Fast Casual Restaurants offer a higher quality of food and atmosphere than fast food, but not the full service of casual dining. Typically, guests spend between $6 - $9 each. As a growing niche in restaurant concepts, it fills a space between the two.

Usually Counter service is accompanied by handmade food, typically seen prepared in an open kitchen. Is it the deli dressed up? You walk up to an order taker with the menu board displayed largely overhead, place the order and you wait for your name to be called or your food is brought to your table — dropped off at the table.

Health-conscious fast casual restaurants do well in this format, like Chipotle’s or similar types. The burger and fries grille does this format well, but to a lesser degree. Some restaurants that want to upscale the menu may emphasize high quality ingredients like gourmet Mexican foods or nutritious asparagus spears as appetizers. Overall, the quality of the food is presented as much higher than conventional factory-made fast food. While full table service is not offered, regular silverware is usually offered.

• Limited-service or self-service format
• Average check between $6 and $9
• Made-to-order food with more complex flavors than fast food restaurants
• A highly developed décor

Foodservice can make a marked difference in profit margins for fast casual restaurants. All that is needed is the best possible quality to match up with any number of restaurants that serve a diversity of food types: Asian, Mexican, Italian or American barbeque and chili. Foodservice, as an industry, is poised to deliver the very best for fast casual dining, and fast casual is beginning to recognize the benefits. Windsor Foods is poised to take the lead.