Don’t look now, but the US is rapidly turning from a fast food nation to a fast, casual and, increasingly, fresh food nation.

The reason for this change in dining habits? There are several.

• Growing concern about health, nutrition and the nation’s soaring obesity rate
• Increased desire for better, tastier more nutritious food is another
• Developing interests in distinctive flavor profiles

It’s no wonder. Clearly, the luster of the golden arches and other post World War II roadside dining icons has diminished significantly.

According to an article in Business Insider, sales of McDonald’s in the United States fell 3.3 percent in the last quarter, and other chains fared even worse. This marks the continuation of a long-term downward trend.

A Shift Away from Mass-Produced Fast Food

“There’s a shift away from the perception of food that is mass-produced towards food that is perceived to be more homemade or artisanal or sustainably produced,” said Keith-Thomas Ayoob, associate clinical professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. “Consumers want to feel that they’re doing healthier things and eating a healthier diet.”

Articles in the Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports and FastCasual.com, a trade publication for quick-casual restaurants like Reston’s own Cafesano, reported similar findings.

FastCasual.com attributed this decline in fast food dining to changes in consumer attitudes. FastCasual.com also cited new research from brand consultancy group Brand Keys of 3,000 consumers spanning the Baby Boomer, Gen X and Millennial generations.

“You only have to look at the same-store sales of brands like McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell to see the shift that’s taking place,” Brand Keys Founder/President Robert Passikoff said in a news release. “Fast food brands are rapidly losing loyalty and profits.”

According to this survey, Baby Boomers reported an 18% decrease in fast food visits. This demographic places high values on health and living well, Passikoff added. Gen X’ers reported an 11% decline for similar reasons.

Millennials Are Willing to Pay More for Better Meals

The demographic most worth noting should come as no surprise. Millennials reported a 20% decrease in visits to fast food chains, and 42% of them reported increased visits to fast casual restaurants in the past year.

“Nearly 90% of Millennials said they are looking for fast, casual food that is tastier, healthier and more customized. They are willing to pay more for better, more customizable options,” noted Passikoff.

Cafesano in Reston, VA falls into the “fast casual” restaurant sector and is benefitting from this shift in preference from customers of all ages. But some industry analysts feel that certain fast casual operators are taking this segment of the restaurant industry to a new level and are starting to refer to them as “fresh casual” operators.

Fresh casual restaurants resemble the fast casual model in many ways (high quality menu items are served in a quick-service environment), but they take the food they serve and the service they provide to a much higher level.

Fresh Casual, a New & Fast-Growing Restaurant Segment

“Fresh casual is definitely a force to be reckoned with,” notes Matt Bodnar of Fresh Hospitality, a Restaurant Incubator focusing on the fast casual segment. “The concept is here to stay,” says Bodnar.

A few of the major operating differences for fresh casual operators include:

• The menu is often designed by a chef and has certain flavor profiles that can be often comparable to a top-quality casual or even fine dining restaurant
• Food is delivered to the customer
• Tables are bussed
• Customers enjoy a more comfortable dining environment with higher quality furniture and fixtures

There’s no doubt that Cafesano fits the description of fresh casual to a “tee”.

Cafesano, a Local Example of This Burgeoning Trend in Reston, VA

“At Cafesano we pull together an abundance of fresh vegetables, select meats and dairy products, and fresh Mediterranean herbs and spices to produce a menu full of light and flavorful selections that prove that ‘great taste’ and ‘good for you’ can describe the same dining experience!” affirms Cafesano owner, Paul Swinley.

“We consistently strive to provide the same level of service, whether it’s for a single dine-in guest, a take-out order or catering for a large corporate event around Northern Virginia.”

Menu items that keep guests coming back include Cafesano’s homemade Hummus, made-to-order Signature Salad, and Margherita pizza.

Reasonably priced imported and domestic wines and a wide selection of craft beers pair nicely with Cafesano’s Kabob Platters and Pasta dishes.

Another reason for the growing trend towards quick casual restaurants is the commitment of many restaurants to cater to their guests’ dietary restrictions. To that end, Cafesano does not disappoint. With a large selection of vegetarian and gluten-free entrees on the menu, there truly is something for everyone.

Whether it’s “quick casual” or “fresh casual,” Cafesano has it covered. Guests of Cafesano are a testimony that fresh, flavorful and nutritious food, brought to you in a quick-serve environment, is here to stay!

The post How Fast Casual Dining is Changing the Restaurant Industry appeared first on Cafesano.

Click here to order!

No one can be productive on an empty stomach, but remembering to eat properly during a packed day – and finding a quick-casual restaurant in Reston that serves fresh, flavorful food– can be difficult.

Rather than bringing last night’s limp dinner to the communal microwave, why not pick up the phone or go online to order lunch today?

More than ever before, here’s why take-out is the perfect option for busy professionals like you.

1. Order Anytime, Anywhere

Especially if your busy day involves moving from place to place, taking your lunch with you just isn’t practical. Carrying food can also lead to smelling like your lunch, which isn’t professional. What’s more, if you’re too busy to find a microwave or it’s already occupied when you’re on your break, you’re stuck eating cold food.

Take-out solves all of these problems. Whether on the road or in the office, call upon Cafesano, a Mediterranean & Italian restaurant in Reston, to pick up freshly prepared food between errands, meetings, or projects.

2. Healthy Options

Meals easily transported from home tend to be unhealthy – and if they’re healthy, they’re generally not filling. A ham and cheese sandwich isn’t a nutritious lunch, and an apple won’t fuel you through the workday.

Cafesano has a wide variety of take-out options guaranteed to leave you satisfied and keep you healthy. Our Italian and Mediterranean menu selections include everything from homemade hummus and falafel to brick oven pizzas and hot Panini sandwiches.

Whether you’re topping a fresh salad with your protein of choice or choosing from our vegetarian and gluten-free menu options, you can stay healthy and satisfied with the right take-out choices.

3. Convenience

Some people don’t like talking on the phone. For others, it’s just faster to order online, particularly if they’re on the computer already.

Online ordering has taken off as one of the most popular ways to order take-out. It’s quick, convenient, and leaves you free to work until your food is ready – not to mention the online ordering at Cafesano remembers your favorite orders and billing information for easy order completion.

Eating well has never been simpler.

4. Rainy Day Rescue

Gloomy days can really put a damper on things, especially if you and your colleagues were planning to dine at a restaurant in Reston for lunch. Instead, consider the convenience of online take-out ordering.

From our warm, hearty soups to our freshly grilled meat or vegetarian kabobs, Cafesano has just the thing to make your day a little brighter. And if the whole office is ready to order, we’ll deliver it right to your business (for orders over $100).

5. It Works for Dinner Too

If you’ve had a long day at work, going home to cook is usually the last thing you want to do. As a result, you’re likely to resort to easy, but unhealthy choices such as frozen meals full of trans fat and preservatives. Over time, this diet takes its toll.

Fortunately, Cafesano take-out offers a convenient, nutritious solution. A phone call or online order is all it takes to have a flavorfully prepared, healthy, delicious meal waiting for the whole family after a tiring workday.

 6. Great for Entertaining

If you’re having friends over after work, meal preparation can turn into a big job. Avoid the hassle by ordering take-out from Cafesano.

From brick oven pizzas with the freshest ingredients to kabob platters and wraps, our variety of tasty foods are guaranteed to please any crowd.

Is your dinner party or event on a larger scale? Cafesano has you covered!

In addition to our quick and easy take-out options, we also offer a variety of catering platters that are sure to suit every palate or dietary restriction. From our homemade hummus dip trays to our fresh falafel or panini platters, Cafesano Catering is a hit at any event.

Enjoy Fresh & Nutritious Take-Out Today

Our diverse menu options can please even the pickiest eater. Grabbing a meal or having visitors should be enjoyable, not stressful.

Don’t waste time wondering which restaurant in Northern Virginia to frequent – Cafesano has what you need to make every meal memorable. So relax – we’ve got you covered.

Visit Cafesano’s website to learn more about our delicious take-out options and place your order for lunch today!

What are your favorite workday lunches?

The post Take-Out: It’s What’s for Lunch appeared first on Cafesano.