Inviting local restaurateurs to serve their dishes at locations managed by Aramark is a tried-and-true strategy for adding variety, authenticity, and fun. At the same time, it is a great opportunity for those restaurants to reach new diners and supplement their revenue.
To that end, Aramark created a formal guest restaurant program called Local Restaurant Row to help connect restaurants—many of them minority-, women-, or veteran-owned—with Aramark clients and customers at workplaces, hospitals, and college campuses across the United States.
“Local Restaurant Row fosters a more inclusive supply chain and gives guests easy access to some of the best local favorites in their community," said Matthew Weiss, Vice President of Brand Management, Aramark. “Having local guest restaurants at our locations in Workplace Hospitality, Collegiate Hospitality, and Healthcare+ has been extremely popular with diners and our list of partner restaurants has grown immensely since the program began in 2019.”
2022 Local Restaurant Row Awards
The growth and popularity of the program has given rise this year to the first Local Restaurant Row Awards honoring those innovative restaurant and food truck partners that have performed exceptionally across several categories. The following winners were chosen from more than 750 Local Restaurant Row partners currently in the program.
Financial Performance
These partners have seen great financial success at client locations and are a revenue leader in the Local Restaurant Row partner portfolio.
Coyote Crossing, Conshohocken, PA. An iconic local Mexican restaurant, Coyote Crossing offers authentic food to hospital visitors and staff at more than seven Aramark locations across the Philadelphia metro area. Guests love the food and always ask when Coyote Crossing and Chef Christopher Hora (pictured) will be back.
Sonny’s Pizza, Indianapolis, IN. An Indianapolis institution, Sonny’s Pizza has been serving the area for more than 20 years and is a part of the Aramark Local Restaurant Row family at multiple locations. Customers report the friendly team knows most guests by name and they are ready and willing to accept feedback and offer new menu items.
Curbside Creations, Richmond, VA. This food truck has a strong following for bold American cuisine that has a hint of Cajun (think Po’ Boys, crab cakes, and alligator tacos). At a recent client event, Curbside Creations collected more than 2,300 tickets, approximately double the amount collected by the next highest food truck. Curbside Creations has partnered with Aramark accounts in both Collegiate Hospitality and Workplace Hospitality.
Growth
A restaurant that has grown their business as a result of the partnership with Aramark.
Chatpata and Xiwang, Albany, NY. One of the first Local Restaurant Row partners at a local Healthcare+ account, Chatpata expanded their offerings from more traditional Pakistani-Indian cuisine to a menu featuring Indo-Chinese dishes that has proven popular with diners. Location sales have almost doubled since they started, and guest satisfaction scores have also increased.
Size Matters BBQ, Columbia, SC. Serving true-blue southern BBQ fare, Size Matters BBQ is a local staple. Owned and operated by twin brothers Jordin and Dusty Lindsey (who attended and played football at University of South Carolina), Size Matters BBQ is consistently the highest revenue concept in the Local Restaurant Row portfolio on campus. Their sales have grown as much as 75 percent since starting with the program.
Che Chori, Indianapolis, IN. This local restaurant offers Argentina’s most popular and delicious street and comfort foods to diners at two Aramark locations. Their growth has been ignited by selling delicious empañadas both onsite and at catered events. They now serve lunch for thousands of people on a given day.
Operational Excellence
From safety and sanitation to food quality and speed of service, this partner demonstrates operational excellence in all they do.
The Halal Guys, Plano, TX. After starting out in street carts serving people in New York City, The Halal Guys has grown into a nationwide franchise serving gyros, chicken, and other Mediterranean-inspired halal food. The team in Plano, Texas, is known for prioritizing account-specific details as well as arriving early and setting up to satisfy all guests with great food and best-in-class safety and sanitation procedures.
Livy O’s, St. Petersburg, FL. Serving southern-inspired favorites, family-owned Livy O’s had focused on catering until partnering with Aramark. “A physical location is something we had been working on for quite a while and Local Restaurant Row has given us that checkmark that tells us we can do it,” said Staci Ashwood, operations manager for Livy O’s. Guests line up for garlic aioli fries and buttermilk chicken and waffle sandwiches among other offerings.
Teamwork/Guest First
Truly a team player that drives customer service and satisfaction when onsite.
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, Dayton, OH. A nationwide chain, Lee’s has served their famous chicken at Sinclair Community College as a guest restaurant every Tuesday since 2015—even during the slower summer semesters. With their customer-first approach, the Lee’s team adjusts their menu and service to meet the needs of the college community. They have even served as many as 600 box lunches for special campus events.
Papouli’s, San Antonio, TX. During a severe winter storm when this university account had limited staffing and no water, Papouli's stepped in to assist with dining services on campus. The company brought in their own supplies to help feed both the students and the Aramark team members who were stranded. Students love the authentic Greek and Mediterranean food, including gyros, fresh baklava, and hand-cut fries.
Most Unique
Whether it’s the cuisine, presentation, or customer service, this guest restaurant is truly unique.
Twisting Roots, Jacksonville, FL. This food truck offers an eclectic menu that showcases Caribbean, Jamaican, South American, Southern, Spanish, and Tex-Mex flavors. Jacksonville University guests love the food, including one of their signature dishes called a Canoa, a fried sweet plantain piled with a choice of meat, fried onions, guava, tomatoes, and a chipotle ranch sauce.
Crave, Holyoke, MA. Crave owner Nicole Ortiz, an alumnus of Holyoke Community College’s culinary program, finds inspiration from a variety of cuisines, including traditional Puerto Rican foods highlighting her family’s background. Crave was Holyoke’s first Local Restaurant Row partner—and was a huge hit from the beginning. Incorporating Crave’s energy and food on campus has been a great complement to the dining program and an amazing way to support a community business.
President’s Choice
Among the best-of-the-best, these partners were nominated across multiple categories.
Pita Chip, Philadelphia, PA. Serving modern Middle Eastern cuisine, Pita Chip’s chicken shawarma, falafel cooked fresh to order, irresistible garlic sauce, and other authentic offerings have made them a favorite of staff and visitors alike at this hospital location (pictured). Not only do they serve lunches at more than seven different Aramark client accounts, but they frequently are called to provide off-peak catering and special event menus, as well.
Smoke & Donuts, Orlando, FL. When Smoke & Donuts is onsite, guests flock to get their southern BBQ and sweets at the cafes and convenience store. They incorporate vegetarian and vegan options and are willing to open early or stay open late whenever needed. Due to their popularity, in fall 2022 Smoke & Donuts relocated to a permanent location the University of Central Florida’s student union and now operate there five days a week.
El Tenedor, Kansas City, MO. Featuring authentic Spanish cuisine, El Tenedor has been a strong local restaurant partner for more than five years, starting as a food truck operation and expanding to a full-time onsite guest restaurant. The owners have established a solid customer following with their dynamic menus, outstanding customer service, and high-quality food, including savory empañadas and their famous paella. They embody the spirit of hospitality in everything they do and often provide additional services for large catered events.
