by Ever wonder which restaurant blogs you should be reading to stay current with industry trends? We cover all that and more in this post.
As a restaurant owner, that prides themselves on staying current with the latest business trends, you should be curious to know everything that encompasses the restaurant business and its related industries.
A great feed from multiple industry-specific blogs and publications allows you to draw inspiration from others in your space. These publications allow you to validate the ideas you have been bouncing around, knowing there is someone out there thinking the same.
You want new perspectives on the same everyday issue and they want all of this with plenty of time to spare (I mean you are running a restaurant!). Blogs are a perfect medium to get all the restaurant-related content you need, but it can also be a time consuming black hole if you don’t know where to start your search.
Reading the right content from the right sources is of the utmost importance and with this piece, we provide just that – a list of restaurant blogs which are powerhouses of great content.
This list has one simple goal, to give you an awesome range of restaurant topics and their related blogs. We want you to find something in there for you, that helps you start answering your most complex questions. We accomplish this by giving you a short description of what you can expect from the blog, what we love the most about these blogs and then some example articles so you get an idea of the topics these blogs cover.
So, let’s get started and bookmark our new favorite blogs now!
Read Also: 6 Books Restaurant Owners Must Read and How to Start an Accounting or Finance Blog in 2020
Table of Contents
The List of Top Restaurant Blogs (Every Restaurant Owner Should be Reading)
Eater
This blog masters the art of mixing the restaurant business with trendy restaurant news the consumer would enjoy. Their city, neighborhood and maps filter allows you to keep an eye out on every new development around you. It also helps you declutter your reading list, by getting right to your city-specific news.
Another noteworthy thing is their “features” and “travel” segments, which are very high quality and stand out in the time and space where everyone seems to have a travel blog. While they generally keep their general articles short and crisp, their features page contains long-form articles on really interesting and also quirky topics.
The “travel” segment is where Eater goes international. You can select your travel destinations and browse through some local food videos and recommendations to add to your next travel itinerary. Most importantly, it should give you some international inspiration to take your restaurant to the next culinary level.
Their website is updated regularly, to the extent that when you visit the city-specific pages, you will also find a “openings” section (which you should always try and get your new restaurant listed in). It is also a great place where you can update yourself with all the new restaurants or products coming out in your space.
So when you want a source to know about all the new and exciting culinary trends, or are simply watching new developments in the restaurant space, this is your go-to blog!
Did we mention, they also have their own podcast?
Interesting Articles From Eater
Why This Sushi Master Compares the Quality of His Fish to Diamonds (Video)
We know that fish picking is a high-end art and science, but comparing it to diamonds seems like a stretch – or maybe not?
Ever wondered what it is to stage at a Michelin Star? This read helps you get an idea.
This Is What Democracy Tastes Like
Why are politicians always stuffing their face with food even on camera?
Modern Restaurant Management
This blog masters the business side of the restaurant industry! What is great about Modern Restaurant Management is the tone of their articles, they are not pushy or salesy, just straight down to the facts. This restaurant blog is very straightforward and fact-oriented, which really helps them stand out in a crowded space.
Most of their articles are authored by experienced industry professionals, which is reflected in their rich pieces.
They divide their content based on business function, for instance, marketing, operations, and so on. This helps the readers get information on specific topics quickly versus hunting for the next great post.
Think of this blog as your 365-day consultant, their content is short and sweet, can be read over coffee and each article takes only 3-5 minutes to read.
https://modernrestaurantmanagement.com/
Interesting Articles From Modern Restaurant Management
Three Best Practices in Managing Online Reviews
From smallest to biggest names, this is a common struggle for players in the industry.
Restaurant Resiliency: Deploying and Securing New Operational Models
If you are struggling tough times or simply want better restaurant operations, this is a must read.
In a very traditional and human-oriented business of restaurants, very few talk about the role of and the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Sevenfifty Daily
Most restaurant software, when they have a blog, they center it around their product. It’s only natural from the business point of view to do so. Sevenfifty Daily steps away from that trend, making it one of our favorite blogs with unbiased and rich content.
Although they are a niche blog in the sense they focus only on alcoholic beverages, they are the master of the business and culture around the beverage space, and definitely worth the regular read. Their mastery is clearly reflected in their pieces, which is segmented and sub-segmented very systematically.
From articles covering emerging trends to discussing selective drinks such as exclusive Japanese whiskeys, to opinion pieces from experts – they cover it all.
We also loved their section called “unsung heroes”, where they feature personalities doing worthy work in the space.
If you are in the beverage industry, or even a restaurant with a small bar, this is your new beverage home on the internet.
Interesting Articles From Sevenfifty Daily
The Science of Sweetness in Cocktails
Always interesting to read about the science behind your drinks, which will push your creativity when launching new cocktails.
The truth about Barley’s role in Whiskey
A myth busting article about the conventional wisdom of Barley.
Lots of experts pitch in to give in their 2 cents and experiences on wine ratings.
Toast
Toast is a restaurant product company and has deep expertise in the food industry which they articulate well throughout their blog. Covering a wide range of topics from training & hiring to marketing to menu management, the blog has a plethora of tips and advice that come handy to anyone in the restaurant space. One of our favorite sections on this blog is the metrics. Very few blogs give so much attention to the very important restaurant metrics.
As the name suggests, metrics discuss all things analytical and it’s especially useful for business owners that do not have a strong business background or education. Both easy and complex topics of finance, KPIs, funding, and the likes are explained in an easy to understand language.
Think of this blog as your restaurant bachelor’s degree (RestaurantAccounting.net is still your MBA 🙂 ) and go get your restaurant concepts strengthened.
Interesting Articles From Toast
Whip Your Restaurant Loyalty Program Into Shape [Infographic]
Every business should consider a loyalty program.
Table for 2: Helpful Tips To Calculate Your Average Party Size
Very interesting topic not common in restaurant based blogs.
The Server Tip Credit Debate: Should Your Restaurant Keep Tipping?
Always a topic of debate and well covered in this piece.
RestaurantAccounting.net
Of course, we couldn’t leave ourselves off the list! This blog was started by me, Zachary, and because I believe that restaurateurs and their teams should not be overwhelmed by the world of finances and accounting.
To win in the restaurant world where the success rate is less than 10%, anything to help you get ahead of the competition is invaluable and that is exactly why I post restaurant content on this blog.
This blog covers things like:
- how to solve The Restaurant CFO and finance problems in a simple and concise format.
- What software and services are cost-effective and essential.
- Cheap, simple and DIY ‘finance hacks’ to help keep your books in order and expand your businesses working capital (that’s right I help you make more money here too).
Sign up for my newsletter below:
RestaurantAccounting.net was created for all of the restaurants, bars, and cafe owners out there who just need some great advice. All of your questions about accounting, finance, working capital, margins, and business success will be answered here.
Interesting Articles From RestaurantAccounting.net
Restaurant Purchases Versus Cost of Goods Sold
Most restaurant owners and operators don’t know the difference between purchases and cost of goods sold for their restaurant, this piece explains it clearly.
What Should You Pay a Restaurant General Manager?
Your restaurant general manager is the leader that holds your restaurant together. What are they worth to your restaurant?
Restaurant Technology Guys
The author, Jeremy spent most of his life in the restaurant technology industry and knows the ins and outs of the space. His podcast and blog focus on the challenges and issues of technology systems in restaurants.
He is known to cover really exciting and relevant topics as well as bringing big-named guests on his podcasts (like me!), and it is definitely worth a listen. His blog is modern in the sense that he publishes mostly podcast and less long-form articles, so is also an easy win for your morning commute, run or office work.
He also has a lot of restaurant resources in the video format for all those that prefer to see it rather than read it.
For all restaurant things digital and technology, you will find your answer or solution there.
https://restauranttechnologyguys.com/
Interesting Articles From Restaurant Technology Guys
Restaurant Traffic Dying? Blame Millennials
One of the few written resources on the site, and also one of the few blogs focused on this interesting perspective.
A Restaurant Chatbot: Does Your Restaurant Need One?
Not something most restaurant owners consider, but this article may just change your perspective.
How Smaller Restaurants can Take Advantage of Restaurant Voice Ordering
Good read especially since voice search and voice orders are gaining momentum.
Restaurant Engine
If and when you plan to bring your restaurant online, be it creating a website or a mobile app – let this blog be your guide. Even if you already have an online presence, spending time on this site will prove fruitful. The blog is from a company that helps restaurants build a strong and welcoming online presence. They are great at using their industry-specific experience to translate lessons learning in an easy and understandable format.
Their blog, however, does not restrict the topics to online tools but covers a whole range of restaurant topics for its readers to learn from and enjoy.
Considering modern times, an online presence is a necessary evil and this can be your guide before and through the development process.
Interesting Articles From Restaurant Engine
4 Things to Consider When Choosing Your Restaurant Location
Always helpful to get insights from multiple sources to better guide your decisions.
Online Ordering Apps your Customers Will Love
One of those resources is a piece with a good curated list.
Innovative Restaurants Begin Selling Groceries, Meal Kits
This may or may not be on your agenda, but good to be aware of all opportunities and possibilities.
Fast Casual
Fast Casual is a great resource for anyone in the fast-casual space. With a wide range of topics, there are sure to be some useful resources hidden away. For instance, they cover a lot on the topic of franchising which is a topic missed by most restaurant blogs. They also cover delivery in-depth, which is gaining momentum now more than ever before. POS, technology, staffing, operations are some other segments that they deep dive into on a regular basis in their blog.
They also have a lot of interesting white papers and webinars as part of their resources, and many of them are curated by top industry experts signaling high-quality content.
Also a good resource to find the next restaurant event and summit you should attend.
Interesting Articles From Fast Casual
How restaurants can adjust operations and marketing amidst market uncertainty
Restaurants being a volatile industry, having a backup kit of action items is always a wise choice.
Leveraging technology to manage restaurant labor costs
An issue many restaurants face, well covered in this white paper from them.
Sustainability: A New Track To Profit (Slides)
Compiled by industry leaders and includes actionable advice.
Read Also: What Does 86 ‘Eighty-Sixed’ Mean in Restaurants?
Upserve
Having an extensive range of products meant only for the restaurant business makes them one of the experts in the space. You will agree with us when you read their blog. Covering almost all business functions from marketing to automation to operations they have a good library of quick reads.
They are great at finding and including quotes from top industry experts to supplement their nuanced points. This also makes it easy to read pieces as it both increases their credibility and gives us new experts to follow.
However, there is one downside to their blog, many articles are focused on marketing their product. You may have to shift through those to find the gems.
When you do visit their blog, you might also want to check out their free tools like a menu builder or food cost calculator.
Interesting Articles From Upserve
Store Atmospherics & The Art of Sound Design Marketing
Sound design may be something not everyone is aware of, and is a fascinating concept.
Does Tipping Contribute to Sexual Harassment in Restaurants?
A very riveting piece on something every restaurant faces.
Why Bartender Education Matters
Worth pondering and implementing.
National Coffee Association Blog
National Coffee Association was the first trade association in the coffee industry and yes, they know their coffee and the business around it. Most importantly, their blog is a communal platform, and that’s why the articles are coming from not just them, but also from other individuals and organizations who know the business. They cover a wide range of topics ranging from educating the readers about the science of coffee, nutrition, labeling, trends in the industry, innovations in the space, networking possibilities, sustainability practices, and many more. Whether you are reading from a business owner’s point of view, or an individual learning how to efficiently clean your coffee machine, their variety of articles caters to everyone.
Whether you are a coffee lover or a cafe owner, for all things coffee now you know the blog to go to.
Interesting Articles From The National Coffee Association Blog
Can Olympic Athletes Have Caffeine?
This definitely raises curiosity among all readers.
What Are We Drinking? Understanding Coffee Consumption Trends
Adjusting to new trends is important for any restaurant, cafe, bar and this is one of those pieces helping you get an idea of what is going on.
5 Attempts to Ban Coffee in History
Understanding history is important to understand how the world developed and to predict the change in the future.
The Restaurant Times
Very few blogs are as extensive as this The Restaurant Times. Whether it’s their topics, categories, or regions – they are pretty expansive and don’t miss a beat. One of the most noteworthy things on this blog is their coverage on the issues that restaurants commonly face. For instance, they write on topics like food wastage, thefts, pilferage, customer attrition, and so on.
They have many downloadable resources such as liquor cost control kit, restaurant manager duties checklist, and so on. They are in an easy to use format and very popular among their readers.
If you want that one restaurant place where you can find anything and everything, this could be it.
https://www.posist.com/restaurant-times/
Interesting Articles From The Restaurant Times
Restaurant Event Ideas For Attracting More Footfall And Increasing Sales
Want ideas beyond live music and football viewings, this is your piece.
Effective Restaurant Menu Pricing Strategies For Building A Profitable Menu
Very few strategy articles give you simple and easy to execute plans, this one does so successfully.
Top Restaurant Owner Duties You Should Never Neglect to Run a Successful Restaurant
Delegation, something most owners struggle with. This piece focuses on where you should and shouldn’t delegate.
Perfect Daily Grind
You would be surprised that a blog that covers coffee can be this plentiful. It’s not just the in-depth topics but also the category management that makes this blog an absolute must-read if you want to explore the coffee niche.
First off, they have article segregation based on the type of reader or interest, such as whether you are an owner or a Barista.
Second off, they cover the sub-segments in-depth, such as roasting, brewing, consumers, and more. Readers have the luxury to find very specific tops and navigate to their interests easily.
They cover everything from how to make certain coffee drinks to the history of different beans. They don’t stop there but also cover the processes and trends to the business side of coffee and cafes.
It is possible to spend hours on this blog without a coffee 🙂 .
https://perfectdailygrind.com/
Interesting Articles From Perfect Daily Grind
How Café Owners Can Tap Into The Cold Brew Market
A very common additional product for cafe owners, yet difficult to implement. This guide gives great insights.
Managing Staff Shortages During Seasonal Peak Periods
A problem not just specific to coffee shops, every restaurant owner or operator could get something out of this.
How to Manage Staff Discipline in Your Café
Issues like this can get tricky, and having more insights on such topics is always a delightful read.
BevSpot
Another blog from a restaurant-specific software product, but one of the better ones that does not focus solely on pushing their own products. One really cool thing about this blog is how they have rich insights in 2 minutes on their series of articles called “2 minute Tuesdays”. They have text and video for the same content, catering to both learning styles.
Another thing about the blog that captured us is they have an entire category featuring industry profiles. It is fascinating to read about other restaurateurs who made it big, how they made it to the next level, or what they do to keep themselves relevant.
Some of their articles have really fun writing style which makes them easy reads even after a long day at work.
Want your quick daily dose, one insight a day to think about? This is the place.
Interesting Articles From BevSpot
2-Minute Tuesdays: Crafting a Winning Team Culture
Many owners overlook the importance of this considering the other things they need to focus on, reminders like these are good!
2-Minute Tuesdays: Fighting Inventory Fatigue
Mistakes like this could cost a fortune, being aware and knowing how to tackle this is always a great idea.
2-Minute Tuesdays: Healthy Relationships with Your Vendor Reps
Whether they are new to you, or you have been working with them for years, investing in relationships is a continuous process, and an influx of new ideas could be helpful.
Grub Street
You probably already read this, or at least know about it. One of the most famous restaurant blogs out there (I may just be a biased New Yorker). Their writing style is one of our favorite things about the blog, it just never gets boring. They pick topics that are as fun as their writing format. It is the A-Z guide for anything food and dining related, whether you want the best whiskey in New York or you want the new top of the line broiler for your kitchen. It doesn’t stop there though, covering topics like which sourdough bread people are baking or expert interviews, the blog offers it all.
Probably the only downside is the geography focus (New York), but again, very few areas have the kind of dining experience that New York offers. What better way to learn or get inspired than from these New York-based stories.
Even after a tiring day, these articles will only fill you with enthusiasm and inspiration for your restaurant empire.
Interesting Article From Grub Street
I’m Surviving Quarantine by Cooking Gourmet Stoner Food for My 5-Year-Old
The piece is more fun than the title itself, we will say no more.
The Best Sheet Pans, According to Bakers and Chefs (and One Candy Artist)
So you do not have to waste time on research, here is a complete guide.
This Compact, Do-It-All Oven Makes Me Feel Like Julia Child in Quarantine
As owners, you definitely want to know about the coolest newest kitchen toys.
CandyBar
CandyBar Blog is a sub-product of software that helps restaurants gain customer loyalty. They work with both small, medium, and large restaurant businesses, and this is well reflected in their blog as they have a wide range of pieces.
They also include a lot of creative related content, such as those highlighting the restaurant colors, logos, brand names to inspire you. Think of this as a mini-pinterest for your restaurant ideas. Another interesting and valuable part of their blog is the coverage of personal stories of their clients and merchants.
The personal touch is a nice read and breaks from all things business.
Their blog is very easy reading on both interesting and personal topics.
Interesting Articles From CandyBar
26 of the Best Restaurant Logos Examples – And How you can create a great restaurant logo
Some creative logos to get your creative mind turning.
What Small Businesses can do in the Slow Season: Experts Weigh In
Ideas from reads like this can act as a tipping point for surviving the off season.
Why Frank Body’s Hotel Pink Is An Effective Loyalty Program For Customer Retention
Case studies are great resources to help you improve how you think about your restaurant.
Now pick your favorite restaurant blog!
We hope that by now you already made your top choices of restaurant blogs to follow if you haven’t followed all of them. Great restaurant blogs will give you the drive and ideas to take your restaurant to the next level. Isn’t it time you built a more profitable and successful restaurant empire?
Even though we highlighted lots of reading options for restaurant owners, we trust you that you know how to balance keeping up with all of them efficiently. It is the perk of the profession.
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