All articles tagged with #restaurants
Sysco plans a large expansion into the higher-margin restaurant segment through a $29 billion deal, signaling a strategic shift to diversify beyond its core distribution business and pursue growth in the foodservice market.
Rising use of GLP-1 weight‑loss medications is reshaping dining and snacking, with diners eating fewer calories and restaurants trimming portions while boosting protein- and fiber-rich options. Brands are racing to market GLP-1–friendly offerings and messaging, as some analysts warn the drugs could wipe out $30–$55 billion in U.S. food-and-beverage sales by 2030, even as pill versions may hasten adoption and the market shift.
WRAL compiles a wide-ranging list of St. Patrick’s Day 2026 deals and freebies at participating restaurants (through March 17, with some offers extended to March 31). Highlights include Krispy Kreme’s green doughnut freebies and prize drawings, Baskin-Robbins $5 off a $35+ cake, and various app- or online-activated offers across Burger King, Dunkin, Starbucks, Outback, Panera, and more, plus limited-time menu items and rewards bonuses.
Americans are drinking less, squeezing restaurant profits as alcohol revenue declines; operators like Pineapple Express in Montclair, NJ closed in part due to weak drink sales, prompting a shift from alcohol to food as the main revenue source.
Wendy’s permanently closed at least three Colorado Springs locations—222 N Wahsatch Ave, the corner of East Platte and Wahsatch downtown, and 3036 W Colorado Ave in Old Colorado City—with a fourth at 1104 E. Fillmore St observed later, as part of a nationwide Project Fresh footprint optimization. The company said the closures are meant to strengthen performance for sustainable, long‑term growth and noted Wendy’s is reducing its U.S. store count by a mid‑single digits percentage; there are 118 Wendy’s in Colorado, including 13 in the Colorado Springs area.
A New York–based report details years of alleged abuse at Noma, drawing on accounts from dozens of former employees about brutal conditions and leadership under chef René Redzepi. Redzepi issued an apology and said the environment has since changed, but observers say such brutality is a pervasive issue in high-end kitchens. Meanwhile Noma is previewing a three-and-a-half‑month Los Angeles residency priced at about $1,500 per ticket, underscoring how prestige can persist amid serious scrutiny.
A HuffPost piece gathers sociologists and hospitality experts to identify cues that may reveal a restaurant’s political leanings, from overt decor (patriotic or nationalist imagery) to subtler signals like staff policies, in-house branding, permitted displays, TV networks, and an owner’s social‑media activity. The article stresses that these indicators are largely circumstantial and not definitive, noting examples such as Idaho’s Old State Saloon offering free beer to those who helped deport an undocumented immigrant and Minneapolis’ Modern Times Cafe giving free meals during protests. It also discusses how polarization drives greater consumer interest in venues that align with beliefs, and concludes that people “vote with their dollars” while acknowledging the complexities of interpreting signals in today’s climate.
James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classics winners for 2026 include six independent, regionally beloved restaurants: The Serving Spoon (Inglewood, CA), Oyster House (Philadelphia), Johnny’s Cafe (Omaha), Eng’s (Kingston, NY), Figaretti’s Italian Restaurant (Wheeling, WV), and Bob Taylor’s Ranch House (Las Vegas).
American Express will merge its Resy dining platform with Tock, adding more than 25,000 new venues (including fine-dining restaurants and wineries) to Resy. The integration brings Tock’s prepaid and tiered experiences to Resy, while Amex dining credits remain usable at eligible Resy restaurants as the two platforms merge this summer. Amex will sunset the Tock app, but the expanded network will live on via Resy, broadening dining options for Amex cardholders.
As a blizzard and a travel ban complicate operations, New York City restaurants face a rapid choice between staying closed for safety or opening to serve customers stuck at home; staff volunteers, demonstrated by Welcome Home Bakery in Bed‑Stuy, helped some shops open and sell out within hours, highlighting the tension between winter demand and labor safety.
Milano Restaurants International, the Fresno-based parent of Me-N-Ed's Pizzeria, has sold 100% of the company to its employees via an ESOP to preserve independence and the brand’s legacy. Milano operates more than 60 company-owned restaurants in California and franchises in California and Arizona, including Me-N-Ed's, Coney Island, Victory Grill, Blast & Brew, and Piazza del Pane; leadership says the employee-ownership model gives staff a meaningful stake in the company's future.
Across France, traditional bistros serving classic dishes are disappearing as costs rise and a new generation favors fast, affordable dining; restaurant profits have plunged (from 11% of turnover in 2023 to around 3% in 2024), and raw material costs rose about 16% while average menu prices climbed roughly 23%, contributing to thousands of closures (about 9,800 in a year) and a looming two-tier dining culture.
As a winter storm blankets Arlington and nearby Falls Church, numerous local restaurants are offering snow-day incentives—open for specials, some with rooftop or all-day deals, while others have closed. Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week extends to Feb. 1 at select spots and Falls Church Restaurant Week continues with participating venues. Listings include Ragtime, Brass Rabbit Pub, Don Tito, Spider Kelly’s, Harvey’s, Pike Cornerstone, Screwtop Wine Bar, Nettie’s Tavern, Crystal City Sports Pub, and others, with some venues planning schedule changes or lunch-hour openings. Authorities urge drivers to stay off the roads, and diners are turning to nearby eateries for a warm bite during the weather, while social updates guide which restaurants remain open or announce specials.
Los Angeles-area chefs and restaurants earned about two dozen James Beard Award semifinalist nods in 2026 across categories including Best Chef: California (Kwang Uh of Baroo, with LA peers like Moo’s Craft Barbecue’s Andrew and Michelle Muñoz, Dave Beran, Brian Dunsmoor, and others), Outstanding Chef (Gilberto Cetina of Holbox; Niki Nakayama), Outstanding Restaurant (Antico Nuovo), Emerging Chef (Fátima Juárez; José Olmedo Carles Rojas), Best New Restaurant (Ki; RVR), Outstanding Restaurateur (Last Word Hospitality), Outstanding Bakery (Gusto Bread), and more (Daisy Margarita Bar for Best New Bar; Jason Lee of Darling for cocktail service). Finalists are announced March 31 and winners June 15 in Chicago.
Massachusetts makes a strong showing in the 2026 James Beard Award semifinals, with O Ya Boston named a semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant; Pao Thampitak of Gaaeng Supper Club as Emerging Chef; Monica Glass and Whitney Stancil among Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker nominees; Ostra cited in Outstanding Hospitality; Spoke Wine Bar and Talulla recognized in Bar/Wine categories; Nader Asgari-Tari and Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale listed for Beverage Service; Sāsha Coleman of Comfort Kitchen and Amarilys Colon of La Padrona named Best Chef: Northeast semifinalists; finalists are announced March 31 and winners on June 15.