How casual dining is navigating Month 8 of the pandemic

This webinar is sponsored by our partner MorningStar Farms

The full-service sector hasn’t been as resilient as the quick-service sector in contending with the COVID-19 crisis, but clear winners have emerged. Texas Roadhouse and Applebee’s have both driven sales above their 2019 levels, even with dining rooms operating at reduced capacities. Yet the number of casual-dining bankruptcies has continued to rise. What are the thrivers doing that the wheezers haven’t or couldn’t? And how are operations contending with a still-fluid situation when they lack the resources of those big brands? Does agility trump wherewithal? Editor At Large Peter Romeo digs for the answers in this focused discussion of what coping mechanisms are clearly working for casual-dining operations, and which have fizzled. Go beyond the sizzle for a balanced look at such touted remedies as virtual concepts, streamlined menus and contactless service.