With new challenges and changing diner behaviour, restaurants need to change with time to keep their businesses growing and moving at the right speed.
While the global pandemic has badly affected the restaurant industry, many restaurants have adapted to ensure that this crisis doesn’t go to waste. We’ve pooled together top restaurant trends projected in 2022 that will aid you in building a better business this year.
1. Plant-based options are not going away
Plant-based food has taken the market by storm. The current demand for delicious plant-based food recipes and creative drink options continues to increase at an accelerated rate. After two years of a global crisis and multiple lockdowns later, there has been a refocus of priorities, with consumers reassessing what they eat and how it impacts the environment. 
Failing to offer vegan or vegetarian options at a restaurant could result in an opportunity lost to other restaurants that are able to provide for various diets. A good way to hop on this trend is to partner with plant-based brands like OmniFoods and TiNDLE to curate and provide creative recipes. Not only that, you would be able to tap into the brands’ following via marketing partnerships with these manufacturers.
Burger King is one dining place that you would never think of finding vegan food at, but just last year, they introduced a plant-based Whopper burger in collaboration with The Vegetarian Butcher. It turned out to be a resounding success.
2. Contactless ordering and delivery are here to stay
The unsung hero of 2020, QR codes have truly sealed its place in the zeitgeist of restaurant technology. In fact, restaurants are moving beyond just adopting QR code menus. Diners are now very particular about what they eat, and how it reaches them. Restaurants without contactless options just don’t inspire confidence in diners anymore.
Ordering and payment options like digital QR-code menus and contactless payments will become more commonplace in 2022. Newer and more advanced functions that we will be seeing more of in 2022 include features like paying and sharing an invoice with friends through an app, or even providing a completely customised experience by letting your guests or customers “assemble” the dish themselves through a digital menu system.
3. Smart Technology will do the job for you
With time, restaurant owners have switched to automated systems such as handheld food ordering machines and contactless devices and equipment, benefitting from new and advanced technologies. Not only are these practical and easy solutions for diners, but the restaurant owners have also found them very helpful.
Smart technology solutions such as ChopeVoice have proven to improve restaurant efficiency. It helps to ease your diner’s journey from start to finish by picking up their calls 24/7, removing long lines and confirming their reservations no matter where they booked from. There can be an overall better staff time-utilisation and elimination of errors in note-taking with correct and smart usage of technology.
4. Increased popularity of limited time offers
A limited time offer is a special menu item or set of menu items available for a clearly defined short period of time. It often acts as an alarm for diners, giving your restaurant a novel edge. It also helps that consumers usually have a burning desire to jump on what is exclusive before everyone else adding an extra hype for your restaurant.
Shake Shack for example, makes very good use of limited time offers to create hype. They are constantly pushing out new limited edition items every other month, which Shack fans are conditioned to look forward to.
5. Unique dining experiences, chef exchange programs, and more
With restaurants popping up left and right, it is very important to experiment new ways to set yourselves apart from the pack. It helps restaurateurs break away from the constructs of what a traditional restaurant is, offering different themes, experiences, and culinary adventures. While the work to plan the experience is demanding, the payoff is usually well worth the effort, as diners are often willing to pay more for a unique dining experience.
Some experiences that we are predicting to see more of in 2022 include multi-sensory fine dining experiences, pop-up restaurants, interactive or theatrical dining experiences, and many more. 
By staying relevant, you have the opportunity to offer regulars a new experience, as well as attract new diners looking for something out of the ordinary. The restaurant business has a whole new chapter slated for the new year that is primed for with new trends and experiences.
Interested in exploring these restaurant trends with Chope? Get in touch with our support team who’ll be happy to help.
