Erika Adams

Taco Bell may be one of the largest quick-service restaurant chains in America, but it sees a ton of growth opportunities still to be had in highly populated urban areas. The Cantina concept is its key to success in those uniquely difficult markets.

A ranking of top restaurant chains is nice, but what's even better? The accompanying marketing boost that TripAdvisor gets for its fast-growing business unit: restaurants and experiences.

The acquisition will double the size of Waitr's business overnight. In the company's quest to become the top delivery service in the country, this deal certainly helps its case.

Consumer demand for off-premise dining options has never been higher, and it's fundamentally changing how restaurants operate.

While hiring slowed within the larger leisure and hospitality category in the past month, restaurants and bars were an outlier. In that area, operators can't find staff fast enough.

Yum Brands' size and scale allows it to negotiate much better deals on delivery partnerships, as executives outlined during the company's annual investor day. No wonder Taco Bell and KFC franchise owners are so excited to participate in the Grubhub integration.

It's not just about discounts for diners. A well-executed loyalty program can open up a window into customer behavior and feedback that hasn't previously existed for most restaurants.

Chipotle has to ensure that its "For Real" marketing campaign hits hard, and edible holiday windows are one way to get there.

It's been a wild ride for Christopher Meaux, the founder of Waitr, a three-year-old delivery service that started trading publicly in November. Waitr focused on launching outside of major urban centers, and the service does two things differently in this space: fully-employed drivers and low restaurant fees.

Several fast casual restaurant chains paired up with private equity firms this month in order to scale, and Tock is fueling up for a big year ahead.