Top restaurant industry trends that you will notice during 2023. Part 1.
With 2023 right around the corner, it’s time to look at emerging restaurant industry trends. Restaurant platform Places App has outlined some of the industry trends set to be big news this year, so you can stay competitive by including them in your restaurants.
Trend #1: Southeast Asian flavours
According to the National Restaurant Association, trending global flavours for 2023 will include delicious dishes from Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It is expected that these cuisines will take centre stage in the coming year.
Viet Grill balances its quantity with quality, and perhaps the best way to sample what’s on offer here is to order the sharing platter, which lets you sample the imperial spring rolls, coconut chicken curry, Saigon pork belly stew, caramelised claypot Mekong catfish and banana fritters for £28 a head.
Viet Grill: 58 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DP | Book HERE
Trend #2: Comfort food
Comfort foods will be trendy as the winter turns into spring across the UK. They are so popular because they provide psychological comfort. Oftentimes, these foods remind us of fond memories or occasions, birthdays and holidays, connected to friends or relatives.
What’s better than a bowl of mashed potatoes or a juicy cheeseburger served with a chocolate milkshake? Restaurants that focus on comfort food, such as The Camberwell Arms include biryani, brothy noodles, hearty shepherd’s pie, or just a huge Sunday roast. Their spicy merguez meatballs are served on a bed of light, brothy moghrabieh and topped with cooling yoghurt.
Camberwell Arms: Studio 4, 65 Camberwell Church St, London SE5 8JB | Book HERE
Trend #3: Vegetarian and vegan restaurants
YouGov’s tracker data suggest the size of the UK’s vegan population at 2–3% and the vegetarian population at 5–7%. Triggered by an awareness of the environment and concerns about animal welfare, this trend is expected to grow considerably in the coming years and is reflected in the number of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, all of which now offer more varied menus.
Cafe Van Gogh The Brixton-based neighbourhood haunt is doing a lot of good for society while serving delicious plant-based dishes made using seasonal ingredients. It operates on a not-for-profit basis as a social enterprise running training programmes for people with additional challenges, such as learning disabilities or mental health issues. The cafe serves food all day, with a menu that changes every six to eight weeks in line with the seasons.
Café Van Gogh: 88 Brixton Road, London, United Kingdom, SW98BE | Book HERE
Trend #4: Local farms and planet support
More and more customers are sensitive to the origin of products and favour short circuits, which allows grouped purchases directly from local producers. They favour organic products and pay attention to the seasonality of fruits and vegetables to limit CO2 emissions linked to transportation. Offer healthy alternatives, low in fat, sugar and salt, in 2023, and make sure you offer products that align with the emergence or affirmation of these values.
Farmacie was founded by natural farming advocate Camilla Fayed, who created a restaurant where the food was good for both people and for the planet. Ingredients come from a farm in Kent, which is organic and biodynamic, a form of agriculture based on seeing our planet as a whole. The menu is filled with artistically presented, veg-centric dishes like falafel waffles, mushroom and beetroot burgers, miso-roasted aubergine and Mexican salad bowls.
Farmacie: 74–76 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5SH | Book HERE
Trend #5: Responsible restaurants
Where environmental awareness is reflected on the plate and the establishments themselves. This translates into recycling, reducing waste production and energy consumption, purchasing from sustainable suppliers, supporting Ukraine etc. All these commitments must be relayed to the public via the media and social networks as an effective selling point.
Indigo upmarket restaurant is nestled within One Aldwych hotel. Chef Dominic Teague has long been following the art of foraging and works with nature’s calendar at the centre of his menu. Sustainable ingredients include ironbark pumpkin, chervil root, wood sorrel and wild sea beet. Expect the unexpected here and food-themed around the great British outdoors. Indigo also devises some fantastic free-from menus — perfect if you steer clear of dairy or gluten.
In the Places
Indigo: 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ | Book HERE
The Places App (here for iOS, here for Android) is a revolutionary tool that can help restaurants in the UK stay ahead of the competition and stay in trend.
With its digital loyalty system, restaurants can easily reward their loyal customers and incentivize repeat business.
The Promo feature allows them to promote their specials and new dishes to a wider audience, helping to attract new customers and increase sales.
In addition, the Places App offers an easy-to-use platform for ordering food or takeaway, making it easy for customers to order from their favourite restaurants. This can help increase sales and customer loyalty.
