Restaurant Industry News Archives

This week in restaurant news: PPP extension, chain service, when the customer isn’t always right

Every week we’re rounding up some of our favorite articles with trends and tidbits from the world of restaurants. Tell us: what made your reading list this week?

Indoor Dining Will Be Postponed in New York City – Grub Street
NYC’s restaurants and bars had planned for indoor reopening on July 6, but that timeline is now delayed. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week that the next reopening phase will be postponed due to rising coronavirus cases across the country.

U.S. Senate Passes Extension of Small Business Loan Program – The Washington Post
The Senate voted to extend the Paycheck Protection Program, which was set to end on Tuesday, until August 8. Senator Ben Cardin explained that back in March, Congress assumed the economy would be back on track by this point – expectations that have evidently evolved as the country continues to battle the pandemic.

Welcome to Applebee’s! Can I Get You Started With Some Disinfectant? – The New York Times
Chain restaurants such as Applebee’s, TGI Fridays, and The Cheesecake Factory have developed extensive documents for staff outlining the processes and protocols required for service. David Segal writes that one playbook, “explains how to adapt the familiar, beloved pageantry of chain-restaurant dining — featuring buoyant servers, unlimited breadsticks, ample portions, entrees with ‘fiesta’ or ‘dragon glaze’ in their name, and value, value, value — to the Covid-19 era.”

When It Comes to Reopening Restaurants, the Customer May Not Always Be Right – Eater
Aside from the financial and logistic aspects of reopening, restaurants are also struggling to respond to diners’ varied sentiments toward the new normal of dining, as Ellie Krupnick writes for Eater. She spoke to three restaurants about managing conflict between customers and staff.

Uber, Hungry for a Deal, Now Reportedly in Talks to Acquire Postmates – CNN Business
Uber is reportedly making moves to buy Postmates for about $2.6 billion, though neither company has commented on the potential acquisition. The news demonstrates Uber’s eagerness to expand their business in categories outside their core ride-hailing service.

This week in restaurant news: re-closures, bar risks, the return of QR codes

Every week we’re rounding up some of our favorite articles with trends and tidbits from the world of restaurants. Tell us: what made your reading list this week?

6 Things Chefs Are Doing to Take Care of Their Staffs as Restaurants Reopen – Food & Wine
From increased work flexibility and family meal for all to dance parties and push up challenges, here are some ways operators are caring for their staff’s emotional and mental health during reopening.

Texas Pauses Phased Reopening As Restaurants Around the Country Proactively Re-Close – Restaurant Business
Governor Greg Abbott halted Texas’ phased reopening this week after coronavirus rates began to skyrocket across the southern states, forcing restaurants to shutter yet again. (On a related note, learn the true cost of what it takes to equip a restaurant for reopening in Nation’s Restaurant News.)

A Virus Walks Into a Bar… – The New York Times
Indoor bars create a perfect storm of conditions that help COVID-19 thrive, writes Tara Parker-Pope: small, dark spaces, clusters of people, and long conversations that release particles from one talker to another. Read about the risks and what you can do to minimize them.

Court of Master Sommeliers, Facing Racism Charges, to Eliminate ‘Master’ Address – San Francisco Chronicle
Following claims that the Court of Master Sommeliers engaged in racially insensitive and inequitable practices (including instructing all candidates, including candidates of color, to address them as “master”), the organization announced that it would discontinue the honorific.

The Triumphant Return of QR Codes – Expedite
For Expedite, Kristen Hawley delves into the reemergence of QR codes in pandemic-era dining, as a means to maintain physical distance and reduce the touching of surfaces. Her analysis? “For all the high-tech implications of QR codes, the implementation is fairly low-tech.”

This week in restaurant news: new relief bill, outdoor dining, F&W Best New Restaurants

Every week we’re rounding up some of our favorite articles with trends and tidbits from the world of restaurants. Tell us: what made your reading list this week?

Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Provide $120B in Relief for Restaurants – The Hill
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon introduced a bill this week to support struggling independent restaurants and bars with a $120 billion fund. The aptly named Restaurant Act grants funds to food and drink businesses that are not publicly funded and hold less that $1.5 million. The White House is said to support the legislation.

Independent Restaurants Are a Nexus of Small Business in the United States and Drive Billions of Dollars of Economic Activity That Is at Risk of Being Lost Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic – Independent Restaurant Coalition
A new report from the Independent Restaurant Coalition shows that independent restaurants make up a huge slice of the food and beverage industry, generating $760 billion in sales. It argues for a revitalization fund (see the Restaurant Act) to grow the economy, reduce unemployment, and revitalize supply chains nationwide – and also argues that without additional funding, 85% of these business may shutter permanently.

Dining in the Street? As Restaurants Reopen, Seating Moves Outdoors – The New York Times
Cities are speeding up permit applications and waiving fees to allow restaurants to serve more guests alfresco, a boon for businesses with closed or restricted dining rooms. Still, critics worry that relaxed rules introduce more risk to neighborhoods surrounding the restaurants. Here, Jane Margolies weighs the costs and benefits.

Food & Wine Best New Restaurants 2020 – Food & Wine
Is the COVID-19 era a time for list-making? Yes, says Food & Wine restaurant editor Khushbu Shah: “A pandemic doesn’t cancel the work that these remarkable chefs and restaurant owners have done over the past year.” From a mother/daughter-led Burmese restaurant in D.C. to a next-level Austin taqueria, see who made her top picks in 2020.

Bakers Against Racism Is Just the Beginning – Eater
Megan McCarron tells how two out-of-work pastry chefs and a graphic designer launched a global series of anti-racist bake sales to raise funds for the Minnesota Freedom Fund in the wake of the George Floyd killing. Learn how the movement took off and led to tangible change – as McCarron writes, “The bake sale isn’t just about raising funds, or awareness, outwardly; participants can take the time to deepen their own commitment to fighting for black lives, too.”

This week in restaurant news: Juneteenth, global reopenings, José Andres x Fauci

Every week we’re rounding up some of our favorite articles with trends and tidbits from the world of restaurants. Tell us: what made your reading list this week?

One Day in June – Eater
On June 2, Eater reporters documented restaurant reopenings in 17 cities across the globe, from Paris’ open dining rooms to Bogotá’s carryout-only protocols. The dining experiences depicted here vary dramatically, but one constant truth remains: in some form and fashion, we’re all in this together.

A Juneteenth of Joy and Resistance – The New York Times
The Juneteenth celebration marks the day in 1865 when enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas learned that they had been emancipated (two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation). This year, that holiday feels more important than ever. Here, Nicole Taylor describes how black chefs are commemorating Juneteenth in a period marked by tragedy, uncertainty, and renewed public conversation.

Chief Editor At ‘Bon Appétit’ Resigns After Racially Insensitive Photo Surfaces – NPR
Bon Appétit‘s Adam Rapoport resigned this week after a photo of him dressed in a racially insensitive costume was posted on social media, prompting detailed accounts from contributors of color of racism, discrimination, and a “toxic culture” at the magazine. Bon Appétit has pledged to do better, while Amanda Shapiro takes over as interim editor.

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Restaurant Safety – Instagram Live
Chef José Andres held a virtual Instagram chat with Dr. Anthony Fauci about how to reopen restaurants, covering topics from masks and sanitation to how to deal with sick employees. Watch and learn his recommendations for a range of scenarios – and, per Fauci, continue to defer to local officials for more guidance.

Just Eat Takeaway Confirms It’s Gobbling Up Grubhub in a $7.3B Deal – TechCrunch
The European company Just Eat Takeaway announced an agreement to acquire Grubhub, after Uber Eats had been trying to make the same acquisition for the past year. The combined operation will reportedly have more than 70 million active customers globally. The takeover is set to be completed early next year.

This week in restaurant news: supporting protests, outdoor seating, fine dining chefs get creative

Every week we’re rounding up some of our favorite articles with trends and tidbits from the world of restaurants. Tell us: what made your reading list this week?

Across the Country, Restaurants Pledge Money to Black Lives Matter and Social Justice Causes – Eater
As neighborhood cornerstones, restaurants have played an active role in this week’s protests surrounding the killing of George Floyd. Here’s an overview of how restaurants have contributed to fundraising efforts and shown support for the protestors and Black Lives Matter movement, from Atlanta to Washington DC.

Senate Passes Changes to Small Business PPP Loan Program – Bloomberg
After being approved by the House last week, a bill amending the Paycheck Protection Program was cleared by the Senate. The legislation would extend the eight-week period allowed for businesses to spend loans to 24 weeks or until the end of 2020 (whichever comes first). Plus, operators would be able to use funds on non-payroll expenses, such as rent. Next stop for the bill: President Trump’s desk.

Restaurants With Closed Dining Rooms Win Clearance for Outdoor Seating – Restaurant Business
Local governments in cities including San Francisco and Chicago are allowing restaurants to seat guests outdoors while dining rooms are still closed, and similar legislation is expected to pass in New York City. The green lights require capacity limitations, distancing between tables, and in some cases, masks.

NYC’s Laid-Off Fine Dining Chefs Find Glimmers of Hope With New Home Businesses – Eater New York
Stay-at-home orders have given some out-of-work fine dining chefs time to pursue new entrepreneurial pursuits, such as retail baking businesses and family meals to go. The circumstances are less than ideal, and most side businesses remain casual – but a silver lining shows potential for renewed creativity and innovative experiences outside the considerable constraints of traditional restaurants.

Your Kitchen Can Be as Well Stocked as Restaurants Now – The New York Times
It’s no secret that farmers and wholesalers have been as rocked by the coronavirus pandemic as restaurants. Here, Pete Wells and Jennifer Steinhauer explore how distributors have adapted their business models to reach consumers. The change presents a boon for both home cooks and restaurants, who are now selling guests ingredients in ready-to-cook meal kits – and it may be here to stay.

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