Kitchen Towels as Napkins? Restaurant Linen Services Discuss Customers’ Dining Trends

Our Restaurant Linen Services have shared some of their customers’ latest dining trends!

Anyone who dines out even on an occasional basis has likely noticed that certain trends in dining tend to come and go. It seems as if the way people dine cannot stay static for more than a short period of time, with trends invading all different types of restaurants on a regular basis. Understanding and learning to identify popular dining trends is important not only for those who are in the business, but for diners as well. The following are a few recent dining trends our visitors and customers have discussed… which ones do you think will stick??

Kitchen Towels as Napkins

Recently, more than a few restaurants are moving away from traditional napkins. Instead of using paper, many are opting for a 100% cotton kitchen towel. Larger than a 20″ x 20″ spun polyester or cotton napkins, these super long “napkins” are ultra absorbent, and make for a less formal dining room. This is something that is attractive for restaurants who seek a younger client base. Many of these towels come with a single stripe or multiple small stripes. This new phenomenon offers restaurants . Be careful though! While you might think they are less expensive to use… they aren’t. Due to the short life span, their cost per use is generally more than an industry standard linen napkin. If you are interested in learning more about using these in your restaurant, be sure to check out our restaurant linen services page.

Small Plate Dining

Small plate dining has all but taken over the world of fine-dining. There are a variety of reasons why one might wish to embrace small plates. For one, it allows you to try a variety of different types of food over the course of a single meal; something that can make one’s dining experience far more enjoyable than it might be otherwise. In addition, small plates encourage portion control, which is essential in a world where people tend to eat more than they should at once. Many people refer to small plates as “tapas,” with tapas bars popping up in cities everywhere.

Farm to Table Dining Trends

Another popular trend in the world of dining is known as “farm to table.” While this term tends to be relatively loose, it refers mainly to a focus on using ingredients that come directly from small farms, rather than sourcing ingredients from large companies. Farm to table is not necessarily a style of cuisine in and of itself, although chefs tend to take a rustic approach when preparing farm to table foods. Note that one should expect to pay a premium when eating at restaurants who hold this philosophy in high regard.

Restaurant Local Sourcing 

In years past, most diners and restaurateurs avoided putting a great deal of emphasis on sourcing ingredients locally. This has changed dramatically, however, with local sourcing being more common now than ever in the past. Many people hold local sourcing in high regard because of the fact that it cuts down on waste and environmental harm. As with farm to table dining, however, plates made with locally-sourced ingredients can be rather expensive. But hey, you generally get what you pay for.

What trends are you seeing in restaurants or their usage of their linen & towels?