The pandemic no doubt took a greater toll on the independent restaurant world. But less vulnerable were those operated by multi-concept groups, businesses that have infrastructure for shared back-of-the-house operations, purchasing power and career opportunities to keep team members growing.

Each year, Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality take a look at the multi-concept groups that are at the heart of any region’s restaurant community. This year we collected 11 young and emerging groups in cities across the country that are pushing forward with new post-pandemic growth.

From Santa Barbara, Calif., to Boston and points in between, these are restaurant groups on the rise looking to dominate in certain markets. We call them Regional Powerhouses because, this year, the power is in their potential.

Meet the restaurant groups in this gallery.