Exclusive

Proprietary content available exclusively to members.

BECOME A MEMBER NOW
Food

Restaurant menus warm up with winter specials

Taste Tracker: Carrabba’s Italian spin on comfort; hearty Mexican fare at Abuelo’s and Taco John’s; Smashburger partners with Rick Bayless; and holiday-ready sweet treats.

Financing

Steak chains are winning the restaurant recovery

The Bottom Line: Higher prices and demand for celebrations have taken steak chains to new heights. A look at the winners and losers from Q3.

The Bottom Line: The company says it is not for sale. But valuation concerns and a lack of obvious buyers make a deal especially complicated.

The Bottom Line: With five companies having gone, and three more planning to go public, chains are finding a more receptive environment. But volatility could change that.

Sourcing beef and pork from smaller local producers will alleviate some supply chain headaches. And it’s not necessarily more expensive.

The Bottom Line: IPO investors have made newly public chains more valuable than other concepts with much longer track records.

Taste Tracker: TGI Fridays’ seasonal cocktails; Chopt goes to Mexico and Del Taco does tamales; Smashburger and Main Event shake things up; plants, burgers, chicken and pizza continue to trend.

Reality Check: The job of taking orders and settling bills may be one of the tech boom's first casualties or major benefits, depending on your perspective.

The Bottom Line: The salad chain’s market debut was one of the year’s best in the industry. But skepticism about its long-term prospects remains.

Companies like Chili’s and Texas Roadhouse are buying back franchises in a reversal of the refranchising approach that has held sway for decades.

  • Page 95