By Katie Belflower
Attracting attention for your restaurant is crucial in offering something unique to your customers. In the latest edition of Concept Watch, RestoBiz and Technomic focus on three key restaurant concepts from Canadian foodservice.
This month, we are highlighting Michel’s Bakery Cafe, Angry Dragonz, and Bubble World and showcasing how these restaurants are expanding Canadian foodservice’s horizons.
Facebook: 2,690 likes | Instagram: 749 followers
Locations: 3 (Ontario)
Concept characteristics:
- French-inspired quick-service bakery cafe
- All locations are inside shopping malls or office towers, with a focus on offering a gourmet break in a lively setting
- Each location is independently owned, and franchise opportunities are available
- Offers a loyalty program for repeat customers
Menu snapshot:
- Everything is baked on-site and prepared fresh daily
- Baked goods are made with pure butter
- Sweet pastry options include croissants and danishes
- Offers savoury Bistro Pastries in flavours such as Spinach & Feta and Leek & Parmesan
- Sandwiches served on housemade bread and come in varieties such as roast beef, egg and tuna melt
Angry Dragonz
Facebook: 2,700 likes | Instagram: 2,935 followers | Twitter: 2,367 followers
Locations: 2 (Ottawa, Ontario)
Concept characteristics:
- Full-service Asian-fusion restaurant that started as a food truck
- Food truck still operates during summer months and is available to rent for events
- Represents a combination of Canadian and Cantonese heritage
- Catering is available
Menu snapshot:
- Dishes made with fresh, local ingredients
- Housemade condiments include spicy mayonnaise, honey-garlic sauce, and chile oil
- Soup options include Pho Noodle and Tom Kha
- Vegetarian appetizer options such as salt-and-pepper tofu, veggie spring rolls, and Asian slaw
- Variety of skewers available, including chicken, beef, and lamb
- Offers a unique selection of tacos, such as the BBQ Pork Mango Salsa Taco, Korean Beef Taco, and Tamarind Spicy Chicken Taco
Bubble World
Instagram: 350 followers
Locations: 9 (British Columbia)
Concept characteristics:
- Fast-casual Taiwanese restaurant dishing up fusion foods and a variety of bubble teas
- Committed to introducing the Taiwanese art of tea to Canadian consumers
- Playful branding with smiley face logo
- Privately owned
Menu snapshot:
- Rice dishes include Taiwanese Sausage Fried Rice, Hawaiian Fried Rice, with Meat Floss and Kimchi Fried Rice
- Serves hot pots with choice of pork, beef, or lamb
- Dishes up unique noodle options such as Pork Chop Noodles and Deep-Fried Chicken Leg Noodles
- Specializes in various bubble teas that come in green tea, red tea, milk tea, or slush form
- Custom topping options include pearls, agar jelly, red bean, and aloe bits
Concept Watch is based on restaurant and menu concepts and trends noted by Technomic Inc.
Katie Belflower is Associate Editor for Technomic, a Chicago-based
foodservice research and consulting firm. Technomic provides clients with the
facts, insights and consulting support they need to enhance their business
strategies, decisions and results. The company’s services include publications
and digital products as well as proprietary studies and ongoing research on all aspects of the food industry, including menu trends.
