Noodles & Company is adding a temporary $1 surcharge to all dishes featuring chicken to fight against soaring costs for the protein, the chain said this week. More than half of all customers at the pasta chain order chicken dishes and Noodles has watched its chicken costs climb 70% during the first quarter, compared to… read more

The Cheesecake Factory reported that staffing is no longer a problem for the casual-dining chain as it’s now above pre-pandemic staff levels despite a labor crisis in the restaurant industry. “We now have approximately 1% more staff members than we did just prior to the pandemic,” said CEO and chairman David Overton. They also have 3% more staff than at the end of 2021. Applicants-to-needs ratios are at the highest… read more

Starbucks has hired a former McDonald’s executive to oversee technology as returning CEO Howard Schultz explores changes to the coffee chain’s drive-thru, mobile order-and-pay, and other systems. Deb Hall Lefevre will become Starbucks’ chief technology officer on May 2, according to a spokesperson. She takes over for Hans Melotte, who served as interim CTO for… read more

Old Metairie’s newest restaurant will be built upon old experiences passed down for generations. TANA is the latest concept from award-winning Executive Chef Michael Gulotta, who already oversees Mopho and Maypop in the New Orleans area. Gulotta is teaming up with longtime friend and business partner Jeff Bybee to introduce a dining experience on Metairie Road… read more

BJ’s Restaurants CEO Greg Levin feels nothing but encouragement as the calendar glides through April, and for good reason. After seeing two-year same-store sales sink 3.3 percent in December and 6.4 percent in January, comps returned to positive at 1.2 percent in March and mid-single-digit growth in April. Restaurants are averaging $118,000 in weekly sales, a 1.2… read more

Sweet Treats Moms take on many different roles, and she deserves a dessert as versatile as she is – like TGI Fridays’ new Mother of All Desserts. The dessert includes a full slice of Cinnabon Caramel Cheesecake, a house-made giant OREO Cookie topped with Cookies & Creams ice creams and sprinkles, and the ultimate side… read more

To say that the hospitality industry has shifted over the past two years is an understatement. And as we contemplate this “new normal,” it’s important for hospitality operators to understand that their playbook essentials need to shift if they want to remain successful. In an industry that was historically slow and resistant to embrace technology, QR… read more

New items make up 30 percent on Friendly’s revamped menu . . . . Friendly’s Embarks on New Culinary Adventure When Amici Partners Group officially purchased Friendly’s out of bankruptcy in early 2021, it wasn’t doing so as an unfamiliar party. Investors of the company have been involved with the legacy chain in several capacities over the… read more