Tabletop/Front Of House News

In a competitive labor market, restaurants that respond quickly to applicants can gain an edge in securing top hourly talent before it disappears. For years, restaurant hiring has been treated like a numbers game. Post a job, collect applications, review resumes, schedule interviews, and hope the best candidate is still available when you’re ready to…

In Canada, full-service restaurants now represent a significant share of the hospitality landscape. In May 2025 alone, full-service restaurant sales reached $8.5 billion, reinforcing that guests are still seeking out refined, sit-down dining experiences, according to Statistics Canada, However, this opportunity for growth also means competition. Operators aim to create value by enhancing the overall…

If you remember the smell of pan pizza baking under a Tiffany-style lamp, the squeak of a vinyl booth against the back of your knees and the ding of a Book It button pin, Pizza Hut is quietly rebuilding your childhood. Even as the restaurant prepares to shutter roughly 250 U.S. locations in 2026, a…

Today, restaurant tabletop is about more than simply serving a meal. Dinnerware, glassware, and serving pieces are becoming an important part of the dining experience, helping restaurants showcase their personality and complement the look and feel of their space. From natural textures and earthy finishes to oversized bowls and mixed glassware, today’s tabletop trends are…

Top Restaurant Design Trends of 2026 Operating a successful restaurant in 2026 requires more than attentive service and quality food; current restaurant design trends focus on efficient, memorable, and adaptable spaces. Modern operations also rely on innovative technology to enhance efficiency and customer experience. Key Takeaways Developing technologies, operational needs, and shifting consumer preferences drive…

For years, tabletop was often viewed as one of the final details in a restaurant or foodservice opening. Operators selected plates, glassware and flatware because they needed them to execute the menu. Today, that thinking has changed dramatically. In a marketplace shaped by rising costs, changing dining habits, labor pressure, lower alcohol consumption and increased…

New brand president Tony Read believes better team member experiences lead to better guest experiences. When Artistry Restaurants acquired Hickory Tavern in early 2025, it wasn’t buying a turnaround project as much as it was inheriting a Carolina institution. For nearly three decades, the 20-unit chain has occupied a unique place in North and South…

Restaurant operators have measured nearly every aspect of the customer journey. They track mobile app downloads, online ordering patterns, loyalty participation, email engagement, coupon redemption rates, customer sentiment, and social media interactions. Every digital touchpoint has become measurable, optimized, and increasingly personalized. Yet one important part of the guest experience inside the physical restaurant itself…

Restaurant real estate is often described through one broad theme: smaller boxes, more off-premise capacity and fewer dining-room seats. Planned 2026 restaurant openings show a more varied market. Compact fast-casual and quick-service locations are expanding alongside casual/family and upscale restaurants built around substantially larger dining rooms. Planned 2026 location records do not point to one…

With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigating a multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak, restaurant operators and guests are questioning how to stay safe while dining out. Outbreaks are affecting restaurants across the country, according to data from Placer.ai. Given that the outbreaks are linked to contaminated lettuce and other greens, chains associated with lettuce-heavy menus…