Italian Fast-Casual Restaurants Are Heating Up in the U.S.


Sbarro and Olive Garden have fresh competition as modern brands move in with new pasta and pizza options.

The following article, written by Chris Crowley, appears on GrubStreet.com.

Is Italian Food the Next Frontier of Fast-Casual Eating?

Pity Sbarro. The Brooklyn-born chain has been operating for more than half a century, but its days as a food-court mainstay might be numbered. All across the country, even as the market becomes more saturated, restaurateurs and titans of industry are gunning to create the next fast-casual behemoth — and lately, it seems lots of them have their sights set on Italian food. Specifically, “Italian food” that is all-but-guaranteed to appeal to as many Americans as possible: pasta and pizza.

Continue reading at GrubStreet.com.

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