Service Animals and Pets in Florida Restaurants: What the Law Actually Requires (2026 Guide for Operators)

Updated August 2026 · Reviewed by Ken Kuscher, ServSafe-certified instructor and Rule 702-qualified food safety expert witness, Boynton Beach, Florida. The short answer In a Florida restaurant, a customer’s pet dog is not allowed indoors. A pet dog may be allowed in a designated outdoor dining area, but only if your city or county has […]
The Penny Is Going Away: What Cash Rounding Means for Your Restaurant (2026 Guide)

The short answer The U.S. Mint stopped making pennies in November 2025, so the coins are slowly disappearing from cash drawers even though every penny you have is still legal tender. To deal with the shortage, Congress advanced the Common Cents Act, which lets — but does not require — businesses to round cash totals […]
The Real Cost of Turnover Nobody Is Talking About

The NRN a.m. newsletter for August 3, 2026 pulls together several signals about where the U.S. restaurant industry is heading. Between more cautious expansion plans, big bets on customer loyalty, and welcome news for sports bars and restaurants, the overall picture reflects a sector looking to grow sustainably without sacrificing profitability. Starbucks slows its pace […]
Why Hiring Faster Won’t Fix Your Restaurant’s Turnover

Walk into almost any restaurant in America right now and you’ll probably see a “Now Hiring” sign. That’s not new. What has changed is the reason behind it and more importantly, what operators are doing about it. For years, the industry’s default response to turnover has been to hire faster, cast a wider net, and […]
Book the Restaurant, Then the Room: Why Hotel Dining Is Having Its Biggest Moment

Something significant has shifted in the way Americans plan their travel, and the hotel restaurant is at the center of it. For decades, the dining room attached to a hotel was treated as a convenience, a fallback for tired travelers who didn’t feel like venturing out, a place to grab breakfast before a morning meeting. […]
Goal: Revenue, How Smart Restaurant Operators Are Cashing In on the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is not coming, it is here. It kicked off on June 11 and runs through July 19, and right now, in the middle of one of the most watched sporting events in human history, restaurants across the United States are either capturing the moment or watching it pass them by. […]
From Search to Seat: The New Rules for Getting Found and Chosen by Today’s Diners

Something fundamental has shifted in how people find restaurants. Not long ago, the path from “I’m hungry” to “I have a reservation” ran through a fairly predictable set of channels, a friend’s suggestion, a quick Google search, maybe a glance at a printed guide. The decision was made with limited information and a reasonable amount […]
How Restaurants Can Make Father’s Day Truly Unforgettable

Father’s Day is coming, and if you’re a restaurant operator, that means one of the best revenue opportunities of the summer is sitting right in front of you, waiting to be seized. Every third Sunday of June, families across the country make the same decision: let’s take Dad somewhere great. Let’s do something special. Let’s […]
5 Food Safety Violations Florida Inspectors Catch Most Often (And How to Prevent Them)

Running a food service operation in Florida is an incredible opportunity. The state’s year-round tourism, diverse population, and thriving dining culture make it one of the most dynamic restaurant markets in the country. But with that opportunity comes one of the most active food safety inspection regimes in the United States, and Florida inspectors are […]
Nearly 30K Restaurant Jobs Were Lost in February and the Industry Is Still Feeling It

The restaurant and bar industry took a significant hit in February 2026, and the ripple effects are still being felt across kitchens, dining rooms, and back offices throughout the country. Nearly 30,000 jobs vanished in a single month, a gut punch for an industry that had been quietly building momentum through eight consecutive months of […]
