Most restaurants are built on a theme. Some themes are obvious just by their signage and menu while others are less so. Trendy restaurants look for an edge to beat out their competition. They may have an underlining theme like “traditional Italian” or call themselves a “trattoria”. Most consumers will not know the difference. And sometimes I wonder if these establishments do as well. Trendy restaurants are popular spots to hang out and people watch. Yes some put out appetizers and main plates of works of art. But how many consumers remember the meal over the atmosphere of the place. Restaurants pay attention to these details. They will stay what works and abandon what doesn’t. What matters to them is filling the seats and doing a certain about of covers. And of course how much the bar did that evening.

Trendy restaurants can suffer from bad food but get high marks as a place to meet people. At the end of the day if buyer and owner get something out of it then everyone can expect more of the same. A place to meet and greet. A hot spot to bring people in and spend money. It’s a formula worth repeating.