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Cafeterias are the new buffets

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

March 28, 2019

1 Min Read
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Are we bringing it back to classic school days? According to a Datassential survey of 1,500 consumers, 55% of consumers either like or love-cafeteria-style restaurants, which many are calling the new buffet. While buffets usually involve self-service from hot and cold food lines, cafeteria-style restaurants involve servers dishing out plates of prepared foods in a single-file line.

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“Millennials may have children, so cafeterias and buffets can be a good value with options for the whole family,” Mike Kostyo, trendologist at Datassential said.

But younger consumers aren’t just nostalgic for the sloppy Joe days of their high school and college years. They want modern, updated offerings.

The Datassential survey found that 72% of respondents want a salad bar, 43% are looking for plant-based foods in their local cafeteria-style restaurants and 56% of respondents crave more global flavors.

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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