rd+d - casual dining

Sizzler Looks to the Future

Inside Sizzler's rebrand and how the 65-year-old casual-dining brand reintroduced itself to customers.

Dog Haus Inks Multi-Unit Deal to Enter Alabama

Dog Haus plans to open three Dog Haus Biergarten restaurants in Alabama.

Seattle-Based Dué Cucina Heads to Texas

Dué Cucina, a casual gourmet Italian restaurant chain with locations in Seattle, is set to begin national expansion thanks to a new partnership agreement with Mac Haik Restaurant Group.

Jon Taffer Shares his Vision for the Restaurant of the Future

Founder of Taffer’s Tavern, Executive Producer & Host of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer discusses his vision for the casual-dining restaurant of the future, how his concept marries old-school hospitality with modern technologies, and his optimism for the 2020s.

Famous Toastery Recovers from Pandemic Pains, Relaunches Franchise Efforts

After a spate of closings and a franchisee bankruptcy, Famous Toastery sustained its scratch-kitchen model and went on to open three new locations in 2020 as well as its first ghost kitchen.

On The Border Spurs Franchise Growth with Two Deals

Mexican casual-dining chain On The Border signed an area development agreement that will add locations in Anchorage, Alaska, and McAllen, Texas.

On The Border Opens Throwback Prototype

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina travels all the way back to the 1980s with its new prototype in Alpharetta, Ga., that pays tribute to the chain’s very first design.

Dog Haus to Debut New Prototype at First Wyoming Location

Dog Haus, a casual concept known for its gourmet hot dogs and craft beer, will debut a new prototype with its first Wyoming location in early 2020.

Bennigan’s Finds Success with Small Market Strategy

Bennigan’s struggles have been no secret. A top casual-dining space back in the day, the brand filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in 2008. All corporate units were closed and just a few franchised units kept the iconic brand alive.

Quaker Steak & Lube Inks Deal to Move into Philly Market

The Bensalem Quaker Steak & Lube will be a 10,000 square foot, standalone full-service restaurant featuring a broad food menu, ample beer, wine and cocktail choices and a wide variety of entertainment and events. The restaurant has a targeted opening date of late 2019.

One Secret to Success: Moving Into Second-Generation Restaurant Spaces

Angry Crab Shack opened its first location in 2013 and now has 10 restaurants, all in second-generation restaurant spaces. And that’s the key to this brand’s growth. In fact, the company expects to open five more stores in the next year and has a five-year plan to open 100 stores by 2023, all in the Southwest, Midwest, and Southeast.

IHOP to Open in Pakistan

Dine Brands Global Inc. plans to bring 19 IHOP restaurants to Pakistan over the next nine years in partnership with Pakistan-based Gerry’s Group.

Walk-On’s Plans North Carolina Push

Full-service sports-focused chain Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar plans to move into North Carolina with more than 15 new units during the next 5 years. The growing chain already has deals inked for Fayetteville, Wilmington and Ft. Bragg.

Mission + Market Offers High-End Comfort

Located on the ground floor of a skyscraper in Atlanta, Mission + Market is an upscale operation with an extremely polished casual design that attracts everyone from power lunch goers to nearby residents.

The restaurant is owned by partners Chef Ian Winslade, Jonathan Akly and Tony Akly of Restaurants Consulting Group (RCG), the design/build firm behind the restaurant.

The State of Casual Dining

Reach in to a grab bag of casual-dining brands these days and what you pull out might just surprise you. Yes, many in the segment continue to struggle and suffer consequences of over-supply, under-differentiation and chronic inertia. And all share the pain of higher costs — labor, real estate and food — compared to their fast-casual and QSR competitors. But the odds of pulling a shiny apple

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The Outfitter: Trends in Casual-Dining Design

Selecting a cost-effective, on-trend mix of materials, finishes and furnishings for the casual-dining segment requires keeping a few key considerations in mind. Designers need to not only understand the particular brand and concept, of course, but also the rapidly changing dynamics within the segment and their implications for outfitting front-of-house spaces.

GrillSmith's New Design Appeals to a Younger Crowd

Tampa, Fla.-based GrillSmith started out in 2004 as a family-focused casual dining chain. Earlier this year the concept rolled out a new design that represents a shift in strategy.

Casual-Dining Study Notes Upswing

Casual dining is on the upswing, according to market researcher Datassential’s 2018 SNAP! Keynote Report: Casual Dining.

Applebee’s Franchisee Legacy Apple Expands Portfolio

Legacy Apple LLC expanded its franchisee portfolio through the acquisition of eight Applebee’s restaurants in the middle Tennessee area.

Bennigan’s Invest in Co-Owner’s Hometown

Bennigan’s is in the midst of an effort to bring the brand back from the brink with its latest location in Mandan, N.D., Co-Owner Gwen Mangiamele’s hometown.

Twin Peaks Expands in Ohio

Dallas-based casual-dining chain Twin Peaks signed a franchise deal with JEB Food Group, LLC to bring seven new locations to Ohio, in the cities of Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton.

Black Bear Diner to Open 12 New Units

Family-dining concept Black Bear Diner plans to open 12 new units across California, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Earlier this year, the chain made its debut in Oklahoma and Texas.

The Melting Pot Announces First Reimage

Polished-casual chain The Melting Pot unveiled its first brand reimage in the chain’s 43-year history.

Italian Casual Dining Chain Opens First Glasgow Location

Global Italian casual dining chain Vapiano opened its first location in Glasgow, Scotland in the newly refurbished George Hotel building on the city’s “Style Mile.”

Walk-On’s Opening 11 New Locations Across 3 States

Baton Rouge, La.-based Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar announced plans to bring 11 new locations to three states starting in the fall of 2018.

East Coast Wings + Grill Credits Brand Refresh with Growth

Casual dining chain East Coast Wings + Grill closed out the first half of 2017 with same-store sales up 18.5 percent (through June 30) and guest counts up 13 percent. The company attributed the growth to its comprehensive brand reinvention and its new marketing strategy.

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casual dining