What is AI Drive-Thru Ordering? A Guide for Restaurant Owners
AI drive-thru ordering helps restaurants improve speed, accuracy, upselling, labor efficiency, and customer flow by using daily measurable operational data.
Jun 15, 2026
AI drive-thru ordering helps restaurants improve speed, accuracy, upselling, labor efficiency, and customer flow by using daily measurable operational data.
Jun 15, 2026
Domino's Pizza has expanded its popular 'Best Deal Ever' promotion to include Parmesan Stuffed Crust at no extra charge, offering any pizza with any crust and toppings for just $9.99, available through July 26.
Jun 15, 2026
On the Border has closed all of its company-owned restaurants just over a year after being acquired out of bankruptcy by Pappas Restaurants, leaving only five franchised US locations and one in South Korea still operating.
Jun 15, 2026
Discover how POS-based inventory management helps restaurants reduce food waste, control costs, and gain real-time visibility into stock levels for smoother daily operations.
Jun 15, 2026
Outback Steakhouse is rolling out a limited-time Father's Day menu from June 17–21, featuring bold new steak and surf-and-turf dishes plus an exclusive gift card promotion running through June 21.
Jun 15, 2026
Explore how Descanso in Costa Mesa brings Mexico’s vibrant street food culture into a refined, full-sensory dining experience. Discover operational strategies, business insights, and the nuanced approach to customer interaction, menu design, and staff training that define their concept of elevated Mexican cuisine.
Jun 15, 2026
Krispy Kreme has unveiled its Summer Seasonal Collection, featuring two new doughnuts, returning fan favourites, and two limited-time Lemonade Chillers- available from June 16 for a limited time at participating US locations.
Jun 15, 2026
A profitable cafe starts with audience building, data-driven location choices, smart financial planning, AI support, strong systems, and community-focused marketing.
Jun 15, 2026
PE is rolling up franchise supplier platforms like IFPG and Fastlane, blending brokers, marketing, and AI to scale development and reshape pricing.
Jun 14, 2026
World Central Kitchen's Food Is Life brings free chef-crafted bites to World Cup watch parties, turning fan energy into hunger relief across U.S. host cities.
Jun 14, 2026
Explore the recent bankruptcies in the restaurant industry and the ongoing challenges faced by establishments in the wake of the pandemic.
Photo by Austin Distel
Photo by Austin Distel
The recent filings for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by World of Beer and Buca di Beppo have sent shockwaves through the restaurant industry, shedding light on the ongoing struggles faced by food and beverage establishments in the wake of the pandemic. World of Beer, a well-known Tampa-based craft-beer franchise, closed 14 locations in the past year, attributing its financial woes to various factors, including disputes with franchisees, the impact of the pandemic on foot traffic, inflation, and the underperformance of certain new locations opened after 2020. On the other hand, the Italian concept Buca di Beppo also faced similar challenges, leading to the closure of over a dozen underperforming locations and the subsequent bankruptcy filing.
The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the landscape of the restaurant industry, forcing businesses to adapt rapidly to changing consumer behaviors, government restrictions, and economic uncertainties. Even more than four years after the pandemic began, restaurants are still grappling with the aftermath, trying to navigate a path to recovery amidst ongoing challenges. The industry has witnessed a wave of bankruptcies, closures, and restructurings as establishments struggle to survive in a post-pandemic world.
Photo by Austin Distel
One of the notable shifts in the dining experience brought about by the pandemic is the surge in outdoor dining structures to comply with safety regulations and accommodate increased demand for open-air seating. However, as cities like New York grapple with the post-pandemic reality, they are reevaluating the status of these structures and implementing revised rules to ensure safety and sustainability. The recent announcement by New York City of a new outdoor-dining program with stricter regulations highlights the ongoing evolution of dining spaces in response to changing circumstances.