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The Bottom Line: Overall restaurant industry sales improved in March, according to federal data. And some trackers of major chain traffic show improvement. Others reflect a continued difficult market.
Behind the Menu: Corporate chef Chris Curtiss reworked Italian favorites with refined techniques and created new dishes and drinks for the casual-dining chain, all with an eye on affordability and seasonal ingredients.
The healthful, fast-casual concept has struck a chord as a franchise brand that plays in the same space as non-franchised Cava, Sweetgreen and Chipotle.