale Dine-in 531

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 9, 2024

It’s the perfect season for experimenting with new menu items that align with previous seasonal trends. Delve into previous POS data to see which dishes your customers were steering towards during the lead up to Christmas.

POS 418

POS Seasonal Menu Point of Sale Customer Experience 418

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

With the holiday season often comes a surge in dining out: shoppers are grabbing quick bites between stores, families are reconnecting over dinner at their favorite hometown restaurants, and people are seeking professionally-prepared meals for their various holiday gatherings.

Hiring 437

Hiring Recruiting Customer Experience Back of House 437

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 5, 2021

In March, businesses were forced to take a step back and look at their business model to ensure that they were addressing their customer’s health, hygiene and safety concerns. So, what can brands do to address the impacts of COVID-19, while being mindful of the past, present and future of customer experience?

Customer Experience 558

Customer Experience Customer Service Airlines Consumer Goods 558

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Today’s restaurants are expected to deliver an Amazon-like experience: know customers’ preferences and dining habits and deliver food, whether tableside or to their front doors, without delay. As such, it’s crucial for restaurants to find ways to increase efficiency and improve the dining experience.

Customer Experience 508

Customer Experience Operations Loyalty Program Front of House 508

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 31, 2024

“Through expansive experiences that inspire our guests paired with the ambiance of the space and the food on the plate, we’re setting new standards for the industry and creating truly spectacular moments for all who enter our restaurants and bars.” What can you expect to see on menus in 2025?

2025 450

2025 Beverage Fine Dining Guest Recovery 450

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 26, 2023

Modern payment solutions that provide the ultimate convenience and enable customers to order and pay how they prefer are on the rise this holiday season, empowering restaurants to deliver an improved experience without sacrificing the quality of service. remain eager to dine out. In the U.S.

Customer Experience 474

Customer Experience Mobile Ordering Loyalty Program Point of Sale 474

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

With 59 percent of customers hanging up after calling in and waiting for a minute or less, according to Linga, restaurants are missing out on a lot of business. The average restaurant operating a sit-down dining experience can miss 15-30 percent of incoming calls on average, with that number possibly being even higher during busy hours.

Reservations 448

Reservations Online Ordering Loyalty Program Book 448

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 26, 2024

The restaurant experience has quickly become a digital landscape. With cashless transactions and delivery services becoming the norm, diners are enjoying faster, more streamlined dining journeys. But this technology adoption has also introduced new cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

2025 558

2025 Point of Sale Food Supply 2024 558

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 2, 2025

Pizza restaurants are poised to continue their evolution this year and incremental changes, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence, operational efficiency and customer preferences, will create both challenges and opportunities for pizzeria owners. This not only frees up labor but also reduces order errors.

2025 251

2025 Online Ordering Franchising Franchise 251

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Just as a chef elevates a signature dish with bold, unique flavors that please the senses, the right glassware can enhance the presentation of drinks and food, creating a visually engaging experience for customers. High-end wine glasses that enhance the drinking experience are filling a market gap left post-COVID.

Fine Dining 405

Fine Dining Consumer Goods Seasonal Menu Presentation 405

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 13, 2024

However, although a private Wi-Fi network will remain an important connectivity solution for business operations, there is a clear case for the use of cellular as it relates to the customer experience. Security : Compared to cellular, public Wi-Fi can be insecure, which puts customer data at risk.

Marketing 449

Marketing Tip Distribution Mobile Ordering Customer Experience 449

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 9, 2025

First, consumers are demanding more convenience and customization, pushing brands to rethink their menus and service models. Customers expect seamless online ordering, loyalty programs, and delivery options, and franchise systems need to invest in tech to stay competitive. The key is using technology to work smarter, not harder.

Loyalty Program 251

Loyalty Program Franchising Franchise Fast Casual 251

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Tipsy is a real robotic bartender at the Miracle Mile Shops in Las Vegas, mixing drinks for customers as we speak. The Tech That’s Already Here Automation in restaurants isn’t just about robots bringing food to your table or mixing drinks; it’s about redefining the dining experience altogether.

Front of House 450

Front of House Food Order Seating Customer Experience 450

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 7, 2025

A customer in Miami should bite into the same perfectly seasoned burger that delights diners in Seattle. Reliable experiences build brand loyalty, and systemic processes lead to reliable profit margins. It’s no secret that restaurants with more than one location depend on standardization to thrive.

Loyalty Program 251

Loyalty Program Mobile Ordering Customer Experience Customer Service 251

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 22, 2025

That’s why this approach will help you avoid costly mistakes, save time making important decisions, and make for a less stressful renovation experience. pipes intersecting walls) or wrong equipment placements. 3D design technology allows operators to optimize their space for operational efficiency and customer comfort.

Design 221

Design Technology Fine Dining Fast Casual 221

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 10, 2025

Are people dining out more or less? The findings tell a story of shifting behaviors, digital transformation, and a new definition of value in dining. The findings tell a story of shifting behaviors, digital transformation, and a new definition of value in dining. What’s driving their choices? The reason?

Loyalty Program 251

Loyalty Program 2024 Customer Experience Consumer Goods 251

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 9, 2025

This focused, instant warmth provides comfort on demand, regardless if visitors are dining on a chilly patio or relaxing on an observation deck. This broad applicability and versatility ensures consistent warmth across different areas of the resort, such as patios and dining areas, observation or event decks, and cold-weather areas.

Outdoor 386

Outdoor Brewery Seating Small Business 386

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 27, 2021

These tools have become so commonplace that many have become an extension of the restaurant experience — so integrated into dining culture that employees and guests do not necessarily realize how tech-savvy they have become. This shift is breaking new ground for business owners and changing how employees experience their work.

Front of House 609

Front of House Back of House Loyalty Program Customer Experience 609

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 5, 2023

It can make customer experiences more consistent and predictable, minimize human error, and reduce operating costs. Furthermore, the value of bolstering customer service without having to hire additional staff makes this a cost-efficient, enticing option for restaurants of all shapes and sizes.

Dine-in 474

Dine-in Customer Service Customer Experience Inventory 474

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 21, 2025

Technology doesn’t just level the playing field; it allows mom-and-pop shops to improve efficiency, reduce wait times, and enhance the customer experience in ways that were once out of reach. The benefits expand beyond labor and into customer data and efficiency. Take a busy corner café, for instance. The result?

Technology 221

Technology Front of House Customer Service Back of House 221

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

However, with prices rising, customers are choosier about where they spend their money. This has led to a growing appeal for unique dining experiences and fast-casual concepts. While this shift isnt entirely new, it has gained momentum post-pandemic as consumers place greater value on the overall dining experience.

Fast Casual 221

Fast Casual Customer Experience Design Casual 221

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 3, 2025

To learn how these layouts can help maxmize efficiency while still providing optimal guest experience, Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine received insights from Aleksandra Kaplan, partner at Swan Dive Design Studio. Among her design tips: Form Must Follow Function, Go Big in Little Ways and Design to Grow.

Fast Casual 251

Fast Casual 2025 Design Customer Experience 251

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

Restaurants need all the help they can get today to entice guests, make them feel safe and comfortable, create a memorable experience and earn their repeat business. Now, more than ever, dining establishments need to delight customers at every touchpoint, gain real-time customer feedback and secure competitive insights.

Sustainability 568

Sustainability Guest Recovery Customer Experience SEO 568

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

After all, it’s not just the quality of your food that can keep customers coming back — 73% of diners base their satisfaction on the quality of service they receive. Your staff, especially your restaurant manager, plays a crucial role in the overall dining experience.

Leadership 195

Leadership Management Management Operations 195

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

” The COVID-19 pandemic—more than any contentious customer or kitchen catastrophe—is putting that skill to test. As the nation grapples with another wave of restaurant closings and reduced dining room capacity, establishments must quickly respond to the cry for innovation in the industry. No-Touch Menus.

Technology 600

Technology Guest Recovery Kitchen Safety Social Media 600

Culinary Cues

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

At times the choices may seem insignificant but where customers are concerned nothing is insignificant. At what point, under what circumstances will you choose to sacrifice your standards for time, cost, efficiency, or type of customer? I guarantee customers will be lined up around the block because you chose to be exceptional.

Fine Dining 234

Fine Dining Small Business Customer Experience Equipment 234

7 Shifts

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

There was a time when 70% of F&B employees didn’t receive training for customer service. Without the right training, even the best menu or ambiance can fall short due to poor service, leading to dissatisfied customers and lost revenue. A well-structured restaurant training program will let you turn this around.

Training 195

Training Kitchen Safety Customer Service Food Safety 195

ChowNow

MARCH 28, 2025

AI is no longer just a buzzword, its a reality that is reshaping how restaurants operate, interact with customers, and make decisions. AI is no longer just a buzzword, its a reality that is reshaping how restaurants operate, interact with customers, and make decisions. The short answer? More than you think.

Front of House 195

Front of House Back of House Online Ordering Email Marketing 195

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Restaurants are no longer just about the food – they are about the complete dining experience, which includes ambiance, service speed, and personalized interaction. These technologies promise to streamline processes, improve customer service, and provide a competitive edge in an increasingly digital world.

Operations 472

Operations Front of House Customer Service Customer Experience 472

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 16, 2022

Contactless payments started as a safety precaution for many quick-service restaurants (QSRs) – allowing them to offer a curbside service that kept patrons out of the dining room. It’s a good way for restaurant owners to boost sales without raising prices, increasing capacity, or buying more equipment.

Customer Service 563

Customer Service Customer Experience Consumer Goods Food Safety 563

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 26, 2021

The state of dining has transformed over the last year and a half and continues to rapidly evolve. Customer comfort levels with on-premise dining varies and proper hygiene continues to be at the forefront of diners’ minds. In the U.S., the pandemic only accelerated the growing trend toward takeout and delivery.

Guest Recovery 508

Guest Recovery Mobile Ordering Kitchen Safety Consumer Goods 508

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 12, 2021

Imagine you operate a multi-site restaurant organization known for its elegant holiday dining and delicious catering. You’re approaching your busiest season, and more of your customers are planning gatherings and returning to their pre-pandemic spending levels. Maintaining Equipment. freezers, food warmers, fryers, etc.).

Equipment 493

Equipment Kitchen Safety Food Supply Food Safety 493

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 22, 2024

From improving your Google listing to leveraging customer reviews, these tips will show you how to boost your visibility and drive more traffic to your restaurant. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you could be losing out on potential customers.

Book 195

Book Marketing Email Marketing Social Media 195

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

We’re seeing younger buyers investing in dining experiences that blend food, convenience, and atmosphere with their values as shoppers. At the same time, QSRs and fast casual establishments are turning to technology to improve operations and customer interactions as they continue to increase output.

2025 450

2025 Fast Casual Food Customer Experience 450

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 27, 2023

However, persistent labor shortages are pushing restaurants to explore automation and artificial intelligence to streamline operations – from kitchen management to customer service – to alleviate staffing pressures while also enhancing efficiency.

2024 506

2024 Food Supply Kitchen Safety Influencer 506