Are off-premise channels a silver bullet for the casual dining segment?

Restaurants have experienced declining sales for the past decade, but delivery, catering and carryout are yielding positive results for major chains.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 5, 2018

Upstart SeatNinja raises capital to compete with fellow disruptors

The company, which counts Buffalo Wild Wings and Outback Steakhouse as clients, hopes $600,000 will help it take a slice of the growing reservation marketplace.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 5, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Independent restaurants

Dining room refreshes, menu innovation and other unique offerings can help independents stand out from competitors, win new customers and keep existing ones coming back. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

Yelp launches Nowait kiosks to trim restaurant wait times

The kiosks allow diners to add themselves to a restaurant’s queue on arrival and receive status updates through their phones. 

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 2, 2018

Uber Eats' new platform frees work lunches from expense reports

With Eats for Business, employees can pay for delivery on company credit cards and employers can control when and where workers can order food.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 2, 2018

McDonald's focuses on poultry with made-to-order meals

The addition of two new customizable products at more than 160 Washington restaurants comes as the chain looks to become a go-to chicken destination. 

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 2, 2018

Panera to reach $2B in digital sales by end of year

In 2012, Panera founder and then-CEO Ron Shaich hatched a plan to transform his humble sandwich chain for the future, and it's paying off two years ahead of schedule. 

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 1, 2018

McDonald's employees to shadow influencers in their favorite industries

The chain's mentorship track lets workers learn from people like Empire actor Bryshere Gray, YouTube star Tyler Oakley and dermatologist Meena Singh.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 1, 2018

Pret A Manger to shell out nearly $1M to underpaid New York workers

After settling a similar case in 2014 and amid two simultaneous labeling lawsuits, the U.K. sandwich chain will pay the hefty fine for alleged overtime and hourly wage violations.

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 31, 2018

Shake Shack pilots online ordering at 10 locations

While chains like Wendy's and McDonald's unveil third-party delivery partnerships, the burger joint seems to be staking its digital sales goals on perfecting the system before expanding.

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 30, 2018

After public stumbles, Chipotle changes tactics to address food safety

The burrito chain's varied reactions to its string of foodborne outbreaks can serve as lessons to other restaurants in how to respond when disaster — and bacteria — strikes.

By Jacqueline Renfrow • Oct. 29, 2018

Chipotle's digital sales, higher menu prices boost performance

The chain's digital sales jumped nearly 50% following a $135 million investment that helped speed up mobile and online orders, close struggling stores and launch its "For Real" marketing campaign.

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 26, 2018

Cava offers employees paid leave to cast a ballot

Workers will get two hours to vote on Nov. 6 — the latest benefit tossed into the ring as chains like Starbucks and Noodles & Company fight to retain talent.

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 26, 2018

GrubHub's COO quits while company lowers profit forecast

Despite a strong increase in users and a record Q3, the food delivery business faces surging competition from Postmates and Uber Eats.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 25, 2018

Burger King preps for tech-filled future to boost slow sales

The chain plans to revamp amenities, including double drive-thrus and kiosks, but needs to stand out from rivals like McDonald's with similar initiatives.

By Kristine Sherred and Robert Williams • Oct. 25, 2018

How Chick-fil-A is perfecting its recipe for service and support

Technology is as crucial as those two pickles on every chicken sandwich. 

By Samantha Schwartz • Oct. 23, 2018

Lessons from Taylor Gourmet: How to go national without going under

The hoagie chain's sudden closure in September is the latest example of how expensive real estate, stiff competition and a too-fast expansion rate can take down a restaurant. 

By Jacqueline Renfrow • Oct. 22, 2018

Noon Mediterranean finds a buyer in Daphne's parent company

Elite Restaurant Group will convert the remaining 12 Noon stores to Daphne's, a Greek fast casual chain it acquired in April, creating a 36-restaurant network to compete in the crowded Mediterranean space.

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 22, 2018

Amazon teams with SevenRooms to build restaurant-specific Alexa skills

The seating and guest management upstart hopes to use the voice-powered technology to streamline operations and gather diner data to help personalize experiences. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 22, 2018

Time Out to open 5 food halls

The British media company enters a crowded scene in the U.S. after trialing the concept in Portugal for four years. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 19, 2018

Jimmy John's to test mobile, tap-and-go payments

The sandwich chain is piloting the technology in Champaign, Illinois, which will integrate its POS system with online transactions to offer quick in-store service and delivery. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 18, 2018

Majority of diners will pay more for sustainable packaging

Forty-five percent of Americans consider sustainability when choosing a fast food outlet, but only 31% said those businesses clearly label items with proper disposal instructions, according to a study.

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 16, 2018

Robot restaurants are happening, but is it a gimmick?

Fast casual of the future won't eliminate the assembly line entirely: it might just be run by robots. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 16, 2018

Pilotworks shuts down overnight

With no warning or explanation, the much-celebrated commercial kitchen and distributer closed its doors, leaving 175 restaurant startups in the lurch. 

By Jessi Devenyns • Oct. 16, 2018

Pizza Hut taps new international chief

The Yum Brands company will promote Vipul Chawla, currently managing director of the pizza chain's Asia-Pacific region, to the role as it lags behind Domino's and looks for growth in Latin America. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 15, 2018

McDonald's franchisees may form a private association

Frustrated by stagnant sales and tight cash flows, operators met on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, to discuss forming an independent organization — which could mean a rocky road ahead for the chain. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 11, 2018