Sam Tell’s Take: Restaurant Trends to Watch in 2026

As a proud partner to hundreds of independent restaurants in NYC and nationwide, from Michelin-level dining rooms to fast-casual leaders, Sam Tell has a front-row seat to what operators are planning, purchasing, and prioritizing for the year ahead. After reading The Infatuation's: Restaurant Trends You'll See in 2026, we pulled together our own take, highlighting the shifts we're already seeing in kitchen design, menu development, tabletop and guest experience.

Here's what to expect to see more of in 2026:

1. Elevated Neighborhood Dining

Neighborhood spots are becoming the new reservation flex; intimate rooms, thoughtful plating, and menus that feel personal instead of pretentious. NYC favorites like Chateau Royale, Little Maven, Estela, and Misi are leading the charge with warm lighting, sculptural plates, and that "elevated yet approachable" energy operators are chasing.

 

Why it matters: Guests want comfort with intention.

 

2. Martini Culture Is Back (In Every Possible Way)

Dirty martinis. Extra cold martinis. Caviar-on-top martinis. Tableside-mixed martinis.

If 2025 was Espresso Martini season, 2026 belongs to the classic martini revival.

Places like Capon's Chophouse, Weather Up, Balthazar, and Pastis and leaning into dramatic glassware, big garnishes, and icy presentation.

 

Trending right now:

3. Chef's Counters & Open Kitchens Are the New Best Seat in the House

Diners want to see the fire, hear the sizzle, and watch the chefs at work. Chef's counters, small tasting menus, and fully open kitchens continue to take over. Confidant in Brooklyn, designed & supplied by the Sam Tell team, is a perfect example, with a warm open kitchen that feels like stepping into someone's home.

 

What this trend means:

4. Experience & Design-First Dining

2026 is all about ambiance that feels intentional, not gimmicky. Dining rooms where lighting, music, tabletop, and design all work together. Operators are leaning into rooms that mix sculptural plateware, soft lighting, and immersive design.

Trendsetters like Sartianos, Le Coucou, Zero Bond, and Genesis House are proof that aesthetic dining has evolved into curated, story-driven hospitality.

This includes:

• Candlelit tables
• Textured, unique dinnerware such as Bauscher Hepp's Playground 
• Accent, social media worthy glassware
• Tableside "moments" / experiences

5. Collectible Matchbooks

The humble matchbook is having a moment, and in 2026, it's becoming one of the most charming branding tools a restaurant can have. What used to be a simple "take on your way out" item is now a miniature piece of restaurant identity, designed as thoughtfully as the menu. Guests aren't just grabbing matchbooks... they're collecting them, displaying them as artwork, photographing them, posting them, and trading them.

Why operators are loving matchbooks:

• They're a low-cost, high-impact branding moment
• Guests treat them like souvenirs or collectibles
• They're incredibly photogenic, perfect for social media
• They extend the restaurant's brand beyond just the table & dining room

6. Custom Dinnerware Is on the Rise

Custom-branded dinnerware is becoming one of the most popular ways restaurants are elevating the guest experience in 2026. Operators are moving beyond plain white plates and embracing logo-stamped, monogrammed, or custom-colored designs that reinforce their brand with every dish.

Many Sam Tell customers, including Capon's Chophouse, Pastis, Black Pearl, Tellers, Chateau Royale, and Le Veau d'Or, have introduced custom pieces to create a more distinctive, memorable table.

Why it's trending:

• Instantly strengthens brand identity
• Makes everyday dishes feel elevated
• Photographs beautifully for social media
• Creates moments guests remember

Custom dinnerware is a small upgrade that delivers big impact, turning each plate into part of the restaurant's story.