Move over fast-casual, flex-casuals are gaining popularity

January 14, 2012

New attention is being given to flex-casual restaurants, a term coind by Randy Murphy, president and CEO of Mama Fu’s Asian House.What's the difference between a flex-casual restaurant and a fast-casual restaurant? The main difference is that a flex-casual restaurants main objective is to provide guests with the convenience of counter ordering by day and full service at night, whereas fast-casual typically only offers counter ordering. In other words, you can think of "flex-casual" as a cross between fast-casual and casual dining.At flex-casual restaurants, a busy executive pressed for time can grab a quick lunch,or a couple seeking a more intimate setting may choose the same restaurant for a nice dinner that evening. This dining strategy presents an opportunity for restaurants to capture both economical-minded guests at lunch while profiting from higher priced dinner menus.The Wolfgang Puck Bistro, Mama Fu's and Russo's New York Pizzeria have modeled their dining category after this concept.Mama Fu's Brand Overview

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