If the kitchen is the brain of the restaurant,the dining roomis undoubtedly the heart.
The last few years, however, have been anything but traditional or typical.
The COVID-19 pandemic left the entire restaurant industry reeling, andrecent nationwide inflationhas complicated operational considerations and costs significantly.
Courtessy of Panera
In 2022, an astounding85% of all fast food orderswere to-go.
Meanwhile, Outback Steakhouse recently announced ambitious plans toopen anywhere between 75-100 new-look locationsin the years to come.
All in all, the new layout is as efficient as it is compact.
Panera Bread
Patrons sitting down to eat in Wendy’s dining rooms will also notice a big change.
Kiosks, Kiosks, Everywhere
Another hallmark of the new-look restaurant experience is the automated kiosk.
Ready or not, they’re already here.
Courtesy of Wingstop
Robot servers have been undergoing trial testing at a Chick-fil-A location in Atlanta.
It’s not just major chains like Chick-fil-A that are experimenting with automated dining room help.
Many smaller restaurants have opted to try robotic servers in the wake of labor shortages and rising costs.
Courtesy of Taco Bell
There’s also a notable cost benefit to these automated servers.
Employing a human server, on the hand, usually costs roughly $5,000-$6,000 per month.
Photo: Courtesy of Subway
Facebook/ Bear Robotics
