Fast Casual Restaurants Offer Healthy Meal Options

For many Americans, relying on restaurants for meals remains a priority. However, consumers are becoming more discriminatory in their choices. Increasingly, diners want healthier menu options, locally sourced fresh ingredients, and customizable menu items. These consumer demands have contributed to the popularity of fast casual restaurants.

What Are Fast Casual Restaurants?

Around the 1990s, a few restaurants began experimenting with the concept of “home meal replacement”.  The idea was to use fresh ingredients to create a healthy meal at reasonable prices. Furthermore, dine-in, take-out, and home delivery would be available.

This dining experience resonated with consumers, making it a rapidly growing segment of the restaurant market. Locally, Mario’s Pizza is a restaurant offering fast casual dining. What began as a pizzeria along the NC coast has grown into 9 eateries in the greater Piedmont area. Today, we also serve more than just pizza. We have an extensive menu of Italian entrees, subs, salads, appetizers, and desserts.

What Does Mario’s Pizza Serve?

Similarly, the features of our restaurants are in line with what you would expect from other fast casual establishments:

1. Fresh, Locally Sourced Produce

Often, fast food restaurants use ultra-processed foods to lengthen the shelf life, flavor, and texture of their products. While processed foods are tasty, they contain minimal nutritional value and contribute to many diseases.

On the other hand, fresh produce is rich in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In addition, the natural flavor and texture are far superior to processed foods. Of course, at Mario’s Pizza, we use the freshest ingredients possible in all our recipes.

2. Meal Customization

Quick-service fast food restaurants emerged as models of efficiency, delivering your meal in under 3 minutes. This model depends upon uniformity of meals and fixed menu options.

In contrast, fast casual food establishments offer made-to-order meals tailored to customers’ preferences and dietary needs. For example, you can choose regular, cauliflower, and rice-based pizza crusts. Additionally, we have 32 delicious topping options. Moreover, our salads and subs come in 2 different sizes to match your hunger levels. Need to swap to vegan cheese? We’ve got you covered.

3. Easy Ordering

Fine dining prioritizes experience as much as the food, with highly personalized service. Hence, your server helps and places your food order. However, both fast food and fast casual offer counter service, seamless online ordering, or mobile app ordering.

Of course, Mario’s offers all the options. Furthermore, when you download our app, you can place an order from anywhere! Don’t forget to sign up for our loyalty program, which can save you money. Every time you dine with us, you earn 1 point for every $2 spent. Once you accumulate 50 points, you can get cash back or save it for free food.

4. Dine-in, Take-out, And Home Delivery Options

While fast food restaurants have dine in options, their focus is on optimizing high table turnover and drive-through features. Alternatively, a casual dining restaurant offers counter service with a relaxed atmosphere.

At Mario’s, you can come and stay as long as you want. We also offer take out and home delivery through one of our transportation partners.

5. Moderately Priced Meals

Quick-service food restaurants used to offer a cheap, fast meal. However, price increases have narrowed the gap between fast food and fast casual food. When there’s little difference between prices, most consumers will choose the healthier option.

Mario’s Pizza owners are from a large Italian family who understand the expense of eating out with a family. That’s why we offer huge portions at affordable prices. Additionally, we have luncheon and daily specials to help stretch your budget even further.

FAQs About Our Restaurants

Are you looking for healthier take-out meal options? Below, we answer a few questions about fast casual dining options.

What Are Some Popular Fast Casual Food Chains?

Fast casual dining options have a low-cost structure and streamlined operations, while providing quality and value. Consumers love this balance and flock to these establishments. Popular national chains incorporating this model include the following restaurants:

• Applebee’s
• Chipotle
• Five guys
• Panera
• Jason’s Deli
• Moe’s Southwest Grill
• Olive Garden
• Outback Steakhouse
• Red Robin
• Red Lobster
• Texas Roadhouse

Do Fast Casual Pizza Chains Exist?

Although many pizzerias offer take out or delivery only, several fast casual pizza establishments do exist. Below are some pizza fast casual restaurants near you:

• Pizza Hut
• Blaze Pizza
• Mellow Mushroom
• Marco’s Pizza
• Mario’s Pizza

How Does Mario’s Pizza Compare To The Competition?

Mario’s Pizza is a locally owned Italian fast casual restaurant with pizza, entrees, and other delicious meals on its menu.  Of course, we think our food is the best, but more importantly, so do our customers. Here’s what a few of them say about our restaurants:

Really good pizza and nice folks – my husband loves the meatball and chicken parm sandwiches. I love the 24 inch party pizza for a crowd. – Mary K.

Best Italian food in Winston-Salem! I’ve tried the Baked Ziti, the spaghetti and the Chicken Parmesan and it is all delicious. The sauce is some of the best I’ve ever tasted! And the price is just right! – Amy A.

The best tasting pizza & wings I’ve had in this area so far. 10/10 would recommend! Also a chill place to dine in. Affordability points in my book! Aida C.

Which Restaurant Should You Choose For Dinner?

Why, Mario’s Pizza, of course! Start your order by clicking the red or green button at the top of the page, or come visit us! You’ll find our locations by clicking the “Choose the Restaurant nearest to you” at the top of the page.