The History and Hallmarks of Fast Casual Dining
If the growth and popularity of fast food restaurants marked the middle of the 20th century, its conclusion may be identified by the arrival of fast casual dining. In more recent decades, QSR asserts that “fast casual has been the fastest-growing restaurant segment.” Keep reading to find out more about this type of restaurant experience and to learn about Freddy’s approach to fast casual dining.
What is Fast Casual Dining?
The emergence of fast casual dining is one example of how the restaurant industry is constantly evolving in relation to consumer preference. While many diners valued the speed and lower costs available at fast food restaurants, they also expressed a desire for establishments offering higher quality food, opportunities for customization and a more comfortable setting with a similarly quick service and affordable price range. Essentially, as described at Toast, “fast casual restaurant concepts offer the convenience of fast food without the full service of fine dining.” At the turn of the 21st century, the restaurant industry responded to the consumers’ call, and today, fast casual restaurants continue to be popular with diners.
Distinctive Characteristics of Fast Casual Dining
In several ways, fast food restaurants and fast casual dining spots are similar. Both prioritize quick service, and there may even be similar items on their menus. Guests can also typically choose to enjoy their orders at the restaurant or at another location of their choice. A drive-thru may be most associated with a fast food restaurant, but many fast casual spots today may also have this feature. Despite these similarities, there are three key characteristics that help distinguish the fast casual dining experience.
1. Ingredient Quality and Variety
Fast casual dining is often known for greater attention to ingredient quality and menu variety. These restaurants tend to focus more on premium, fresh ingredients and on-site preparation. The option for guests to customize a dish with a variety of ingredients or design complete meals with main, side and drink to their specifications is what truly sets fast casual dining apart from the average fast food experience.
2. Customization
Fast casual dining offers greater flexibility in meal design and more opportunity for made-to-order dishes. Generally, menus at these restaurants are more expansive. From this greater variety of dishes and associated toppings, sauces, sides and drinks, guests at fast casual restaurants are often able to hand-pick the ingredients to include on their burgers or sandwiches, as well as any other components of their meal. Instead of limited or prohibited substitutions, omissions and additions, fast casual dining locations typically welcome and facilitate such choices for their guests.
3. Interior design
Another feature of fast casual restaurants is the attention to decor. While table service is not standard in either the fast casual or fast food setting, many fast casual restaurants aim to create welcoming and comfortable settings for guests, inviting them to enjoy their meals in these spaces.
Fast Casual Dining at Freddy’s
For over 20 years, Freddy’s has proudly offered a fast casual dining experience. In both the United States and Canada, Freddy’s currently has over 580 restaurant locations featuring our incredible menu of steakburgers, frozen custard treats and many other tasty selections. Below, we celebrate why fast casual dining at Freddy’s brings guests back again and again.
Honoring Our Restaurant’s Namesake
While Freddy’s may have been co-founded in 2002 by brothers Bill and Randy Simon with their friend and business partner, Scott Redler, they already had a mentor in the hospitality industry – Bill and Randy’s father, Freddy Simon. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and receiving both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for valor, Freddy raised six children with his wife, Norma Jean, and worked in hospitality for over 50 years.
Freddy’s is not only named after Freddy Simon but inspired by his values. Honoring the model he set for others, Freddy’s as a brand is focused on quality, genuine hospitality and cleanliness and inspired by the family values and patriotic service exemplified by their founder. That’s why, no matter which Freddy’s you visit, you’ll find we prioritize doing things “The Freddy’s Way.”
In addition to a clean and welcoming environment and attentive service, The Freddy’s Way means guests can enjoy fresh, made-to-order food. Whether dining at the restaurant, choosing carry-out or delivery or taking advantage of our catering services, count on the Freddy’s Family to take care with your order, whenever and however you choose to do so. Find out more below about why it’s not just the approach to service but also the steakburgers and frozen custard we offer that make our fast casual dining experience so special.
The Legacy of the Steakburger
Although often shortened to just “Freddy’s,” the full name of our restaurant also highlights two of our most distinctive menu offerings: the steakburger and frozen custard. At Freddy’s, our steakburgers are made with lean 100% ground beef and cooked-to-order with your choice of toppings. Pressed thin to create mouthwateringly crispy edges, our patties gain even more flavor when they are finished with Freddy’s Famous Steakburger and Fry Seasoning®, prior to being served steaming hot.
Freddy’s also aims to continually offer new steakburger preparations and a variety of quality ingredients to pair with them. When ordering, guests will find steakburger selections that maximize indulgence, but they will also have the opportunity to accommodate personal preferences. To illustrate our commitment to creativity and making dishes for our guests, just the way they like them, here are a few of the familiar favorites and latest additions on our menu!
Freddy’s Original Double: This steakburger keeps it classic and lets the two steakburger patties and thoughtful selection of toppings shine. Freddy’s Original Double is served on a toasted bun with American cheese, fresh onions, pickle slices and mustard. Guests may opt to dive into the familiar and comforting flavors of this steakburger as listed or switch them up. Whether opting for a lettuce wrap instead of a bun, swapping cheese or choosing a different burger sauce or other topping, guests have many different ways to customize their steakburgers.
Steakburger Bowl: The addition of bowls including the Steakburger Bowl to the permanent menu offers guests high protein options to suit their various lifestyle preferences. As with other menu items, guests can pick from a selection of dressings to accompany their choice of bowl. All bowls include crispy romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes and onions and cheese in addition to the steakburger patties, vegetarian black bean patty or crispy or grilled chicken. To further support their preferences, both the menu listings and the nutrition guide may be helpful in customizing any of the available bowls.
Prime Rib Steakburger: Besides some of the more familiar burger preparations and innovative steakburger creations, Freddy’s also offers a rotating selection of limited-time only specials. Some of these features, such as the Prime Rib Steakburger, receive so much love from diners that we ultimately make them a more permanent part of our menu. The Prime Rib Steakburger offers a luxurious burger experience with its thin-sliced prime rib on top of two steakburger patties, as well as the melted Swiss cheese, grilled onions, sauteed portobello mushrooms and garlic aioli that complete this mouthwatering menu choice.
The Timeless Appeal of Frozen Custard
At Freddy’s, the fast casual dining experience doesn’t focus primarily on savory menu items. Instead of offering a limited selection of sweet treats, our guests enjoy a similar number of options and variety with our frozen custard treats as they do with our steakburgers. Fresh, rich and creamy, Freddy’s frozen custard is available in two classic flavors – vanilla and chocolate, can be ordered in multiple preparations and accompanied by numerous sauces and toppings. From familiar classics to treats that guests can design themselves, learn more about how Freddy’s frozen custard offerings reflect the variety and customization opportunities associated with the best fast casual dining experiences.
Types of Treats: At Freddy’s, we offer classic frozen treats like shakes, malts, and floats, as well as scoops of our fresh frozen custard on cake cones, in dishes and packed into pints and quarts. For example, our Chocolate Chip Custard Sandwich (also available as a 4 pack) includes two chocolate chip cookies with a center of delicious vanilla frozen custard rolled in chocolate chips. Our menu also includes several different custard creations, such as the Signature Turtle and the Strawberry Dreamcake, which are available as sundaes, concretes and shakes, not to mention our Freddy’s Frosts! Aside from choosing the type of treat, many of these frozen custard creations are available in different sizes and for further customization.
Specialty Selections: Regularly introducing new flavors and tasty combinations is an important part of our approach to fast casual dining. Beyond our sizable assortment of frozen custard treats, we also offer limited-time only items on the sweeter side of our menu as we do on the savory! One exciting example of our special additions is the Summer Custard Tour. Instead of offering just one item for the season, the Summer Custard Tour brings a new custard flavor for each of the 13 weeks of this tour, which runs from the beginning of June until the end of August. Miss out on the excitement of these featured flavors? Many of these combinations and so many more can be enjoyed using our Create Your Own Treat order option.
Create Your Own Treat: Customization is a key component of Freddy's fast casual dining experience. It’s evident in our made-to-order steakburgers and frozen custard treats, the build-your-own bars on our catering menu and this featured frozen custard opportunity. In selecting this ordering option, guests first choose to create a sundae, concrete or shake, as well as their preferred frozen custard flavor and treat size. Once that part of the process is complete, it’s time to explore the 20+ toppings available and pick the perfect ones for that custard creation! As evident with this menu choice and otherwise, the guest experience is the core of our approach to fast casual dining.
The Importance of the Guest Experience
Our commitment to the guest experience isn’t limited to the breadth of our menu, the quality of our ingredients or our made-to-order approach. Ensuring that guests can enjoy their meals as they prefer also extends to other facets of our service. As highlighted at Datassential, today’s consumers are looking for value across the board in their restaurant experience.
For many diners, menu prices are a key piece of this puzzle. That’s why we offer many different opportunities to make the most of your money. When ordering a steakburger or other sandwich, drink or treat and side, our 10+ combo meals, our Kids Meals and Senior Meals are one way to save. Participating in Freddy’s Rewards is another option that enables guests to earn points with every order that they can eventually redeem for FREE rewards like select sides, treats and even one of our most popular steakburgers. Through the loyalty program and by downloading the Freddy’s app, guests can also find out about exclusive promotions and special offers!
We also know that convenience matters. With our retro restaurant aesthetic, each Freddy’s restaurant offers a bright and family-friendly space for guests to enjoy, but dining in isn’t the only way to access our delicious menu. Carry-out and delivery are also available. In addition to tracking rewards points and finding the Freddy’s near you, the Freddy’s app (available for download at Google Play or the App Store) also provides guests with mobile ordering capabilities.
For fast casual dining at its best, visit your local Freddy’s today! With a menu that includes made-to-order steakburgers and frozen custard treats as well as many other sandwiches, tasty sides and assorted drinks, we look forward to serving you with genuine hospitality. Freddy’s Gift Cards are also available, so you can treat someone you know to all that the Freddy’s experience has to offer!