New research finds higher pay positively impacts customer service

Cornell researchers compared restaurant reviews where minimum wage rose versus where it was stagnant and found an improvement in the perceived quality of service with higher wages.

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 1, 2021

How McDonald's boosts mobile growth with Famous Orders platform

The burger chain's celebrity tie-ups are a key part of driving app downloads and expanding membership in its new mobile-based loyalty program.

By Robert Williams • Sept. 1, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Restaurant Dive

Check out a selection of articles about some of the biggest trends — from the rise of dessert concepts to a cohort of Mexican chains trying to overtake Chipotle  — shaping the restaurant industry in 2024.

By Restaurant Dive staff

Study: QSR diners prefer engaging with staff over technology

Only 18% of consumers think that deploying labor-saving technology is one of the top three things restaurants can do to improve service, Big Red Rooster research finds. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 31, 2021

Emotional loyalty: Evolving restaurants' approach to brand love

Brands that are connection-focused win the day over those that are reliant on discounts as shortcuts to boost short-term metrics, writes Ellen Green, AVP of loyalty and CRM at Hathway.

By Ellen Green • Aug. 27, 2021

NRA: 6 in 10 US adults have changed restaurant plans due to delta variant

Nineteen percent of consumers have stopped going to restaurants, one of the many growing concerns mentioned in a National Restaurant Association letter urging Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 26, 2021

OpenTable teams with Clear to create digital vaccine cards for diners

OpenTable users who place a reservation at a restaurant that has a vaccine requirement will be directed to a Clear banner where they can make a free, secure digital vaccine card. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 24, 2021

How QSR loyalty programs stack up in 2021

Chains from McDonald's to Burger King are adding loyalty programs for the first time to attract and retain customers, and they're gaining ground against competitors' long-standing programs. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 24, 2021

Full-service restaurant tickets up 20%, report shows

With diners going out to socialize more and celebrate special occasions, the amount of large party orders rose 32% during Q2 2021, according to Black Box Intelligence. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 20, 2021

45% of consumers say Subway should drop embattled Megan Rapinoe, survey finds

The U.S. soccer star, who appears in the chain's latest ad campaign, is facing backlash after kneeling at the Tokyo Olympics to protest racism.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 18, 2021

Subway's CMO on why the brand's transformation is just beginning

Carrie Walsh details how the brand experimented with new channels and collaborated with agency partners on a campaign featuring top athletes.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 13, 2021

IHOP trials alcohol menu at 3 restaurants

The pancake chain found in a July survey that 66% of its recent customers would be interested in adult beverages with their meal. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 12, 2021

Rising prices didn't hurt Q2 restaurant traffic, studies show

Diner spending at restaurants jumped 32% during the period as operators hiked their menu prices to cover labor costs and other inflationary pressures, according to The NPD Group.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 10, 2021

What the US hospitality industry can learn from Australia

Restaurants Down Under can teach American operators a thing or two about how the segment might fare in the coming months, writes Peter Dougherty, general manager of hospitality at Lightspeed.

By Peter Dougherty • Aug. 10, 2021

OpenTable allows restaurants to share vaccine requirements

Diners can view these rules on a restaurant's profile page under Safety Precautions, which also shows measures such as contactless payment options and whether waitstaff wear masks.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 9, 2021

30% of diners would leave a restaurant if asked for proof of vaccination, report shows

Comparatively, 68% of diners say they would comply with mask requirements to eat inside a restaurant, according to Datassential research.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 5, 2021

OpenTable diners can now send restaurants direct messages

Customers can use the reservation platform's Direct Messaging feature to make requests, ask questions and modify or cancel their reservation. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 4, 2021

How can restaurants drive long-term resiliency in the new normal?

The brands that maintain safety measures and digitally enabled experiences will be favored by customers and garner deeper loyalty, writes Vince Crimaldi, VP of consumer products and retail at Capgemini North America.

By Vince Crimaldi • Aug. 3, 2021

Only 24% of US consumers support vaccine requirement to dine indoors, report finds

Comparatively, 60% believe vaccinations should be required to travel on an airplane, according to Gartner research. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 2, 2021

Report: Foot traffic exceeding 2019 levels at some casual chains

Customers are gravitating toward higher-priced and more festive concepts to celebrate a return to normalcy, data from Placer.ai suggests.

By Alicia Kelso • July 22, 2021

Dickey's to debut a brick-and-mortar store for its virtual wings brand

Wing Boss will open a restaurant in the Dallas market following strong results just four months after its launch as a delivery-only brand.

By Alicia Kelso • July 14, 2021

Increasing focus on complete proteins creates opportunity

Plant-based proteins are an increasingly important part of everyday diets, as 28% of consumers ate more protein from plant sources in 2020 than they did in 2019.

July 12, 2021

Success means embracing the past year, whether restaurants like it or not

COVID-19 dealt the industry a major blow, but also taught operators valuable lessons that could influence operations for years to come, writes Maribeth Dela Cruz, president of Jollibee Foods North America.

By Maribeth Dela Cruz • July 6, 2021

Report: 47% of diners use at least one loyalty program

The share of consumers using restaurant rewards increased 12% between Jan. 22 and April 22, research from Paytronix and PYMNTS finds.

By Alicia Kelso • June 30, 2021

The future of bar & restaurant entertainment is better TV

Studies show that ambiance plays a key role in customer satisfaction, and can be the motivator for staying longer or coming back again.

June 28, 2021

Social e-commerce platform Snackpass raises $70M

The company will use the cash infusion to expand to major restaurant markets, including New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas.

By Alicia Kelso • June 24, 2021