The term restaurant refers to a business that offers food services for eat-in customers or for take-away customers. It may also refer to a single-site establishment where meals are served as well as other food services. In other words, the term restaurant means a building, usually of multi-level construction, which houses restaurants. A restaurant may also refer to a single-site establishment that serves only lunch or dinner. Also referred to as a cafe, diner, or bistro.
In terms of geography, the restaurant industry dominates the United States and Canada. Statistics indicate that the United States generates around 80% of its total revenue through dining establishments. This figure is much higher when including government revenues. In Canada, Statistics Canada reports that roughly half of all business revenues generated in the country (including from provincially and federally funded enterprises) come from the restaurant industry. In fact, over half of all restaurants in the Canadian provinces generate at least some of their revenue from the hospitality industry.
French, Italian, American, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Middle Eastern, and South Asian restaurants can be found across North America. Some of these are small family restaurants that are usually located in suburban neighborhoods although there are also larger hotels that serve many different cuisines and cultures. A large percentage of American dining establishments are chain restaurants although there are also independent operators such as bars, taverns, and cafes that have expanded on the chain concept. Some of these restaurants are family-owned and operated and serve affordable, quality food.
Some popular American restaurants include Wingnut House, Carl’s Restaurant, Babalou Restaurant, and Babalou Cafe. In addition, there are fast food restaurants that offer a variety of lunch and dinner menus, some of which are found at chains like McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and Subway. There is also a new trend opening up called “family friendly” restaurants where the employees provide free child care and welcome parents into their establishments. Most of these establishments are found in suburban areas and in some cases they resemble traditional French, Italian, or American pubs and restaurants.
Another type of restaurant that is popular in Canada is the take-out restaurant. These types of restaurants generate much of their sales from the local community. For example, Chinese take-out restaurants commonly dine at homes, offices, schools, and public buildings throughout Canada. In addition, many franchises of pizza franchises have been set up in the local area to provide easy access to a large customer base. In this case, the local economy depends on the success of these restaurants and many of the residents elect to live within walking distance of them for their everyday food business.
In the United States, the largest sector of the restaurant industry is the food service industry, which includes full-service eateries, casual dining, bars and clubs, caterers, and privately owned hotels. The majority of these businesses are located in metropolitan areas. In addition, there are very few small restaurants in the United States. The most popular American restaurants are located in the cities of New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, San Diego, Seattle, and San Jose. This trend has been attributed to the fact that many Americans prefer to eat out instead of eating in a restaurant. Also, the cost of eating out in an American restaurant is often more than in a Chinese restaurant.
Although it may be challenging to break into a restaurant business in Canada, there are certain measures and strategies that can help. For example, many restaurants offer financing options for new owners. For existing restaurant owners, it may be wise to consult with local banks and consult with them about financing options. Also, many restaurants offer owner loans and commercial loans to new business owners.
Overall, the food business in Canada is successful due to the competition of these restaurants. Many people choose to eat out at restaurants instead of going to the local eateries. Restaurants also cater to children who have become more interested in food. There are many different types of restaurants in Canada and they cater to the taste of almost everyone.
