Earls is an upscale casual dining restaurant chain that's now using a prototype restaurant in Calgary called 'Earls.67' in order to test out the many ways it might enhance the restaurant experience.
A few of the experiments that are ongoing at Earls.67 include conscious sourcing, a minimum 16% hospitality charge that replaces tipping, plus a build-your-own meal menus. Items on the menu are served in smaller portions that allow patrons to sample both healthy and indulgent offerings in a guilt-free format. Menu items are also clearly marked with terms like Gluten Aware, Vegetarian and Ocean Friend, a term that means an item has been recommended by the Vancouver Aquarium.
The size of this Vancouver-based chain has always prevented it from testing out new ideas quickly, but this prototype restaurant makes it possible for action to be taken at a much more rapid pace.
Upscale Prototype Restaurants
'Earls.67' Helps Earls Experiment with Layouts, Menus and More
Trend Themes
1. Prototype Restaurants - Restaurant chains are utilizing prototype restaurants to test out various enhancements for the customer experience.
2. Conscious Sourcing - More restaurants are adopting conscious sourcing to provide customers with ethical and sustainable food options.
3. Build-your-own Meal Menus - Restaurants are experimenting with build-your-own meal menus to provide customers with personalized dining experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Casual Dining - Casual dining restaurants are using prototype restaurants to experiment with new enhancements for customer experiences.
2. Hospitality - The hospitality industry is seeing a shift towards conscious sourcing and ethical food options for customers.
3. Food and Beverage - The food and beverage industry is experimenting with personalized dining experiences through build-your-own meal menus.