Senior Jazzy Green doesn’t have anything against diners like Eat’n Park or Denny’s, but she and her friends enjoy going to more aesthetic places to eat.
Going out to breakfast is different for this generation. Gen Z leans towards small, local brunch spots as a hangout with friends.
It’s not only about the food, but also the decor that the restaurant or cafe can offer. Having a visually appealing meal with friends creates a more memorable time.
“The aesthetic of the place makes all the difference,” Green said.
Senior Lily Broccoli agrees that the big, national restaurants don’t work for social media.
“Chain places just are not as appealing to take pictures,” Broccoli said.
But another motivation for seeking out lesser-known cafes and brunch spots is to support independent restaurants and cafes, as opposed to chains.
“I love going to smaller brunch places because it makes me feel better supporting small businesses. The money I spend matters to them,” Green said.
Broccoli agreed.
“It is important to me because I think that they have really good products. They just need customers to get themselves out there to help bring more people in,” Broccoli said.
Sophomore Danny Brown prefers local places because of the quality of the food.
“Local restaurants just have better tasting food,” Brown said. “The quality is better, and it feels healthier for you.”
Senior Arturo Gromo also maintains that the food and drinks are better at such spots.
“A lot of the small businesses are run by families, and they seem to care more about their customers,” Gromo said.
Restaurants now focus more on presentation and plating, things that are essential for social media photos. Cute plates, mugs, and fancy coffee drinks all attract teens.
Leila Fanien, a barista at Uptown Coffee in Mt. Lebanon, has seen the coffee shop’s aesthetic evolve over the years.
“Customers will often comment on the plants and art,” Fanien said. “The shop tries to keep up with trends, and there’s local art hanging around.”
Small businesses have started gaining more popularity on social media because of the attention teens have given them. When someone finds an interesting restaurant and posts about it, it makes other people wonder about what other spots are out there, especially if the place has something special, like a drink or food special.
“I realized I go out to eat more than the average person, and I thought it would be cool to vlog it and post pictures of my food,” Green said.
Broccoli also likes the idea of sharing different spots on social media.
“It is cool seeing people from other schools who viewed my post go to the restaurant as a recommendation from me,” Broccoli said. “I went to a coffee shop called Delanie’s Coffee in the South Side, and a few weeks later, I saw it posted on one of my friends’ Instagram stories.”
Trends also play a part in boosting local restaurant and cafe owners’ business. Different drinks or food specials tend to attract customers looking for something unique.
Gromo enjoys the aesthetic drink trend.
“I am drawn to different drinks like chai, matcha, or frappuccinos,” Gromo said.
Fanien takes part in making seasonal drinks for Uptown’s menu.
“Every season, we come up with new recipes that might be trending and adjust some recipes,” Fanien said.
One of Gromo’s favorite places to visit is Coffee Etc. The owners, Pat and Kim Shepard, said they strive to create a welcoming environment in their coffee shop.
“We like to see the people coming in to eat, instead of mobile ordering and moving on,” Shepard said.
The Shepards believe that connecting with their customers is the key to having a welcoming environment.
“We notice a lot of younger people coming in. We have such a wide range of ages,” Kim Shepard said.
The Shepards don’t rely on social media to bring in customers, but instead on their reputation as a welcoming place to come and unwind. One of the most rewarding things to see is customers opening up, perhaps due to the homey environment of the cafe.
“Customers will come in here and aren’t very open with us, and you see that within the first few visits,” Kim said. “After that, they open up and are more conversational. It’s all about connection.”
Brown, meanwhile, goes to brunch at JT’s on Brownsville Inc. with his friends before going golfing.
“My friends and I go out to local spots before our tee time,” Brown said.
Senior Aria Michaels picks her brunch spots for their fashion appeal, particularly citing a Strip District coffeehouse.
“It’s nice to dress cute with your friends and go out,” Michaels said. “Having an aesthetic little brunch spot like Bitty and Beau’s Coffee to match your outfit just makes a good hangout and is good for pictures.”
