Dine & Cook | Alternative food journalism

The restaurant industry is struggling to come out of recession according to a top industry analyst.

A new study by Kurt Salmon Global Consulting firm found that the restaurant sector's recovery from the most recent recession has been significantly slower compared to that of previous recessions.

"More than two years after the start of the Great Recession, consumer spending at restaurants is 10 percent less than an average of the nation's four prior recessions for the same recovery period," said Kurt Salmon Analyst Todd Hooper.