facebook pixal

Restaurant Rewind

`Those who don’t know their history are destined to relive it', to riff on the words of a famed philosopher. For anyone in the restaurant business, that oft-quoted saying may be more of a heartening promise than a dire admonition. The industry’s past is packed with tales of scoundrels and heroes, big thinkers and pinheads, colossal successes and dismal failures, breakthrough moves and self-inflicted destruction. Few soap operas pack as much color and drama. Yet those yellowed snapshots provide insights relevant to the challenges of today. Join Peter Romeo, a 41-year veteran of the business with a penchant for restaurant history, as he explores those pivotal moments from the past. 

Food

Remembering the great product bombs of the past

Restaurant Rewind: With Starbucks promising yet another breakthrough menu introduction, the time is right to see how past promised game-changers actually fared.

Operations

What's so special about In-N-Out?

Restaurant Rewind: The uninitiated will be asking themselves that very question when the brand hits the East Coast. Here’s a look at the quirks that have helped make the chain a cult favorite.

Restaurant Rewind: The man knew biscuits and burgers as well as he knew the route to the Super Bowl.

Restaurant Rewind: It's a mystery with no fewer than five claimants to the title of innovator.

Restaurant Rewind: The notion of forgoing dining areas to rely on delivery and takeout has been around since at least the Eisenhower administration. Here are two cases in point.

Restaurant Rewind: Old is new again as chains ranging from Outback to Wendy’s resurrect classic ad themes for another go. So where’s the beef in these new efforts?

Restaurant Rewind: Earlier diversification attempts have been short-lived. Here’s what went wrong in those efforts.

Restaurant Rewind: Dayparts are being varied as much as menus these days. The trend started 45 years ago with a brand called Le Peep.

Restaurant Rewind: The graybeards are planning comebacks. Here’s how they changed the game 60 years ago.

The restaurant industry is entering a new year with more distance from the bleakest days of the crisis than the calendar might suggest.

  • Page 1