Industries in the Food Services and Drinking Places subsector prepare meals, snacks, and beverages to customer order for immediate on-premises and off-premises consumption. There is a wide range of establishments in these industries. Some provide food and drink only; while others provide various combinations of seating space, waiter/waitress services and incidental amenities, such as limited entertainment. The industries in the subsector are grouped based on the type and level of services provided. The industry groups are full-service restaurants; limited-service eating places; special food services, such as food service contractors, caterers, and mobile food services; and drinking places.
Food services and drink activities at hotels and motels; amusement parks, theaters, casinos, country clubs, and similar recreational facilities; and civic and social organizations are included in this subsector only if these services are provided by a separate establishment primarily engaged in providing food and beverage services.
Excluded from this subsector are establishments operating dinner cruises. These establishments are classified in Subsector 487, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation because those establishments utilize transportation equipment to provide scenic recreational entertainment.
7221 Full-Service Restaurants
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services to
patrons who order and are served while seated (i.e., waiter/waitress service) and pay after
eating. Establishments that provide these types of food services to patrons with any combination
of other services, such as takeout services, are classified in this industry.
72211 Full-Service Restaurants
See industry description for 722110 below.
722110 Full-Service Restaurants
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services to patrons
who order and are served while seated (i.e. waiter/waitress service) and pay after eating. These
establishments may provide this type of food services to patrons in combination with selling
alcoholic beverages, providing carry out services, or presenting live nontheatrical
entertainment.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing food services where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating - classified in U.S. Industry 722211, Limited-Service Restaurants;
- Selling a specialty snack or nonalcoholic beverage for consumption on or near the premises - classified in U.S. Industry 722213, Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars;
- Preparing and serving alcoholic beverages and known as bars, taverns, or nightclubs - classified in Industry 722410, Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages); and
- Presenting live theatrical productions and providing food and beverages for consumption on the premises - classified in Industry 711110, Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters.
7222 Limited-Service Eating Places
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services where
patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating. Most establishments do not have
waiter/waitress service, but some provide limited service, such as cooking to order (i.e., per
special request), bringing food to seated customers, or providing off-site delivery.
72221 Limited-Service Eating Places
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) providing food services where
patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating or (2) selling a specialty snack or
nonalcoholic beverage for consumption on or near the premises. Food and drink may be consumed on
the premises, taken out, or delivered to the customer's location. Some establishments (except
snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars) in this industry may provide these food services in
combination with selling alcoholic beverages.
Illustrative Examples:
Cafeterias; Pizza delivery shops; Fast-food restaurants; Snack bars (e.g., cookies,
pretzels, popcorn); Nonalcoholic beverage bars; Takeout eating places.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating in combination with providing takeout service - classified in Industry 72211, Full-Service Restaurants;
- Retailing confectionery goods and nuts not packaged for immediate consumption - classified in Industry 44529, Other Specialty Food Stores;
- Retailing baked goods (e.g., pretzels, doughnuts, cookies, and bagels) not baked on the premises and not for immediate consumption - classified in Industry 44529, Other Specialty Food Stores;
- Retailing baked goods (e.g., doughnuts and bagels) and providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating - classified in Industry 72211, Full-Service Restaurants;
- Selling snacks and nonalcoholic beverages from mobile vehicles - classified in Industry 72233, Mobile Food Services; and
- Preparing and serving alcoholic beverages and known as bars, taverns, or nightclubs - classified in Industry 72241, Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages).
722211 Limited-Service Restaurants
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services (except
snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars) where patrons generally order or select items and pay
before eating. Food and drink may be consumed on premises, taken out, or delivered to the
customer's location. Some establishments in this industry may provide these food services in
combination with selling alcoholic beverages.
Illustrative Examples:
Delicatessen restaurants; Pizza delivery shops; Family restaurants, limited service;
Takeout eating places; Fast-food restaurants; Takeout sandwich shops; Limited-service
pizza parlors.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Preparing and serving meals for immediate consumption using cafeteria-style serving equipment, known as cafeterias - classified in U.S. Industry 722212, Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets;
- Providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating - classified in Industry 722110, Full-Service Restaurants;
- Selling a specialty snack (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, candy, cookies) or nonalcoholic beverages, for consumption on or near the premises - classified in U.S. Industry 722213, Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars;
- Retailing confectionery goods and nuts not packaged for immediate consumption - classified in U.S. Industry 445292, Confectionery and Nut Stores;
- Retailing baked goods (e.g., pretzels, doughnuts, cookies, and bagels) not baked on the premises and not for immediate consumption - classified in U.S. Industry 445291, Baked Goods Stores;
- Preparing and serving alcoholic beverages, known as bars, taverns, or nightclubs - classified in Industry 722410, Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages); and
- Selling baked goods (e.g., doughnuts and bagels) and providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating - classified in Industry 722110, Full-Service Restaurants.
722212 Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets
This industry comprises establishments, known as cafeterias, buffets, or grill
buffets, primarily engaged in preparing and serving meals for immediate consumption
using cafeteria-style or buffet serving equipment, such as steam tables, refrigerated
areas, display grills, and self-service nonalcoholic beverage dispensing equipment.
Patrons select from food and drink items on display in a continuous cafeteria line or
from buffet stations.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating - classified in Industry 722110, Full-Service Restaurants; and
- Providing food services where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating - classified in U.S. Industry 722211, Limited-Service Restaurants.
722213 Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) preparing and/or serving a
specialty snack, such as ice cream, frozen yogurt, cookies, or popcorn or (2) serving
nonalcoholic beverages, such as coffee, juices, or sodas for consumption on or near the premises.
These establishments may carry and sell a combination of snack, nonalcoholic beverage, and other
related products (e.g., coffee beans, mugs, coffee makers) but generally promote and sell a
unique snack or nonalcoholic beverage.
Illustrative Examples:
Beverage bars; Carryout service doughnut shops with on-premises baking;
Carryout service bagel shops with on-premises baking; Carryout service pretzel
shops with on-premises baking; Carryout service cookie shops with on-premises baking;
Ice cream parlors.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Selling one or more of the following food specialties: hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, chicken, specialty cuisines - classified in U.S. Industry 722211, Limited-Service Restaurants or Industry 722110, Full-Service Restaurants, based on type of food services provided to patrons;
- Preparing and serving snacks and nonalcoholic beverages from mobile vehicles - classified in Industry 722330, Mobile Food Services;
- Retailing confectionery goods and nuts not packaged for immediate consumption - classified in U.S. Industry 445292, Confectionery and Nut Stores;
- Retailing baked goods (e.g., pretzels, doughnuts, cookies, and bagels) not baked on the premises and not for immediate consumption - classified in U.S. Industry 445291, Baked Goods Stores; and
- Retailing baked goods (e.g., doughnuts and bagels) and providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating - classified in Industry 722110, Full-Service Restaurants.
7223 Special Food Services
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services at one
or more of the following: (1) the customer's location; (2) a location designated by the customer;
or (3) from motorized vehicles or nonmotorized carts.
72231 Food Service Contractors
See industry description for 722310 below.
722310 Food Service Contractors
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services at
institutional, governmental, commercial, or industrial locations of others based on contractual
arrangements with these type of organizations for a specified period of time. The establishments
of this industry provide food services for the convenience of the contracting organization or the
contracting organization's customers. The contractual arrangement of these establishments with
contracting organizations may vary from type of facility operated (e.g., cafeteria, restaurant,
fast-food eating place), revenue sharing, cost structure, to providing personnel. Management
staff is always provided by the food service contractors.
Illustrative Examples:
Airline food service contractors; Food concession contractors (e.g., at
sporting, entertainment, convention facilities); Cafeteria food service
contractors (e.g., at schools, hospitals, government offices).
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing food services on a single-event basis - classified in Industry 722320, Caterers; and
- Supplying and servicing food vending machines - classified in Industry 454210, Vending Machine Operators.
72232 Caterers
See industry description for 722320 below.
722320 Caterers
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing single event-based food
services. These establishments generally have equipment and vehicles to transport meals and
snacks to events and/or prepare food at an off-premise site. Banquet halls with catering staff
are included in this industry. Examples of events catered by establishments in this industry are
graduation parties, wedding receptions, business or retirement luncheons, and trade shows.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Preparing and serving meals and snacks for immediate consumption from motorized vehicles or nonmotorized carts - classified in Industry 722330, Mobile Food Services;
- Providing food services at institutional, governmental, commercial, or industrial locations of others (e.g., airline contractors, industrial caterers) or providing food services based on contractual arrangements for a specified period of time - classified in Industry 722310, Food Service Contractors; and
- Renting out facilities without providing catering staff - classified in Industry 531120, Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses).
72233 Mobile Food Services
See industry description for 722330 below.
722330 Mobile Food Services
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in preparing and serving meals and
snacks for immediate consumption from motorized vehicles or nonmotorized carts. The establishment
is the central location from which the caterer route is serviced, not each vehicle or cart.
Included in this industry are establishments primarily engaged in providing food services from
vehicles, such as hot dog carts, and ice cream trucks.
Illustrative Examples:
Ice cream truck vendors; Mobile food concession stands; Mobile canteens;
Mobile refreshment stands; Mobile food carts; Mobile snack stands.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing food services where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating - classified in U.S. Industry 722211, Limited-Service Restaurants;
- Selling unprepared foods, such as vegetables, melons, and nuts or fruit from carts - classified in Industry 454390, Other Direct Selling Establishments;
- Selling specialty snacks (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, cookies, popcorn) or nonalcoholic beverages in nonmobile facilities for consumption on or near the premises - classified in U.S. Industry 722213, Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars;
- Selling food specialties, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, pizza, or specialty cuisines from nonmobile facilities - classified in U.S. Industry 722211, Limited-Service Restaurants or Industry 722110, Full-Service Restaurants based on type of food services provided to patrons; and
- Operating as street vendors (except food) - classified in Industry 454390, Other Direct Selling Establishments.
7224 Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in preparing and serving alcoholic
beverages for immediate consumption.
72241 Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
See industry description for 722410 below.
722410 Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
This industry comprises establishments known as bars, taverns, nightclubs, or drinking places
primarily engaged in preparing and serving alcoholic beverages for immediate consumption. These
establishments may also provide limited food services.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Preparing and serving alcoholic beverages (i.e. not known as bars or taverns) and providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating - classified in Industry 722110, Full-Service Restaurants
- Preparing and serving alcoholic beverages (i.e. not known as bars or taverns) and providing food services to patrons who generally order or select items and pay before eating - classified in Industry 72221, Limited-Service Eating Places
- Operating a civic or social association with a bar for the association members - classified in Industry 81341, Civic and Social Organizations;
- Retailing packaged alcoholic beverages not for immediate consumption on the premises - classified in Industry 445310, Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores; and
- Operating discotheques or dance clubs without selling alcoholic beverages - classified in Industry 713990, All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.
