Restaurant Management: Trends, Challenges, and Strategies for Operational Excellence

Abstract

Purpose: This paper provides a systematic review of restaurant management, emphasizing emerging trends, operational challenges, and strategic approaches to achieve operational excellence. The review integrates human resources, organizational culture, financial management, operational efficiency, and technology adoption.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A systematic literature review was conducted covering articles published between 2015 and 2025, using Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Search terms included “restaurant management,” “operational excellence,” “human resources in restaurants,” “restaurant technology adoption,” and “restaurant financial strategies.” After duplicate removal, title/abstract screening, and full-text assessment, 85 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. The PRISMA flow diagram illustrates the review process.
Findings: Key trends include digital transformation, AI and analytics adoption, customer-centric service models, and sustainability practices. Challenges include labor shortages, operational cost pressures, regulatory compliance, and evolving consumer expectations. Strategic interventions such as workforce engagement programs, SOP standardization, financial controls, and technological integration enhance operational excellence.
Practical Implications: The review provides insights for restaurant managers to implement evidence-based strategies, improve service quality, optimize operations, and enhance sustainability and profitability.
Originality/Value:
This paper synthesizes a decade of research on restaurant management (2015–2025), providing a holistic conceptual framework for operational excellence that integrates HR, finance, operations, culture, and technology.