Restaurants and bars have had a turbulent few years, navigating through seismic changes across the board – and while there have been endless challenges, there have been positives too. So, what will 2023 bring? In a new report, global restaurant platform Resy has outlined some of the restaurant trends set to be big news next year.
Cut Price Connoisseurs
It’s not news to anyone that we’re entering a cost-of-living crisis, which will no doubt impact the restaurant industry. Resy’s report predicts restaurants will find creative ways to keep costs down, such as using more ‘humble’ and ‘overlooked’ ingredients – from alternative cuts of meat to the parts of vegetables we tend to throw away, like carrot tops.
“Terms like nose-to-tail and zero waste will evolve from buzzwords and concepts to economic realities,” stated the report.
Mindful Drinking
The alcohol moderation trend continues to grow globally, drivel largely by consumers showing a desire to lead healthier and well-balanced lifestyles, as well as younger generations who have a different relationship with alcohol and drinking.
Widespread innovation in this categories means there is an increasing amount of consumer choice when it comes to low and no alcoholic alternatives. This makes it easier for consumers to go out and enjoy themselves without feeling the need to dink.
Cultural Hubs
The number of food halls has soared in recent years, with new spaces popping up in cities across Europe, but in 2023, Resy forecasts these will evolve into wider cultural hubs which offer not just great food and drink, but live music, DJs, comedy and films. Trailblazing the trend is Escape To Freight Island in Manchester, England, which has residencies from plenty of great restaurants and bars, but also performances from musicians and bands.
Escape To Freight Island in Manchester, England
A Helping Hand
Although the past couple of years have been hugely tough for hospitality, the challenges faced have instilled a sense of camaraderie in the industry. This will continue to be a key restaurant trend in 2023, with culinary veterans offering up their spaces to pop-ups from up-and-coming chefs.
People First
Staff shortages are one of the biggest issues in hospitality right now, mostly triggered by Covid. This means restaurants and bars are having to up their game when it comes to employee happiness, being more accommodating with things like long hours and encouraging progression.
Global Appreciation
Here in New Zealand, we love classic cuisines like Italian and French, and we’re lucky to have a thriving Asian cuisine scene – full of both traditional and fusion offerings. But the dining scene is making room for interesting new cuisines, with West African and Middle Eastern food on the rise. So which cuisines will be hot in 2023? Resy highlights Colombian and Kurdish as ones to watch.
Table For One
In the age of self-care, solo dining is growing, with the hashtags #SoloDate and #DiningAlone amassing over 150 million views on TikTok. According to Resy’s report, one in three consumers have dined alone – and restaurants are making it easier for them to do so, with counter seating becoming more and more common.
Budding Demand For Plants
While demand for plant-based cooking remains rife, restaurants no longer feel the need to pigeonhole themselves into the vegetarian category. Bubala, which recently opened a second venue in Soho, London, is entirely meat-free but is viewed simply as a great restaurant in its own right, attracting diners of all culinary inclination.
Other dining spots will continue to increase the number of plant-based options on their menus, such as Acme Fire Cult, a twist on the BBQ concept which puts vegetables front and centre.
Act Naturally
While natural wine remains something of a marmite, it’s gaining more and more fans by the day, with those in the ‘yes’ camp touting environmental benefits plus more manageable hangovers. Savvy restaurateurs and bartenders have cottoned on, and we’re seeing terms like organic, low-intervention and biodynamic (all of which fall under the ‘natural’ umbrella) popping up on wine menus aplenty.
Tech = Connect
While the restaurant industry has been a little slower than others to embrace technology, things are changing, spurred on by the pandemic. Phoning restaurants is out, booking your table online is in – and digital platforms are creating new opportunities such as venues promoting unique culinary events. QR codes are also here to stay, allowing access to online menus as well as an easy way to pay.
Resy predicts cryptocurrency will be one of the big restaurant trends for 2023, with eateries looking for new ways to engage with diners through tech.
