Exploring the Hottest Restaurant Trends of 2023

Welcome, fellow foodies! This year was a whirlwind of exotic cocktails and late-night dining adventures. We sipped on pickletinis, MSG martinis, and even dirty pasta water martinis. And let’s not forget about the endless espresso martinis! Our dining experiences took us to places that felt more like theme parks than ordinary neighborhood eateries. We can thank TikTok food gurus and traditional critics alike for shaping this year’s wild restaurant culture. As the industry rebounds from the pandemic’s effects, it seems like restaurants are finally able to shake off the weight of the past few years and have some fun—or at least experiment with new concepts.

But it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. Inflation is taking a toll, making thin margins even thinner for restaurants. Ordering a simple salad might give you sticker shock, and navigating tipping etiquette can still be a controversial topic. And let’s not even mention the struggle of securing a reservation at a trendy eatery—it’s practically a sport! From the good to the bad, these are the most prevalent restaurant trends of 2023.

The Hottest New Restaurant Aesthetic? Overwhelming Funhouse

I stumbled upon my favorite bit of restaurant decor at Lil’ Deb’s Oasis in New York. A mesmerizing lamp at the entrance features dancing jellyfish inside a glass column, casting neon light and adding to the already colorful and lively atmosphere. Maximalism is the name of the game, and Lil’ Deb’s is just one of the many restaurants embracing this trend. Shuggie’s in San Francisco, a restaurant with a focus on food waste prevention and natural wine, boasts rooms of vibrant green and nearly migraine-inducing yellow. Even as I indulged in a fantastic pan pizza, I found it hard to focus with everything demanding my attention. I left feeling as if I had just attended a rave—full and energized.

While some diners may scoff at the over-the-top nature of these restaurants, I’m all for it. After the draining effects of the pandemic, restaurants are reemerging in exciting new ways. These sensory-overload funhouses, along with the resurgence of theme restaurants, show that great food doesn’t have to come with a side of stuffiness. With disco balls overhead and wild rugs underfoot, places like Daytrip in Oakland and Mister Mao in New Orleans are a welcome escape from the ordinary. —Elazar Sontag, restaurant editor

Inflation Has Come for Your Salad

If you’ve recently paid over $20 for a simple salad, you’re not alone. Thanks to inflation and an insect-borne virus devastating California’s lettuce crops, prices have skyrocketed. Don’t get me wrong, a big bowl of greens is pure bliss, but the cost is hard to swallow.

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