The pandemic has impacted the way millions of restaurants operate and while some businesses are struggling to stay afloat, new ventures like virtual restaurant Foxtail Supper Club are launching. Austin chef Page Pressley intended to open Foxtail Supper Club as a physical restaurant but plans quickly changed and Pressley decided to adapt by creating a virtual restaurant concept.
Twice weekly, Foxtail Supper Club opens up 11 "seats" so that diners can come together at a specific place (Zoom) and time. Through Assembly Kitchen, a local online platform for meal kit deliveries, guests get their prepared meal delivered to their door, along with cooking instructions so that they can finish the necessary preparations. The five-course dinners include two main entrees and dessert, with items that change regularly as part of a rotating menu.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Virtual Restaurants
- There is an opportunity for restaurants to create unique virtual dining experiences that include delivered meal kits and interactive video chat.
- Meal Kit Delivery Platforms
- Delivery platforms such as Assembly Kitchen could revolutionize the way restaurants package and sell their meals, particularly in the era of social distancing.
- Interactive Dining Experiences
- The Foxtail Supper Club's idea of a virtual dinner party could inspire a whole new experience that includes an interactive online event component.
Where This Applies
- Restaurant Industry
- Virtual restaurants could help restaurants create new revenue streams despite the limitations of the pandemic.
- Meal Kit Delivery Industry
- The popularity of virtual restaurants could greatly impact the meal kit delivery industry by creating new partnerships with restaurants and food delivery companies.
- Event Planning Industry
- There is an opportunity for the event planning industry to create new virtual dining experiences that include cooking classes and interactive video chat for remote guests.
