FSR

25/07/2025

Cheers to Friday! 🍺 Some good news heading into the weekend: Beer isn’t going anywhere.

New data shows keg sales now make up 55% of on-premise beer orders, and alcohol accounts for nearly 1 in 5 dollars spent at full-service restaurants.

Whether it’s craft, import, premium light, or even non-alc, beer is still a profit-driving pillar of beverage strategy. From sports bars to gastropubs, tap handles remain a smart—and social—investment.

Get the full breakdown 👉 https://lnkd.in/e8PNJK7X

24/07/2025

What if the future of hospitality isn’t about chasing trends, but returning to the basics of good food and genuine care?

Fogo de Chão CEO Barry McGowan shares why he’s betting big on inclusive, whole-food dining. That means more than just accommodating allergies—it’s about creating a culinary experience that’s indulgent and nourishing, welcoming everyone to the table, no matter their lifestyle or food philosophy.

“At its best, hospitality isn’t about one-size-fits-all service,” McGowan writes. “It’s about seeing and serving the individual.”

Read why he believes personalization and joy can (and should) go hand in hand:
👉 https://www.fsrmagazine.com/feature/feeding-every-tribe-why-inclusive-whole-food-dining-is-the-future-of-hospitality/

23/07/2025

PopStroke is growing—fast. ⛳ Since 2023, the tech-forward mini-golf-meets-restaurant concept has grown 240%, with plans to hit 150–200 locations nationwide.

Now it’s expanding into new markets like Nashville, Austin, and California.

Founder Greg Bartoli says PopStroke was built to appeal to everyone—from kids and families to date nights and seniors. And with this new growth chapter, it’s ready to prove it.

📍 See what’s coming next: https://www.fsrmagazine.com/feature/why-popstroke-is-poised-for-a-tech-fueled-growth-push/

22/07/2025

From server to franchisor, Amol Kohli’s story is one for the books. At 15, he was taking breakfast orders at Friendly's Restaurants. Now, he owns the entire company that owns Friendly’s.

Kohli, one of the brand’s most successful franchisees, just acquired BRIX Holdings, the multi-brand franchisor behind Friendly’s, Clean Juice, Red Mango, and more.

Read more:

Friendly’s has been a part of Amol Kohli’s life since he was 15 years old, when he started working at the legacy American diner-style chain as a breakfast table server. That evolved into owning, managing, developing, and overseeing more than 30 locations over the last 16 years, with the help of ...

21/07/2025

SPB Hospitality has agreed to sell Old Chicago, marking the next step in its ongoing portfolio evolution, CEO Josh Kern confirmed to FSR.

🍕 Founded in 1976, Old Chicago was part of the original lineup when Fortress Investment Group acquired CraftWorks out of bankruptcy in 2020. There are 54 Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom locations today, according to its website. It had more than 109 nationwide in 2017.

Read more: https://www.fsrmagazine.com/feature/spb-hospitality-agrees-to-sell-old-chicago-pizza-taproom/

18/07/2025

🇨🇦 Olive Garden is going big in Canada.

As part of a newly signed development agreement, Recipe Unlimited Corporation now holds exclusive rights to expand Olive Garden across the country.

🔗 Read more: https://www.fsrmagazine.com/feature/olive-garden-taps-1200-unit-company-to-fuel-international-expansion/

16/07/2025

📢 Big leadership shift: Dave & Buster's has tapped former KFC U.S. President Tarun Lal as its new CEO.

After a failed transformation plan, the chain is hoping the 25-year Yum! Brands veteran can lead a successful turnaround.

Read more about the leadership change and what’s next ⬇️

On Tuesday, Dave & Buster’s announced KFC veteran Tarun Lal as its new CEO. Lal comes with more than 25 years of experience at Yum! Brands, most recently serving as president of KFC U.S. Before that, he served as KFC Global COO and managing director for KFC Middle East, Turkey, Africa, India, and ...

15/07/2025

🎸 From street musician to rooftop chef, chef Alex Smith brings a decade of fine-dining experience, R&D chops, and serious hospitality passion to Urban Oak Raleigh, the tallest rooftop lounge in the metro area.

Located atop the dual-branded Homewood Suites by Hilton and Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown, Urban Oak is redefining hotel dining with communal small plates, fast-paced service, skyline views, and a “just a great neighborhood spot” vibe.

🌿 Globally inspired tapas
🔥 Served as ready, no 20-minute waits
📊 Data-driven kitchen ops
🧑‍🍳 Small team, big mentorship

🔗 📖 Read the full story: https://www.fsrmagazine.com/feature/chef-alex-smith-on-reaching-new-heights-from-rd-to-raleighs-rooftop/

15/07/2025

🚨 A megamerger could be on the menu. The two companies combined earned nearly $100 billion in sales last year.

🔗 Read more: https://www.fsrmagazine.com/feature/report-us-foods-could-merge-with-performance-food-form-nations-largest-distributor/

14/07/2025

🥚 Bright yellow egg chairs. Jurassic Pork Benedicts. Boozy brunch cocktails with a side of purpose.

Breakfast Republic just turned 10—and it’s still serving bold flavors, cage-free eggs, and community love across 16 locations (and counting) in SoCal. All without private equity.

Read how founder Johan Engman built a brunch empire with values at the core: https://www.fsrmagazine.com/feature/breakfast-republics-journey-from-scrappy-startup-to-beloved-brand/

11/07/2025

From Portillo's to pizza, Nick Scarpino is the new CEO of Giordano's Pizza. 🍕

A lifelong Chicagoan (and longtime deep-dish superfan), Scarpino is blending hometown pride with a bold new vision for the brand.

👀 What’s coming:
✔️ A digital ordering app + loyalty program
✔️ Tavern-style pizza this fall
✔️ Collabs with local icons like Weber Grill Restaurant & Buona
✔️ A whole lot of Chicago pride

“Rule number one at Giordano's is don’t ruin the brand,” he says.

Read more about his plan for the future of the beloved deep-dish chain,
👉 https://www.fsrmagazine.com/feature/giordanos-new-ceo-is-a-superfan-with-a-strategy/

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘚𝘙’𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 PMQ Pizza.

09/07/2025

🍽️ Our Top 50 Independent Restaurants of 2025 report is here—and these community-led gems prove hospitality still leads the way.

Powered by FSR reader nominations, our 2025 list features restaurants redefining what independent full-service dining means in today’s landscape, such as:
✨ Sisters - The Living Room Cafe by Sumontita "Tammie" Disayawathana — A D.C. living-room cafe turned neighborhood staple
🍷 Corsica Wine Bar - Denver — Barcelona Wine Bar's Mediterranean sister concept
🇭🇳 Alma Cafe — New Orleans meets Honduran heritage with purpose
🌮 Parche Oakland & Jaji — Oakland’s powerhouse duo bringing multidimensional flavor to Afghan and Colombian cuisine
🎲 Your 3rd Spot — Atlanta’s game‑centric restaurant reshaping service & culture
🍤 Stiltsville Fish Bar — Miami Beach seafood by Grove Bay Hospitality
🥩 Toups' Meatery — New Orleans Cajun flavors by Isaac Toups
🥘 Nightshade Noodle Bar — Lynn, MA’s bold French‑Vietnamese fusion
🍝 Glorietta Trattoria — Jackson Hole’s charming Italian newcomer
🥩 Carversteak — Las Vegas’ modern American steakhouse experience..and so many more!

🔗 Dive into the full feature—and discover why these are the places to watch in 2025:

Beloved by locals and industry insiders alike, these indie eateries are capturing hearts and leading the charge in community-centered hospitality.