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Now Serving: What Restaurant Brands Are Betting on for 2027

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Shad Foos
7 min read

This article outlines:

Why digital innovators select the Olo digital commerce platform

Shifts in guest ordering behaviors

Strategies operators are betting on for 2027

In our Now Serving series, we ask Olo’s newest brands what’s on their minds. For this group of digital innovators, the answer is clear: catering and large group orders. Leaders described more demand for larger orders like team lunches and events, placed by guests who expect the process to be as easy as any other digital order.

In this edition, we spotlight Moretti’s Ristorante and Pizzeria (part of the Ala Carte Entertainment family), Tiki Taco, Tacos N’ Tortas, The Kati Roll Company, Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine, and Scooter’s Coffee, which brought its app and its first delivery channel onto Olo this summer. The process involved loading the fully customizable menu, configuring point-of-sale routing, and standing up Rails in just a week, enabling Scooter’s to meet its marketplace launch date. These restaurant leaders share why they chose Olo, what’s changed with their guests this year, and what they’re betting on for 2027.

What led you to choose Olo as your technology partner?

“We wanted to create a smooth and easy experience for our customers to order catering online and through an app. There is no better experience than Olo.”

“The ability to seamlessly integrate with my current stack, as well as the abilities that the Olo Catering platform has, made it easy for us to make the decision.”

“We wanted a platform that could scale with our business and provide a best-in-class digital ordering experience. I had heard consistently positive feedback about Olo, listened to Noah Glass discuss the company’s vision on the Restaurant Impossible podcast, and spent time reviewing customer success stories and case studies. The combination of Olo’s reputation, product capabilities, and long-term vision made it the right choice for us.”

“We chose Olo because we wanted a technology partner that could support The Kati Roll Company’s & Sophie's growth while making ordering easier for our guests and execution simpler for our restaurant teams. As we expand, connecting digital ordering, catering, and guest engagement is key to building a consistent experience across locations.”

“I define partnership as what happens when no one is looking, in preparation for when they do. Watching Olo stand up our full menu, every modifier, quickly and seamlessly is exactly what that looks like. We’re excited about this new partnership with Olo, and where we can go next together.”

What’s one guest behavior shift you’ve noticed so far this year?

“Guests are planning ahead and ordering for groups more than ever. Instead of one person picking up dinner, we're seeing larger orders for gatherings, team lunches, and events. And those guests expect the same seamless digital experience. They also want to feel like they're getting real value, which has pushed us toward shareable, sampler-style offerings.”

“Guests are looking for fresher-made products that are value-driven. With inflation over the past few years, it is table stakes to just serve great food. It is more important than ever to provide an exceptional experience for great value.”

“Even though we’ve only recently launched Olo, we’ve already seen encouraging signs. Guests are placing larger online orders, and we’ve started seeing more catering activity through our direct ordering channels. It’s still early, but we’re optimistic that making ordering easier and more seamless will continue to drive larger orders and stronger guest engagement.”

“Guests increasingly expect convenience to be part of the hospitality experience: easy ordering, clear options, and food that’s ready when promised. They’re looking for value beyond price, so consistency, accuracy, and a dependable experience are essential to earning their next order.”


What are you betting on for 2027?

“Bells and whistles without stability, scalability, and reliability mean nothing. Now that we have a solid foundation and a great relationship with the Olo team, we’re able to start having some of those roadmap conversations that continue to push the Scooter’s Coffee mobile app and loyalty experience into the leading-edge category where it’s been over the last three years.”

“Off-premise and catering in particular. Guests want our food at their offices, parties, and family gatherings as much as they want it in our dining rooms, and we're investing in making that as easy as possible. We're also focused on value and rewarding our regulars.”

“We are leaning into targeted interactions with our guests, utilizing the guest's specific journey to create a better experience for that individual guest. We also are laser-focused on being a part of every local neighborhood around each location.”

“We’re betting on growth through stronger direct guest relationships, a more accessible catering experience, and technology that helps our teams deliver consistently as we expand. We're focused on making TKRC & Sophie's an easy choice for more occasions—from an individual lunch to a workplace gathering—while protecting the quality and authenticity that bring guests back.”

The brands featured here are all working toward the same goal: making it easier for guests to order, providing great value, and earning repeat business. We’re proud to support them, along with the 800+ brands that rely on the platform every day.

Ready to make 2027 your biggest year for catering and direct orders? Request a demo.

Check out why more brands chose Olo in the first and second editions of Now Serving. 

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