Featured Articles

Design

While casual dining has taken a beating in recent years, many operators have developed a polished-casual strategy to draw in guests. Porch Swing Restaurant, located in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, puts a new spin on this approach.

Development

Fast-casual restaurant conceptFreddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgersopened its first international location in the Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates.

Design

San Jose, Calif.-based Togo’s sandwich shops applied its new restaurant design when opening a ground-up prototype in Santa Clara, Calif. and remodeling three units (one corporate and two franchise locations in Emeryville, Fremont and San Jose). The new design — named Togo’s 3.0 — strives to increase the speed of service and update the dining environment.

Development
Huddle House reduces prototype footprint

Huddle House is getting smaller but still growing. The Atlanta-based company is expanding both via company-owned and franchised stores while offering a smaller store footprint, making the brand more accessible to franchisees. In this Q&A, Christina Chambers, senior vice president of franchise development for Huddle House, talks about the smaller store design.

Design

Wall coverings are one of the keys to realizing the design vision. They can serve as backdrops that frame a space, provide wayfinding cues or, in the case of a feature wall or mural, make a bold statement.

Development
Miami Grill's Kissimmee, Florida, flagship location.

Positioned near the tourist areas anchored by the Orlando theme parks, the new 2,400-square-foot restaurant offers seating for 62, will be open late night and has a double window drive-thru to provide expedited service.

Development
Tradd’s in Charleston, S.C.

Careful advance work kept the renovation of a 200-year-old building on track for opening.

Development
Pizzeria da Michele Los Angeles

Over the past few years, Francesco Zimone noticed a trend in Los Angeles dining. The restaurant scene, he says, had gotten overpriced and unsatisfying. After valet parking, drinks and food, it was easy to drop $200 in a night, but still feel rushed and, frankly, hungry. On the other hand, parties at friends’ houses were the best times he’d been having, with plenty of space and time to relax and mingle.