Joe Guszkowski

1 week ago | restaurantbusinessonline.com | Jonathan Maze |Lisa Jennings |Joe Guszkowski

FacebookTwitterLinkedInImage by Nico HeinsRestaurant operators have been hit with a lot over the past few years: A pandemic, inflation, regulations, supply shortages, labor shortages, frustration over high prices. You can now add tariffs to that list. President Trump earlier this year instituted new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China and then earlier this month announced sweeping new import taxes on the bulk of world countries.

1 week ago | restaurantbusinessonline.com | Joe Guszkowski

FacebookTwitterLinkedInA $6 value menu has been a big part of IHOP's new strategy. | Image courtesy of IHOPIHOP restaurants across the U.S. are on the lookout for a customer with a black hat and a black notebook. He always orders the pancake of the month and a spicy poblano omelette. And he’s constantly checking the time on his phone. This character is IHOP President Lawrence Kim, and if he’s eating in your restaurant, it had better be on point. “What I want to know is, first, how's the service?

1 week ago | restaurantbusinessonline.com | Joe Guszkowski

The miraculous turnaround of Chili’s under Brinker International CEO Kevin Hochman may have begun with a piece of fake news. Shortly after Hochman took the job in June 2022, he got up at the chain’s annual conference and showed off a mock cover of Inc. Magazine dated August 2025. The headline: “Chili’s is back baby!”He told the audience of Chili’s managers about the stories this hypothetical edition would contain.

1 week ago | restaurantbusinessonline.com | Heather Lalley |Joe Guszkowski |Patricia Cobe |Lisa Jennings

Get ready to see a lot more cameras in restaurants. As chains look to fine-tune operations, they are installing cameras that can gather data and help ensure that employees are executing. Some restaurants owned by franchisee Sizzling Platter are using cameras to assess whether employees are assembling products correctly and identify potential training moments, for instance.  “It’s starting to seep in a lot more,” said Jim Balis, Sizzling Platter’s board leader.

1 week ago | restaurantbusinessonline.com | Joe Guszkowski

Chili’s Grill and Bar is taking another swing at McDonald’s. The casual-dining chain on Tuesday launched the new Big QP burger, a riff on the Golden Arches’ popular Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Chili’s version contains two slices of American cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickles, diced onions, and 85% more beef than McDonald’s quarter pounder, the company said. It will be part of Chili’s 3 for Me menu, which offers an entree, bottomless chips and salsa, fries and a drink for $10.99.