Restaurant Megatrends 2018: Fine Casual Is the New Fast Casual

[caption id="attachment_212320" align="alignright" width="240"] Download your copy of Skift Megatrends 2018[/caption] We've just released our first annual restaurant industry trends forecast, Skift Megatrends 2018. You can read about each of the trends on Skift Table as well as download a copy of our magazine here. Diners used to know what to expect from a restaurant when they entered. Candles and white tablecloths indicated waiter service and a high-end meal that might take some time. Plastic tables and a menu board communicated to diners to order at the counter and wait for their name or number to be called. Now all the lines are blurred — but that might be just what diners want. Since the explosion of fast casual, diners have started expecting more from fast food. And on the flip side, restaurants are raising the bar by incorporating well-plated dishes, elevated decor, and proper beverage service into a casual dining experience. What's a restaurant to do when it won't want to b