Beef 'O' Brady's is serving pizza and flatbreads. California Pizza Kitchen is serving salmon, halibut and ribeyes.
Identity crises? Hardly. The restaurants have taken the attitude that when it comes to attracting diners, the more options, the better.
"In the casual-dining segment, variety is a big piece of being competitive," said Chris Elliott, CEO of Tampa-based Beef 'O' Brady's. "Any casual-dining restaurant, whether it be Chili's or Applebee's or Cheesecake Factory, they all have large menus. That's part of the niche."
Expanding beyond core menu items isn't done lightly or quickly. Restaurant leaders have long debated how large a menu should be, with some arguing for specializing. In the end, no one wants to lose business because one guest in a party isn't in the mood for a certain kind of food.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Tampa Bay Times
