If restaurateurs weren’t declaring unfettered optimism about the economic outlook in the coming months, they were, at the very least, not expressing complete dread during the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago.

Observers said traffic at the show was up from a year ago and innovative solutions were on display to help companies streamline their operations with an eye to beefing up their bottom lines.

Anecdotally, heads of chain restaurant companies walking the floor said there were signs of economic recovery.