As discussed in this article, mid-tier casual restaurants are starting to suffer due to rising food costs and dropping consumer spending. Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale restaurants are closing their doors.
My empathy goes to the restaurants’ now unemployed workers, but maybe that pain will reap some greater good. I have an idea for restaurants: Don’t waste so much friggin food!
On a slightly more tactful note, this economic downturn might provide an opportunity for the restaurant industry to reform itself. My sense is that those outlets providing healthier, local foods in smaller portions at reasonable prices will thrive.
It would be interesting to see if T.G.I. Friday’s “Right Portion, Right Price” menu is helping the company maintain its revenues. Unfortunately, T.G.I. Friday’s is part of a privately held company (Carlson), so I can’t tell you how they’re doing financially. (It would have been a long shot that the company gave such details of its financial performance, anyway.) I can tell you that, underwhelmingly, dads get free onion rings on Father’s Day there…
If the aforementioned restaurant reform does occur, it will be a logistical challenge, though not unprecedented, for a national chain to provide local foods. Whole Foods sells local items, but only in small amounts. Happily, this would provide an opportunity for independent restaurants to combat chains’ economies of scale.
The good news for us food waste haters is that, for locally-owned and chain restaurants, it’s easy to cut portions and prices. I’m curious: What changes would you like to see in restaurant industry? And have you seen similar to T.G.I.’s “Right Portion” promotion?
7 Comments
I think restaurants need to try buying locally… as the demand goes up for local food, the prices will go down. We just have to be patient enough to let that happen. I will go to a particular place just because I know there is local food there.
Isn’t applebees offering half portions now? Or trios for about $10… they are like appetizer sized portions and you pick any three form a list…
I don’t know how that is affecting their sales/costs though.
I would like more regional or local flavor in restaurants. I travelled through the south recently and there was not a single southern style restaurant near the road that I was on. There were many Mexican, Chinese, pizza joints, fast food places but no real southern cooking. There was also one bar-b-que place as well and that was as southern as it got. I would like to see a local place in Alabama serving local Alabama favorites made from locally produced food. The same goes for Vermont, Illinois, Montana or wherever I may be. It also should not be local style fast food such as Chicago style hot dogs or New York pizza. Real meals that represent the area. If there are areas of the country that have no meals that are representative of that area then a local chef should come up with some using local food.
Oh wow…I had no idea they were closing. I’m not at fault, though…we’ve never had enough money to eat out except for very rare occasions. :p
This blog is for one of our great local restaurants that is cooking with organic and local food and serves local beers:
http://www.thelinkery.com/blog/
They make their own sausage and it’s all really good….
Portions are always reasonably sized and very tasty.
I just got back froM Lyndon, VT
and the Freighthouse Restaurant
http://www.thelyndonfreighthouse.com/?page_id=2
they use organic food…but here is something i liked
they only bring you ONE piece of toast with your breakfast. I often ask for only one, because i know i won’t eat the other one, but here they only bring you one period. so less waste.
they compost as well (which they mentioned on their menu)
When I eat out it’s usually for lunch. That means I have no opportunity to take a “doggie bag” because I’m not going home right away. The worst offender in Las Vegas (off the Strip) is the Hash House a go go. They pride themselves on serving more food than any normal person can possibly eat.
We don’t really have any local fare. Everything comes from somewhere else.
Donna,
The Linkery looks really neat (and sounds more like an online restaurant than a real one). I think it’s important to patronize restaurants that serve reasonable portions (at reasonable prices) and local food. On the price front, keep in mind that food costs have increased dramatically in the last year, so while a restaurant may not want to raise prices, they probably have to to stay in business.
Shorty,
The Freighthouse sounds like a great place. Reading about places like these makes me wonder why anyone would go to a chain restaurant. I like the one piece of toast practice, although I’m sure some big eaters wouldn’t. Think they’d bring you more toast if you asked for it?
SS,
I suppose if you’re not going home right away (and it’s hot as heck outside so you don’t want to leave food in your car for more than a nanosecond, you should try not to overorder. I know that’s easier said than done…especially in Las Vegas.