"You either panicked or you pivoted," said Stibel, founder and CEO of New England Consulting Group. And going into 2021, those two paths still apply as thousands of restaurants hang by a thread with COVID-19 cases escalating across the US. The end-of-year winter surge is prompting tighter restrictions for restaurants who are forced to, once again, rely heavily on delivery, carryout, and drive-thru orders to survive. And an estimated 110,000 restaurants have not survived, according to the National Restaurant Association. Insider interviewed several industry experts to get their take on what lies ahead for 2021. Most said next year's playbook looks like an accelerated version of 2020. Operators will leverage technology to meet the needs of convenience-hungry consumers. Temporary menu slashes will become permanent. More consolidation is expected as private equity firms and multi-unit operators look to scale operations and grab market share.