Last Friday, I went to Cicis for some pizza and desserts. I was looking at all the people in the restaurant, and all the food displayed at the buffet counters. It made me wonder, is Cicis classified as fast food? And if so, what exactly is the difference between fast food and fast casual restaurants?
I thought about this while I was eating a slice of Alfredo pizza. And here’s what I’ve come up.
Fast food restaurants focus on convenience and speed, hence the name. On the other hand, fast casual restaurants focus more on the food quality and freshness. This explains why your bill is often higher when eating at fast casual restaurants like Cicis, CPK and Boston Pizza compared to if you were dining at Domino’s.
Choosing between fast food and fast casual restaurants
The choice would have to depend on your budget, tbh. If money is no object then there are other things to consider.
Let’s start with your customer experience. At a fast food restaurant, the customer service varies greatly from one restaurant to another. Most do try to be nice, friendly and helpful but they are simply too busy dealing with customers to be able to make a positive impression on every single one of them. Moreover, one thing that’s common among these fast food joints is that they have a counter upfront and an employee is manning the cash register. You will place your order at the counter and if you go at peak hours, the lines at the counter will be long. With fast casual restaurants, you’re seated at a table and a server will take your order.
The next differentiating factor is the price. Fast food is more affordable than fast casual. It’s normal to get a meal for under $10 in a fast food place but if you opt for fast casual, $8 to $10 will probably get you an appetizer. Unless if you go to buffet spots like Cicis where the Cicis buffet prices offer great value..
Common Elements in Fast Food Restaurants
Below are some of the common characteristics of fast food restaurants:
- Self service
- Quick on-premise dining
- Simple menus
- No alcohol
- Value meals
- Drive-thru
- Longer hours
- Consistent food quality and service
What to Expect from Fast Casual Restaurants
Fast casual restaurants provide its diners with a certain level of convenience, good value and better customer experience. They focus on food quality and make sure patrons get tasty and healthy dishes and fresh ingredients. Service is definitely superior than in fast food restaurants as well.
At a fast casual restaurant, you can expect:
- Better dining experience
- Better quality food
- More food customization options
- Better service
- Availability of alcohol
- Relaxed atmosphere
What are the 4 types of Quick Service Restaurants?
There are four types of quick service restaurants (QSRs):
- Sit-down restaurants
- Buffet style restaurants
- Takeaway restaurants
- Fast food restaurants
What is a Casual Restaurant?
Also called a sit-down restaurant, a casual restaurant is a place where diners sit at tables and will be tended to by waitstaff such as hostess and servers. It’s less formal than a fine dining restaurant but at the same time able to provide a good dining experience. Some of the most popular sit down restaurants are Olive Garden, Applebee’s and Cheesecake Factory.
Why is it called Fast Food?
The history of fast food began in the 1920s when White Castle, the country’s first fast food restaurant opened. The fast-food industry saw significant growth after the 2nd World War, and the drive-through model emerged as a natural evolution from the drive-in restaurants that had been popular in the United States before the war. By the early 21st century, there were close to 200,000 fast-food establishments in the United States alone. McDonald’s, Subway, and Starbucks were growing rapidly like mushrooms across the country.
Fast Food vs Fast Casual: In a Nutshell
Fast food is there for your late-night cravings, like some piping hot McDonald’s French fries or a munchies meal from Jack in the Box. It’s your reliable companion on road trips with drive-thru windows that will conveniently take your orders and take care of your hunger pangs between destinations. Fast food is a budget-friendly option when funds are tight and you can have a satisfying meal for just $10 or even less.
Fast casual dining, on the other hand, is more like a sophisticated sibling of fast food, the sibling who has their own car and a Netflix subscription. Fast food sits at the intersection of convenience, affordability, and widespread availability. Fast casual restaurants, while sharing this convenience, operate on a different level albeit at a higher price point.