rd+d - research

What’s Moving the Needle on Restaurant Design Projects?

What's working for our readers right now? The classics.

The State of Open Kitchens

Open kitchens are no longer a must-have element in new restaurants.

Mobile Takeout Necessities, According to Readers

13% of restaurant development + design readers said they were not including mobile or takeout areas in their current restaurant designs.

Readers Dish and Tell

rd+d readers were asked which types of restaurants they are working on right now

Are Private Dining Rooms Important to Restaurant Design?

Restaurant development + design readers were split on the importance of private dining in restaurants.

Readers Weigh in on the Restaurant of the Future

What should the restaurant of the future focus on?

Readers Name Top Development Drivers of 2025

What will development look like in 2025?

Readers Optimistic about 2025

Will business be better in 2025 than it was in 2024?

Budget Constraints Plague Procurement

According to a pulse survey fielded in October 2024, 52% of restaurant development + design readers handle their own procurement.

Readers Name Top Restaurant Design Trends of 2025

In a pulse survey fielded in October, restaurant development + design magazine readers were split on what they think will be the top restaurant design trend of 2025.

What’s the Hottest Restaurant Design Trend Right Now?

A few trends continue to remain popular, but flexibility and community are driving a lot of design decisions.

Labor Costs Top Reader Woes in Latest Survey

The biggest challenge facing rd+d readers and their teams right now is the rising cost of labor and materials, according to 54% of survey respondents, per a pulse survey fielded in August.

Readers Report a Mixed Bag on Business Projections

As they head into the final quarter of 2024, readers of restaurant development + design were mostly split on how business in 2024 has been compared to their projections for the year.

Readers Say Construction Costs Higher in 2024

The overall news about inflation seems positive but how that’s impacting the market remains mixed.

Is Business Better or Worse Than Projected?

Nearly half (47%) of rd+d readers said their business was exactly as projected it would be so far in 2024.

Inflation Biggest Challenge in Restaurant Projects

Inflation is the biggest challenge facing 48% of restaurant development + design readers and their teams.

What Are the Best Ways to Curb Costs on New Restaurant Projects?

Survey after survey shows that keeping costs contained is a top priority for restaurant development + design readers.

Readers Weigh in On Election Year Concerns

In a pulse survey fielded in June, just 24% of restaurant development + design readers said 2024 being a presidential election year impacts their business plans.

Readers Split on Grab-and-Go in Restaurants

Adding grab-and-go retail sales areas to restaurants has become increasingly popular but it’s not a must-have — at least not yet.

Drive-Thrus Driving Restaurant Site-Selection

Drive-thrus have been trending since the pandemic broke out in spring 2020.

What’s One Restaurant Design Trend that Needs to Go Away?

One key theme emerged when readers were asked which restaurant design trend they’d like to see go away.

Is the Suburban Restaurant Boom Over?

New growth does not have a one-size-fits-all answer.

Labor and Staffing Issues Continue to Plague Readers

A whopping 56% of restaurant development + design readers surveyed in April say that labor and staffing represent the biggest challenge they face right now.