...and the list goes on. We've also created an acronym for the type of restaurant sector most concepts compete in. No longer are you just a restaurant, you're a phrase within the "Restaurant Mother Ship". I figured it would be prudent to showcase the different industry profiles by denoting them through fashionable pictorials.
Let's begin.
Fast Food
Inexpensive food that can be quickly served and easily prepared by questionable workers sums up this demographic. These foods are often processed and void of nutrient value. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a packaged form for take-out/take-away. It's often based on efficiency and void of self esteem. (as seen above).
Popular Concepts in this category are McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Bojangles and KFC.
Quick Casual
These are various types of restaurants. It's the new darling of the food service industry. Restaurants fall into several industry classifications based upon menu style, preparation methods and pricing. Additionally, how the food is served to the customer helps to determine the classification. Most Quick Casual restaurants do not offer table service, but may offer non-disposable plates and cutlery and scream hello when you walk in the door. The quality of food and prices tend to be higher than those of a conventional fast food restaurant but may be lower than casual dining. Confused? So am I. Also: See Fast Casual, it's playful cousin.
Popular concepts in this category are Chipotle, Five Guy's, Moe's, Corner Bakery and Cosi's.
Casual Dining
A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere with a shit ton of crap nailed into the walls and Wang Chung playing in the background. They're also known for innovative birthday songs that will make everyone inappropriately uncomfortable. Except for buffet-style restaurants (sorry Golden Corral), casual dining restaurants typically provide table service with server staff wearing an abnormal amount of pins and flare showing their dedication to the brand. Casual dining comprises a market segment between fast food establishments and formal dining restaurants. Casual dining restaurants usually have a full bar with separate bar staff, a larger beer menu with cold 20 oz mugs and a limited shitty wine menu. They are frequently, but not necessarily, part of a wider chain, particularly in the United States.
Popular concepts in this category are Applebee's, Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday's, TGI Friday's and Chili's.
Popular concepts in this category are Applebee's, Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday's, TGI Friday's and Chili's.
Formal Dining
Formal dining concepts are full service restaurants with specific dedicated meal courses. Decor of such restaurants feature higher quality materials with an eye towards the "atmosphere" desired by the restaurateur. Stay Classy San Diego. The wait staff is usually highly trained and often wears more formal attire, often jet black to show how chic they are. Fine-dining restaurants are almost always small businesses and are generally either single-location operations or have just a few locations. Food portions are visually appealing. Fine dining restaurants have certain rules of dining which visitors are generally expected to follow. It's a place you can go to Hob Knob with the local Highbrow and pay an unrealistic price for your favorite wine.
