There's nothing like having a nice lunch, dinner, or happy hour with friends and family. With so many choices available, it may be hard to decide which places are the right fit. Sometimes, you may feel like going to a big chain restaurant, or you may prefer a nice local cafe. What exactly makes an eatery a cafe as opposed to a restaurant? Here is some insight into the differences:

Social Events

Sure, a restaurant likely has individual groups of tables socializing among themselves. However, your local cafe spot will have events that encourage bigger events for people to have fun and socialize together. Don't be surprised if your local cafe hosts art openings representing local artists. In the summer, they may even host a weekly movie series. It can be a better place to see who is in the area and spark up a conversation.

Outdoor Seating

A typical local cafe is often characterized by having as much outdoor seating as indoor seating. Some cafes may have even more outdoor seating available than seats inside. When you're dealing with a restaurant, the seating scenario is the complete opposite. A restaurant may do seasonal outdoor seating, but a local cafe may invest in outdoor heating or covering during colder weather.

Lack of Chain Ownership

These days, it's hard to go anywhere without seeing the same chain restaurants. Chain restaurants are even available in different countries. That's what really makes your area cafe stand out. Your neighborhood cafe is something special to you and the people living in your area. It's a place that you miss when you go away for a vacation or to visit people in another state. That's because your local eatery is unique, and it's not part of a massive chain of ownership of mass-produced food items.

One Location

Your local cafe usually has one location. If ownership expands, they may have a separate location in another part of the city. Sometimes, that second location may be within walking distance. Therefore, it still has a localized feel even if there are two of them. However, restaurants may have not only several occasions in your city, but around the world. While these restaurants may be in different locations, the food standards may not always be uniform.

Special Menus

Imagine going to your neighborhood cafe to eat and not being aware of what the menu is that day. The freedom of a cafe further stands out by how they can operate their menu. Larger restaurant chains usually have to stay restricted to the set corporate menu. They may have rotating lunch specials based on the whims of the chef. It could be fun patronizing your local cafe, as there may always be different delights to try. You have a better chance to chat with the eatery chef than a large restaurant chef about their daily dishes.

Live Music

There is nothing like having live music with your food. A neighborhood cafe will often host local bands. Some cafes may have a specific night a week for new bands, too. During some parts of the year, they may have a different band every night. A restaurant may be less likely to have bands playing. The restaurant ambiance is often better suited for a certain style of music. However, cafes have more freedom to have a cutting-edge band.

Varied Activities

There are many activities a cafe will offer compared to a standard restaurant. In addition to things like movie nights, they may have fun workshops to participate in. Therefore, you may be able to learn new skills such as crafting, basket weaving, or a cooking lesson. They may even have lecturers from certain professionals.

Private Parties

Most restaurants may host private parties in a set-aside room or patio. You may also be able to put a couple of tables together. However, the cafe size can make it easier to rent out the entire space for a few hours or all night. As a result, using a cafe for your event can be more intimate and private. You won't have to worry about other people coming in. Plus, your party guests won't have any confusion about where to go if they arrive late.

According to IBISWorld, there are over 156,000 full-service restaurants in the United States as of 2023. Now you know what makes a restaurant stand out from cafes. If you want a fun and yummy place to eat, check out So Much to Give Inclusive Café today.