fast-casual
adjective
fast-ca·su·al
ˈfast-ˈkazh-wəl 
-ˈka-zhə-wəl,
-ˈka-zhəl
variants
or less commonly fast casual
: of, relating to, or being a restaurant that combines elements of fast-food service (such as counter ordering) with other elements (such as made-to-order food) that are typical of a full-service restaurant
The fast-casual restaurants typically offer fresh, hand-prepared burgers and fries in an atmosphere that might feature plush chairs and a fireplace but no kiddie playland.—
Karen Robinson-Jacobs
Karen Robinson-JacobsNot content to merely upgrade their menus, some chains are looking at overhauling their entire concept to match the fast-casual approach, whereby meals typically are prepared to order and there is limited table service.—Julie Tamaki
Julie Tamaki
fast-casual
noun
or fast casual
plural fast-casuals or fast casuals
… fast-casuals became the darling of the last decade, driven in part by the effects of the Great Recession, skyrocketing rents and rising food costs.
—Tim Carman
Tim Carman
Examples of fast-casual in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The fast-casual seafood chain is reportedly eyeing Chapter 11 bankruptcy after an endless shrimp deal proved way too popular.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2024
The fast-casual restaurant is located at 2700 Pinole Valley Blvd.
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
As of Monday, the fast-casual restaurant chain operates 65 locations throughout Florida, along with 26 franchised restaurants in Florida, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Just three employees are needed in the restaurant at any time, compared with the dozen required for a typical fast-casual restaurant.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
Canadian fast-casual chain Freshii used a video-calling system called Percy in 2022, paying its remote workers based in Nicaragua $3.75 per hour, even though Ontario’s minimum wage is $16.55.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
Like his other locations, this one will offer a fast-casual setting where customers can buy the artisanal New York, Detroit, Sicilian, Grandma and California style pizzas by the slice or whole pie.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Inspired by Chipotle Recanati drew inspiration from the triumph of fast-casual brands in the U.S., notably Chipotle, and started working on his brand proposition while still employed at Deutsche Bank.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 6 Apr. 2024
On that busy stretch of Hall Road, between Schoenherr and Hayes roads, HHC joins several other fast-casual chicken places, including a Chick-fil-A and Jollibee.
—Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2024
The fast-casual restaurant is located at 2700 Pinole Valley Blvd.
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
As of Monday, the fast-casual restaurant chain operates 65 locations throughout Florida, along with 26 franchised restaurants in Florida, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Just three employees are needed in the restaurant at any time, compared with the dozen required for a typical fast-casual restaurant.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
Canadian fast-casual chain Freshii used a video-calling system called Percy in 2022, paying its remote workers based in Nicaragua $3.75 per hour, even though Ontario’s minimum wage is $16.55.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
Like his other locations, this one will offer a fast-casual setting where customers can buy the artisanal New York, Detroit, Sicilian, Grandma and California style pizzas by the slice or whole pie.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Inspired by Chipotle Recanati drew inspiration from the triumph of fast-casual brands in the U.S., notably Chipotle, and started working on his brand proposition while still employed at Deutsche Bank.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 6 Apr. 2024
On that busy stretch of Hall Road, between Schoenherr and Hayes roads, HHC joins several other fast-casual chicken places, including a Chick-fil-A and Jollibee.
—Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fast-casual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fast-casual
Cite this Entry
“Fast-casual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast-casual. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
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