By Katie Belflower
In the crowded foodservice world, standing out from the competition is vital. A key element in attracting and retaining customers is nailing down your restaurant concept and creating a menu that reflects your brand. In each edition of Technomic’s Concepts to Watch, we highlight three restaurants that are showing innovation and inspiration across the country.
This month, the focus is on Wings Up!, Kuto Comptoir a Tartares, and Tahini’s.
WingsUp!
Wings
Image Source: WingsUp! Instagram
Facebook: 4,500 likes | Instagram: 13,816 followers
Locations: 33 (Ontario)
Concept characteristics:
- Quick-service chicken concept with a focus on 100 per cent fresh chicken wings, sourced from Canada
- Takeout, delivery, and catering are available
- Core values include being welcoming, innovative, thorough, and passionate
- Growth through franchising
Menu snapshot:
- Wings are fresh, never-frozen, and hand-breaded
- Wing sauce options include garlic barbecue, Thai, honey hot, lemon-pepper, Jamaican hot, honey-garlic-Parmesan, and Texas tequila
- Cauliflower wings are available for customers interested in plant-based options
- In addition to wings, chicken sandwiches and wraps are menued, such as the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, Caesar Wrap, and the Buffalo Wrap
- Plenty of fried sides such as Mac & Cheese Wedges, Jalapeno Poppers, Breaded Pickles, and Mozza Sticks are available
Kuto Comptoir a Tartares
Pub Style Beef Tartare
Image Source: Kuto Comptoir a Tartares Instagram
Facebook: 83,000 likes | Instagram: 14,721 followers
Locations: 35 (Quebec)
Concept characteristics:
- Traditional casual-dining concept specializing in unique tartare
- Focusing on fresh ingredients and house-made elements
- Modern, industrial interiors featuring slate tiles and wood wall panels
- Franchising opportunities are available
Menu snapshot:
- Raw protein options for tartare include salmon, beef, tuna, and shrimp
- Rotating tartare starters are offered weekly at a discounted price
- Salmon tartare comes in varieties such as Maple and Bacon, as well as Mexican, featuring chipotle sauce, smashed avocado, and pickled bell pepper
- Beef tartare options include Pub Style with stout emulsion
- Tuna and shrimp tartare both come in a Teriyaki variety, with poke sauce, edamame, and pickled ginger
- In addition to tartare, the concept also offers a variety of poke bowls
Tahini’s
Wraps and fries
Image Source: Tahini’s Instagram
Facebook: 8,600 likes | Instagram: 32,586 followers | Twitter: 14,800 followers
Locations: 26 (Ontario)
Concept characteristics:
- Fast-casual Middle Eastern restaurant serving up authentic shawarma, wraps and bowls
- Committed to using high-quality products, including Canadian-grown produce and 100% halal meat
- Brand values include superior quality, competitive spirit, being community-minded and innovative
- Loyal fans can purchase merchandise such as T-shirts, hats and aprons
- Continued growth through franchisees
Menu snapshot:
- Dip options include house-made hummus and garlic dip, each served with fresh pita
- Fried options include spicy curry fries and beef and veggie samosas
- Variety of wraps such as butter chicken shawarma, gyro shawarma and falafel
- Protein options for bowls include butter chicken, chicken shawarma, gyro and falafel
- Specialty bowls include the Jamaican Jerk Shawarma featuring chicken shawarma infused with Jamaican jerk sauce and fresh pineapples
Concepts 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.
Concepts to Watch feature image via Kuto Comptoir a Tartares Facebook
