Restaurant Trends Fueled By The Pandemic

The restaurant industry is expected to lose $240 billion by the end of 2020, according to the National Restaurant Association, and until things can go back to being the way they were pre-pandemic, we have to accept the new norms that pertain to dining out — among other things.

Dining out has always been one of those experiences that can range from being utterly random to extremely special. To put it better in perspective, think about the lunch meal you used to grab with your work buddy from a nearby café and on the flipside the dinner buffet you had last time you went out for a team meeting with your boss. It seems like two extremes, right?

As we steer deeper into the period where technology is taking over everything, and we have to learn to live with this pandemic until further notice. One cannot help but notice how much of our choices have been manipulated based on the convenience of technology. Now, we would instead order in for a casual meal and complete a pre-booking online for a dinner reservation if it is something special because many restaurants are not allowing more than 25% of public capacity.

According to a recent survey report on integrating technology in the restaurant business, 95% of restaurant owners said they have seen a significant boom in their business ever since they have embedded technology in their processes. With such high figures, it is clear that technology has shaped many restaurant trends for the years coming ever since the new decade has started with the year 2020.

Therefore even during this pandemic, the restaurant industry is thriving by leveraging technology as it continues to envelop every mode of our lifestyle.

Below are 10 trends that will continue to play out during the second half of the year.

1. Good vibes as a getaway from lockdown

Many restaurants have yet to open up for a full 100% capacity, but until then, there is still a demand for eating out, but it's not just about sustenance. It is more about the experience that builds up as per the place where you choose to go. One of the top emerging trends has been people wanting fast and casual good vibes over other aspects.

If the place has a nice but casual ambiance to hang out with friends, complements your Instagram aesthetics, and has an overall good vibe, it will be a huge success. According to recent statistical publications in this regard, this restaurant segment is expected to grow to a whopping $863 billion in total sales as more and more restaurants adopt this fast and casual style.

Source: Finances Online

2. Food for the mind and soul

It is a menu trend based on understanding your consumers that started in the pursuit of satisfying more than just a hungry stomach. As the lockdown and pandemic have been very depressing, people are leaning toward having a good experience when they step out to eat. Soul food and mind food, as the terms suggest, is a type of dining experience that caters to providing a unique feeling of fulfilling your soul and makes you more mindful of what you are eating.

People now want to go beyond just the fundamental functional aspects of food and want to be catered for how the food actually makes them feel. From traditional comfort food luxuries that satisfy cravings to a complete mood board on a plate that suits customers' states of mind, restaurants must provide both.

3. Boom for online ordering during COVID-19

Nobody wants to step out of their comfort zone and dress up when they are just in the mood for a quiet night of Netflix. As technology makes it easier to order your food right at your fingertips, who will not want to order in? Many people embrace ordering food online through apps designed precisely to do that. It is safe to say that this is going to be a massive trend wave all around the year, also due to the pandemic.

People have been suggested to stay home as much as they can. And as many restaurants still haven't opened up for the general public and others allowed to open with a 25% dine-in capacity range, ordering online and eating-in seems like a great option to not miss out on your favorite eateries.

4. Sustainable and organic eating to stay healthy in the pandemic

Consumers are making real changes in the industry as the demands for food to be more sustainable, organic, healthier and ethical have come into play. Also, there is a massive role of the pandemic here as people want to stay fit and healthy to surpass this period without falling sick.

According to a recent survey poll, 61% of consumers would pick a healthier option on the menu as compared to their choice two years ago. Community involvement and awareness of being socially responsible have drastically changed people's priorities, even when it comes to food. The knowledge mostly comes from social media playing a huge role in shaping people's opinions.

Source: Finances Online

5. Foodtech: robot waiters, tablet devices for contactless dining

A considerably unique as well as incredibly cool experience would be to have a robot take your order. As fantastical it may sound, it is very possible. As the world adjusts to the new norm, contactless dining is coming in to play. Today, we can walk in a restaurant and easily expect orders to be automated through a touchable computer screen menu or just a single floor manager handing us the tablet to confirm our orders.

As per the figures given in a survey result for a dining experience with technology, 73% of the respondents said that technology added more to their dining experience. As much as it feels like this is a feat yet to perfect, it is very much achievable, demanded, and appreciated by consumers that like to dine out.

6. More vegan and vegetarian options

As the world continues to grow into one giant global society, we have become more inclusive of people's choices, especially when it comes to food during this pandemic. Many restaurants now offer a whole side menu for vegans and vegetarians, and some have even gone as far as creating a fine dining experience with just vegan food. As more people embrace veganism or convert to a vegetarian, restaurants have adjusted to the food dynamics and now provide even similar dishes as vegan-alternative. In addition to this, restaurants have also integrated other cultural food dynamics like kosher and halal food in support of such practices.

7. Transparency in Hygiene, quality and environment

As people have become more aware of what they should eat, their choices have been dictated by the mere fact of this knowledge. Restaurants that are more transparent with the hygiene of their ingredients, food preparation, cooking, staff, and just the general environment will see this trend work in their favor. People are more likely to indulge when they know what goes into making their food. Also, given how people have become picky about their eating hygiene due to the pandemic, the majority would resort to restaurants that put hygiene as a priority and are transparent with the preparation of the food.

8. LTOs and fun meals

Starbucks is thriving off of this simple strategy where they come up with one drink or snack and make it available for a limited time that creates hype. No wonder those drinks don't taste as good but still go viral because they are made to the market. As we consumers continue to snap our food and value the fact that we were amongst the first ones to taste something that is for a limited time, such trends will continue to soar and make us feel exclusive.

9. Boutique and luxury experiences to relieve stress

Social media has played a considerable part in shaping how restaurants design their food and dining experiences. Now, when customers empty their pockets, they want to show friends online. The trend of boutique and luxurious experience caters to that. From luxury food ingredients like caviar, truffle, edible gold, and the most expensive alcohol to velvet-tufted chairs, chandeliers and a rotating mirror bar, the business is not for the food alone anymore. It is for the experience and for the exclusivity of devouring the best in the world ingredients that many can only thing to have.

10. Instagrammable and social media-friendly dishes are still a thing

From the black ice-cream and buns, charcoal made waves a week years ago just as we have seen macha-flavored everything. The list of Instagrammable trends continues. What's next?

Bottom Line

Sharing food and eating experiences have defined us as a human race. It forms the bases of culture, religion, relationships, and many more things that we hold most dear, so even though we are fighting a pandemic, people still crave the restaurant experience.