Chicago's North Side is getting a new takeout option with Pei Wei Asian Diner's opening next week. But its arrival is a sign of the times for the restaurant industry, which is seeing a shift in consumers' dining habits.
As Americans continue to be cautious with their eating-out dollars, full-service restaurants have been suffering, while many fast-food chains have seen sales slip, even as they promote dollar menus. The segment that continues to grow: fast-casual restaurants, which typically offer consumers a more sophisticated menu that's made to order in a more upscale atmosphere, without having to leave a tip.
"Fast casual still seems to be the darling of the industry," said Darren Tristano, executive vice president of Technomic, a Chicago-based restaurant industry consultancy. "As people trade up from quick service and trade down from casual dining, in addition to a better price point, with some of that savings from not having to tip, you gain convenience … and all of the quality full service has to offer."
Technomic segments the limited-service category, or restaurants without table service, into two parts:
•Quick service, used to describe restaurants like McDonald's, where the check average is less than $8.50.
•Fast casual, where food is made to order and the check average is more than $8.50. (Casual dining restaurants like Applebee's have check averages between $12 and $20.)
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Photo by Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune