Five of the highest-grossing independent restaurants in the U.S. are in the nation’s capital, from one of America’s oldest places to talk politics to a newcomer owned by a consortium of family farms.
The Buzz: Successful menu additions in 2016 included the Le Diplomate Glaces Cart with house-made ice creams and sorbets sold streetside in nice weather.
The fast-growing cookie franchise, which lost sales and profits last year, is introducing “Mini Mondays,” making available its smaller cookies for sale every Monday.
Taste Tracker: Bacon stars at Wayback and Black Bear Diner; Starbucks and Hooters kick up the heat; On the Border is ready for Cinco de Mayo; and more menu news of the week.
Flynn, already the world’s largest franchisee of the casual-dining chain, is acquiring 26 restaurants from an existing franchisee and is making plans to open 25 new locations by 2031.