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5 must-know restaurant news stories: April 9, 2014

Nation's Restaurant News editors select the top industry stories of the day

Panera CEO looks to fix 'mosh pit' ordering system (Associated Press/Yahoo)
Ron Shaich admits that ordering at the fast-casual chain can be chaotic. The confusion has proven problematic for the brand, whose sales growth slowed last year. The company’s solution is Panera 2.0, which Shaich breaks down in a Q-and-A.

—Marcella Veneziale

More restaurants adopting no-tipping policy (Moneywatch/CBS)
Along with some independent operators, Kevin Reddy, chief executive of Noodles & Company, says he doesn't want tipping at his restaurants either. "We don't really feel that folks should have to pay something additional for us to appreciate that they're choosing us over another restaurant," he told CNBC.

—Ron Ruggless

Tom's Urban, Shake Shack to open in Las Vegas (MarketWatch)
Shake Shack is working its way west with its first location in Las Vegas scheduled to open at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in December. The hotel casino is also scheduled to open the third location of Tom’s Urban, the 24-hour full-service concept developed by Tom Ryan, who also founded the Smashburger chain. Ironically, Smashburger is scheduled to open its first location in New York — the real New York — on Thursday.

—Lisa Jennings

Taco Bell Foundation for Teens pledges $30 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America (press release)
Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens have announced a new five-year commitment to support programs encouraging at-risk teens to finish high school. The partnership includes multiyear grants totaling $30 million. The foundation hopes to provide resources and mentors to nearly all 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs chapters in the United States by 2018.

—Mark Brandau

The stars remain aligned for New York's Jean-Georges (The New York Times)
Good news in the New York City fine-dining scene, Jean-Georges Vongerichten's flagship restaurant, Jean-Georges, is rechristened with four stars from The New York Times in a glowing review that will bring you up to date with what's happening in New York's top kitchens.

—Bret Thorn

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