Almost 4,000 years ago, the first beer law was enacted. An early form of the food service industry emerged around 300 BC – without electricity or running water. Nearly 2,300 years later, guests pay with their smartphones and order food online from the comfort of their homes. The restaurant industry is constantly evolving. Those who adapt to the future stay successful. But what will the “restaurant of the future” look like in 10 years?
(Written by Max Falkenstern. This article was originally published in German and has been updated and translated for our English-speaking audience.)
“Online first” – The Restaurant Industry Will Become Increasingly Dependent on the Internet in the Future
While just ten years ago guests found their way to restaurants almost exclusively through word of mouth or promotional flyers, the tables have turned almost completely today.
“Online first” is the motto today, as the internet has fundamentally transformed guest behavior.
For instance,…
- … over 75% of guests appreciate reserving a table online
- … one in three guests prefers having an additional payment method like a smartphone
- … over 80% value the ability to place orders online
Furthermore, accepting credit card or smartphone payments has been shown to increase revenue by up to 44% and boost tips by up to 11%.
It can therefore be expected that in the future, areas such as…
- … guest acquisition
- … reservations
- … food orders
… will run primarily online. Restaurateurs are well advised to prepare for this development.
The Restaurant of the Future Is “Digital”
The restaurant industry of the future is unthinkable without digitalization. Quite simply because guest expectations have evolved over time. Restaurateurs who want to attract more guests and retain regular customers must embrace technological progress.
Automating processes through digital tools addresses many major restaurant pain points: staff shortages, rising food costs, and increasing expectations for service and kitchen operations.
History shows that courage pays off: many restaurant businesses have demonstrably increased profits and reduced costs through digital processes. Political and economic shifts over the past decade have acted as a catalyst.
In the restaurant industry, the following processes can be digitized:
- Reservations
- Orders
- Marketing
- Accounting
- Inventory management
- POS system
- Table management
- Human resources
- Guest management
Many digital tools are already essential in the restaurant industry. A professional restaurant website or online accounting has become standard. Digital POS systems are also indispensable, not least due to legal compliance requirements in Germany.
Farewell to Service Staff! Will There Still Be Enough Hospitality Workers in the Future?
Tough working conditions, modest pay, and unsocial hours: long before the pandemic, the hospitality industry faced a growing challenge: staff shortages.
Fewer trainees are entering the industry, while trained professionals move to other sectors. Despite recruitment campaigns and modernizing hospitality qualifications, a turnaround is not in sight, as other industries also compete for skilled workers.
The current shortage of skilled labor in the restaurant industry is expected to intensify further in the future.. As a result, businesses will need to raise wages significantly and offer more flexible working hours.
In the future, restaurateurs must invest in employer branding—proactively presenting themselves as attractive employers to prospective candidates across relevant channels.
It seems unlikely that autonomous service robots will fill the staffing gap in ten years (or sooner). Hospitality is and remains a “people business“. However, restaurant robots could serve as a useful marketing tool if purchasing costs fall significantly. Current models still cost well over €10,000.
AI in the Restaurant Industry: What Works Today and What Is Possible
AI and AI assistants have already arrived in the restaurant industry. From a guest perspective, this is not always perceived positively—take, for example, debates around generic promotional flyers and posters with an uninspired AI look.
Despite valid criticism, it is often overlooked that many restaurateurs are exploring tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, and other AI software with genuine curiosity to integrate them into daily operations. Marketing and advertising offer obvious starting points for restaurants.
In the future, AI will unlock even greater opportunities:
- Forecasting and planning: AI-powered demand forecasts for purchasing and staffing benefit restaurants by enabling significant cost savings.
- Dynamic pricing and occupancy control: Long established in airline travel and increasingly common in hotels, this could be the next major step for high-traffic venues with complex operations.
- Kitchen technology: AI will not replace chefs long-term. However, AI assistants are likely to prove valuable in kitchen planning, recipe optimization, and food costing.
- Phone and chatbots: AI-based phone assistants are already a reality. They are far less expensive than service robots, automatically accept reservations, and relieve pressure on staff. Their adoption is likely to grow alongside AI chatbots.
- AI models as search channels: More consumers are directing questions to Google AI and ChatGPT. Direct integrations with reservation systems enable real-time queries for table availability, and eventually automated bookings via AI agents. High data quality (up-to-date business hours on your website, a maintained Google Business Profile) will increasingly determine whether your venue gets recommended.
How extensively AI will ultimately transform restaurant operations depends on whether it delivers on its promised cost-benefit ratio. Data quality and human oversight (including training) also remain crucial factors shaping the results.
Online Showcase: Where Guests Will Find Your Restaurant in the Future
Social media has become an essential part of modern life. The restaurant of the future uses channels like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to reach as many prospective guests as possible and stay in touch with regular customers.
A free Google Business Profile plays a crucial role—it is often the first touchpoint between a guest and a restaurant. This is rooted in modern guest search habits.
However, these platforms serve as more than just digital storefronts for bars, cafes, and restaurants.
Successful businesses stand out by converting brief online attention directly into orders and reservations. A convenient reservation tool and a digital menu can be linked directly to Google, social media accounts, and your website.
An increasing number of guests value the convenience of these digital features. As this trend continues, phone bookings will lose importance as a reservation channel. Guest acquisition will take place entirely online.
Zero Waste – Less Waste, More Revenue
Thousands of tons of food waste are generated every year in the restaurant industry alone. In addition, packaging waste remains a major challenge that reusable container mandates aim to address.
Amid growing focus on climate protection, sustainability in the restaurant industry is becoming increasingly important. Zero-waste concepts that aim to eliminate waste entirely can also give restaurants a significant competitive advantage.
Preventing waste in food service translates directly into cost savings.
This applies to both small and large operational details, such as portion sizes. Dishes that regularly return unfinished can indicate that portion sizes should be adjusted. You can also remind guests that leftover food can be packed to go. Reusable containers for takeout orders also reduce waste.
Digital solutions also support sustainable practices: apps fighting food waste allow restaurant operators to protect the environment while gaining financial benefits.
The Return to Regional and Seasonal Sourcing
Local sourcing is on the rise: consumers increasingly prefer regional and seasonal products—to protect the environment and support local farmers and producers. This solidarity with local businesses inspired the motto “support your locals.”
Restaurateurs benefit from this trend; through mindful purchasing, they meet guest expectations while reducing costs. Regional and seasonal products shorten supply chains and are often less expensive than imported goods.
Finally, environmentally conscious practices enhance a restaurant’s brand image. When the food tastes even better as a result, everyone wins! You build stronger loyalty with your guests and can increase revenue in the future.
Will Your Plates Become Increasingly Green in the Future?
Awareness of sustainable, healthy nutrition has taken hold among many consumers. Meeting the demand for healthy dining options will become increasingly important for restaurants.
Classic favorites like breaded cutlets or pan-seared fish fillets will not disappear from menus anytime soon.
However, if you want full tables in the future, vegetarian and vegan dishes belong on your menu. Non-alcoholic alternatives to beer, wine, and cocktails (“mocktails”) are also growing in popularity. Non-alcoholic beer production, for example, has seen steady growth. Consider these trends when designing your menu.
Instagrammable: You Eat With Your Eyes – and Post!
Today, food needs to look good as well as taste great. In an age of ubiquitous food bloggers and advanced smartphone cameras, dish presentation has taken center stage.
While artistic food presentation was once reserved for fine dining temples or Michelin-starred venues, traditional restaurants today must also present their food visually. This trend inspired the term “Instagrammable.”
Dishes that look impressive and unique are far more likely to be photographed and shared.
For restaurants, this means free promotion and more guests—provided the quality matches the presentation. Driven largely by younger generations, this trend will continue to grow in the coming years.
Conclusion: Restaurants that invest in quality tableware and train kitchen staff in the art of food presentation (plating) are likely to fill more tables.
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Conclusion – What the Restaurant of the Future Looks Like
The restaurant industry will transform significantly, particularly in digitalization. Core operations such as reservations and ordering will take place primarily online in digital and automated formats. Restaurant operators must identify and optimize digital touchpoints with guests. Alongside a well-maintained Google Business Profile and a modern website, restaurateurs should focus on social media for guest acquisition and customer retention.
Recruitment and staffing in gastronomy are also undergoing major shifts. Many restaurants already struggle with staff shortages, and forecasts indicate this challenge will intensify. The internet offers numerous opportunities for recruitment. The key will be reducing labor-intensive tasks without compromising service standards. A smart reservation software plays a central role in this effort.
