How Cheese Pulls Are Saving Old-School Restaurants

Chain restaurants have been around for ages, and they're not going anywhere soon. They're cheap, familiar, and comforting, which is why they're everywhere. But times are tough, and people are eating out less. So, how do these places stay alive? One answer: cheese pulls. Cheese pulls are all over social media. People film themselves stretching out gooey cheese from pizza or mozzarella sticks. It's fun to watch, and it's making people want to visit these restaurants. Take Sara Rafael, for example. She flew from Ireland to New York just to try out places she saw on TikTok, like Olive Garden and The Cheesecake Factory. Experts say this is a big deal. With people eating at home more, restaurants need something to stand out. That's where viral moments come in. But there's a catch: going viral might mean losing some authenticity.Chili's, a Tex-Mex chain, has nailed the cheese pull trend. Their Triple Dipper appetizer, with its stretchy mozzarella sticks, has become a hit. Thanks to social media, it's now 15% of their sales. Chili's even added new flavors like Nashville Hot and Honey-Chipotle to keep the hype going. This has helped Chili's make a big comeback. Content creators play a huge role in this. People like Karissa Dumbacher post videos of themselves eating at these places. Her videos get millions of likes, and they're not even paid to do it. This free advertising brings in lots of customers. But experts warn that virality can only do so much. Restaurants still need to serve good food to keep people coming back. It's concerning that so many people focus on taking pictures of their food instead of enjoying the meal. Maybe it's time to put down the phone and just eat.