A casual dining restaurant is a step away from fast-food and quick-serve restaurants. It has a more laid-back atmosphere and is usually equipped with a server or two.
The key difference between fine dining and casual dining is the atmosphere and the food. Both styles feature a more formal and elegant atmosphere, and the prices are also different.
In 2013, there were over 19,000 fast-casual restaurants in the US. By 2017, the number of locations has increased to 25,312.
Below are 5 most popular casual dining restaurants in the US:
Applebee’s
- Starting Year: 1980
- Founder: TJ Palmer
- Founded: Decatur, Georgia
- Locations: 1830
Applebee’s is a restaurant chain based in the US. The company’s concept consists of casual dining with a variety of American dishes. Applebees was found by TJ Palmer in 1830, and their current CEO is John Peyton. Applebee’s steak is a popular budget-friendly dish among their customers. Sirloin Steak is a dish that’s served at Applebee’s since the restaurant chain uses top sirloin cuts. The parent company of Four Square Burgers has acquired the debt that led to the bankruptcy of a local Applebee franchisee.
TGI Fridays
- Starting Year: 1965
- Founder: Alan Stillman
- Founded: New York City, New York
- Locations: 870
TGI Fridays is a restaurant chain that specializes in casual dining. The chain’s name is derived from the phrase “Thank God It’s Friday”. TGI Friday was founded by Alan Stillman from New York City, and they are a fast-casual restaurant chain that started in America in 1952. It became one of the first singles bars in the country.
Bob Evans Restaurant
- Starting Year: 1948
- Founder: Bob Evans
- Founded: Gallipolis, Ohio
- Locations: 500
Robert Lewis Evans was a businessman who was known for selling pork sausage. He founded the Owens Country Sausage Company and operated a restaurant chain known as Bob Evans. Bob Evans started making sausage on his farm in southeast Ohio in 1948. When he opened a restaurant in 1948, he invited people to his farm. When you get there, call the restaurant and tell them that you’re there.
Golden Corral
- Starting Year: 1973
- Founder: James Maynard
- Founded: Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Locations: 498
Golden Corral is a restaurant chain with locations in 43 states. It offers a wide variety of food and drink selections. The Golden Corral lunch buffet is usually served at around $9.95 per adult. The dinner buffet is also available at around 4:00 p.m. each day. Sixteen Golden Corral buffet restaurants were permanently closed, while two were temporarily closed. The company said that two of the restaurants would be reopened.
Ruby Tuesday
- Starting Year: 1972
- Founder: Samuel E. Beall III
- Founded: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Locations: 491
Ruby Tuesday Inc. is a multi-unit restaurant operator and franchiser. The concept of Ruby Tuesday was started in 1972. RUBY Tuesday was released by the Rolling Stones in 1966. According to Keith Richards, the song was written in a hotel room in Los Angeles in early 1966. Get 2 for $22 with an app and select 2 entrees, like our Hickory Beef Chicken or Chicken Tenders, for just $22.
