Were you even a ‘90s kid if you didn’t have a formative life experience in a booth at the local Olive Garden?
![Storefronts of Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, and Outback Steakhouse](https://20627419.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/20627419/hubfs/The%20Hustle/Assets/Images/1324464662-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-Chainrestaurants_20231022194207.webp?width=595&height=400&name=1324464662-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-Chainrestaurants_20231022194207.webp)
Whether you were weeping into unlimited breadsticks or hanging with the popular kids at TGI Fridays, chain restaurants were once beloved social hubs.
Then, hankering for fast-casual bowls and trendy tapas, it was those same ‘90s kids who nearly wiped them off the map.
But, per Eater, chain restaurants are back — and we’re so ready:
- One report named Texas Roadhouse the fastest-growing restaurant brand in the world, with a 56% value increase in 2023.
- The Melting Pot is revamping 90 of its restaurants and looking to open up to 30 new locations.
- Outback Steakhouse is growing steadily in the US, but it’s huge in Brazil, where sales jumped 61% in the first half of 2023. (It’s been voted Rio de Janeiro’s most popular restaurant five years in a row.)
And Olive Garden, whose parent company grew its sales 11.6% over the last quarter of 2023, is enjoying its moment on social media.
The chain’s Never-Ending Pasta Bowl deal is trending on TikTok, where the hashtag #olivegarden has amassed 1.8B+ views.
Why are people lining up now?
A variety of factors are likely contributing to the revival:
- Inflation and rising food costs have customers hungry for deals, and bigger chains can keep costs down more effectively.
- Chains are more consistent, and budget-conscious customers might not want to gamble on a bad meal.
And, of course, there’s the pull of good old-fashioned nostalgia.
Chains are the secret sauce…
… that seems to keep businesses afloat.
While fine dining has stalled, upscale chains are still thriving (think: Nobu).
Plus, we’ve gotten used to chains for everything, from our retail stores to our hotels.
Just remember: While breaking bread with loved ones is priceless, the Olive Garden cheese grater is not — and you can buy it.