What Guests Lose in the Ghost Kitchen Experience

COVID-19 changed the restaurant industry forever. It took existing trends, like the move to digital and delivery, and accelerated them by years. One of these supercharged changes was the rise of ghost kitchens. For restaurateurs, you can see why the model would be attractive. Operating costs are significantly lower since you don’t need to worry about renting out a large space. You also don’t need to hire wait staff. All you need is a line cook or two to prepare the food. With this simplified business model, you can see how it would appeal to someone looking to get into the restaurant game. 

So, ghost kitchens come with many advantages for restaurant owners, but what about the customers? Well there are pros and cons.

A big pro: the food is generally cheaper. Yes, customers have to pay extra for a delivery fee, but the food itself generally costs less because, as we explored above, the restaurants have so much less overhead. Add in the fact that ghost kitchens tend towards the…