Types of Restaurants

Planning on opening up a restaurant in your area? There is a wide variety of options you could choose from. Before you get started on planning, do some research on the different types of businesses you could potentially run. Learn about some of the most popular types of restaurants to help you decide on which is right for you.

Restaurant Criteria

How do you know which type of restaurant to open? And what qualifies a place as a restaurant? Typically, business owners in the food industry will be classified by these aspects:

• Seating options


• Menu style


• Means of service


• Pricing

An Overview: 10 Types of Restaurants

So what are the best types of restaurants to open? This will depend on what you’re passionate about as well as what the area needs in terms of food. For example, there may be an abundance of diners which means a lot of competition. Take a closer look at these types of restaurants you could potentially open:

Casual Dining

When you think of casual dining, think of the low-key atmosphere and unique decor of your favorite restaurant in town. The pricing is moderately determined and the customers are served at a table formally. This type of restaurant is the most popular option, which means a bigger change of competition in the area.

Fast Casual

Most customers choose a fast casual restaurant for food that’s quick and inexpensive but healthier than a fast food place. These types of joints offer counter service and limited seating options for a quick, on-the-go meal.

Fine Dining

Fine dining restaurants offer a fancy experience with several courses and an elegant atmosphere. While this option can be a type of franchise, it’s mostly meant to be an exclusive experience at a single location. Most menus will include at least 2 options for the following:

• Salads/Soups


• Appetizers


• Entrees


• Desserts

Family Style

This type of restaurant is similar to casual dining but has one major difference. With family style dining, the server brings the food to the table in large dishes and the customers serve themselves.

Buffet Style

Buffets are an extension of family-style meals. The main difference is that folks get up to serve themselves at a counter and can go up for seconds and thirds if they’d like. Typically the pricing is fixed and the food can include items such as pizza, Chinese, breakfast foods and more.

Ghost Restaurant

This is a food service business that serves customers solely through phone and online orders. A ghost restaurant runs with a kitchen space and delivery drivers exclusively. The menu depends on the types of food you want to serve. Here are a few things you won’t find with a ghost restaurant:

• A storefront


• A dining area


• Décor


• Signage

Food Truck or Stand

A more modern type of restaurant is a food stand or food truck. These typically have one specialty food item such as tacos, hot dogs or ice cream. If you’re looking for something fast and casual, with a successful menu, this is the right option for you.

Pub

Pubs are more than just a place to grab a lager. Here you can find expanded menus with special food items and even full meals no matter if you’re seated at the bar or at a table. Some places offer outdoor seating as well when the weather is nice.

Diner

This type of restaurant usually provides fried foods, burgers and breakfast items at low prices. Diners are also typically open 24 hours and have table service. A few other features of a diner include:

• Family-style décor


• Limited indoor seating with booths and tables


• Menu with comfort food items

Coffee House

Coffee houses are typically on the smaller side with a casual atmosphere and a limited selection of food including sandwiches and pastries. The focus is on the drinks. While some coffee houses have minimal seating, you can always have an expanded shop with additional seating for customers. This depends on what you want at your restaurant.