Most people know that eating at a chain restaurant is predictable. However, predictability is not synonymous with quality. Visiting a local restaurant in St. George has a different vibe. The food is more purposeful. The service is prompt, and you are not just a checking number. It is interesting to further investigate why this local gap is so large.
Different Flavors- Better Food!
Menu items begin life as an idea in a corporate test kitchen. Local restaurants are not tied to that bureaucracy. Local eateries have chefs who are free to think creatively. Seasonal menus are par for the course at local eateries and are made with ingredients sourced from farms within a short drive. In surveys, about 71% of sampled diners corroborate that independent restaurants serve better food. An idea and concept lived with fresh ingredients and a labor of love cannot be replicated.
Supporting your Community by Supporting Local
This is the easiest to quantify. Picking a local restaurant over a chain means your money goes to local food suppliers and cooks, because independent restaurants keep more money in the community. Chain restaurants keep money in faraway places because their headquarters receive a big slice of your spending.
Hospitality You Can’t Franchise
The big differences between a chain restaurant and a local restaurant come down to manual vs. memory. A local restaurant has your favorite order memorized. The personal connection explains why, according to a recent study, almost 70% of diners prefer local restaurants. There is no manual for chain restaurants, and it’s hard to find one that teaches staff, like a restaurant in St. George, to learn your name and your order.
When Chains Actually Win
A little fairness is always a good thing, and Chains definitely do some things right. Drive-thrus and kids’ meals definitely have their time and place. If you’re looking for a midnight meal, a chain is definitely the place to go.
The Honest Caveat
It is important in the restaurant world to serve with “most of the time” as a guiding principle, and chains can win on speed, consistent pricing, and, of course, reasonable lateness. But when food with perspective is the goal, choose a restaurant in St. George owned by someone who can shake your hand, and skip the chain restaurant with too many billboards.