News
Rising gas prices remind why earned wage access is so important
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (544+ words) Voices from around the restaurant industry With so many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, a jump in fuel costs creates immediate household expenses When gas prices rise, the headlines focus on inflation, energy markets, and consumer sentiment. But for the…...
How Ryan Ratino manages beef prices at his new steakhouse
4+ day, 12+ hour ago (1351+ words) At Ox & Olive the D.C.-based chef finds value on multiple levels by working with small producers. Ryan Ratino recently opened a steakhouse, but he doesn’t have a problem with beef prices. Although commodity beef is currently at record highs, and…...
How two independent restaurants are managing higher costs
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (586+ words) Chicago’s Adalina Prime and Atlanta’s Talat Market are finding savings from labor optimization to fixing equipment in-house Adalina Prime, a fine dining steakhouse from Michelin-starred Top Chef Alum Chef Soo Ahn, opened in Chicago’s Fulton Market in the summer of…...
Menu prices continue to outpace surging inflation
3+ mon, 2+ day ago (462+ words) Restaurant prices have grown 3.8% since March 2025, while the U.S. inflation rate spiked to 3.3% annually from higher gas prices Consumer prices surged 0.9% month-over-month in March, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is compared to an uptick of…...
Restaurants claw back some of the jobs lost in February
3+ mon, 1+ week ago (357+ words) After shedding 26,200 positions, the industry added 21,500 back in March The March jobs report came in above expectations Friday, with the United States economy adding about 178,000 positions during the month and the unemployment rate dipping slightly to 4.3%. This was a welcome…...
McDonald’s Under $3 Menu includes at least 10 items
3+ mon, 1+ week ago (343+ words) The chain is also launching a $4 Breakfast Meal Deal available starting April 21 McDonald's announced details of its new Under $3 Menu and $4 Breakfast Meal Deal, further pressuring its competition amid a relentlessly intense value environment. Both are available starting April 21 alongside…...
Restaurants tap 'throwback pricing' trend to entice budget-conscious consumers
11+ mon, 3+ week ago (503+ words) Operators like Planet Hollywood, White Castle, and Friendly’s are leaning into the retro-themed discount Value meals and promotional deals are surging at restaurant chains, as new data from Yelp and Technomic reveals consumers increasingly searching for lower-priced dining options. From…...
With prices up, restaurant consumers turn to snacking
4+ mon, 1+ week ago (1253+ words) Smaller, lower-priced items require less commitment and allow for more flexibility We all know that restaurant traffic is down and consumers are feeling skittish, not only because of general global uncertainty but because everything has gotten so damn expensive. But…...