4 of the Biggest Restaurant Trends in 2022

As the world continues to adjust to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendent economic consequences, the restaurant industry continues to find new ways to survive, and in some cases even thrive.

As restaurants fight for their survival amid staffing shortages and a supply chain crisis, innovation continues to rule. Corporate leadership and franchise owners around the country will need to continue to think of new and different ways to reach customers and drive revenue.

Anita Adams, Chief Executive Officer of California-based Black Bear Diner, told FSR Magazine that restaurant owners need to be focused on providing a genuinely unique and welcoming experience and culture for staff, guests and the communities they serve.

“It’s this authentic culture and heartfelt experience steeped in a rich tradition of hospitality that keeps team members with us for the longer term, and it’s what keeps our guests coming back,” she said.

Apps, contactless point-of-sale systems and other technology are crucial tools for restaurants as they look to maintain dining experiences while keeping customers safe. Contactless ordering, takeout and virtual host stands are just a few of the ways restaurants can integrate technology into daily operations in a world of social distancing and ongoing staffing shortages.

The ongoing labor shortage has resulted in many restaurants turning to the use of ghost kitchens. This concept essentially removes a restaurant’s dining room and operates only with a kitchen, becoming a take-out- and delivery- only eatery. Using a ghost kitchen allows restaurant owners to operate with only a back-of-house staff, helping to lighten the burden of a labor shortage that has turned some diners away from eating out.