Marketing

Atmosphere, experience key for dining out

Adobe Stock

July 14, 2023

When it comes to going out for a meal, Americans want a great experience and atmosphere, and casual dining tops the list as the most popular restaurant type for those dining out.

Those are top findings from the 2023 Diner Dispatch survey released by US Foods Holding Corp., a foodservice distributor.

"Our inaugural 2023 Diner Dispatch survey provides essential insights to help restaurant operators make informed business decisions to drive their continued success," Jim Osborne, SVP, customer strategy and innovation, US Foods, said in a press release on the survey results.

Key highlights include:

• 57% prefer takeout or delivery and 43% prefer to dine out. Those surveyed dine out three times per month and order delivery more than four times per month, with an overwhelming majority preferring takeout from casual restaurant types.
• 63% report that atmosphere and experience are top reasons for dining out. Casual dining experiences reign supreme, with casual dining topping the list as the most popular restaurant type for dining out, followed by fast food, fast casual, contemporary casual, and bars and grills. When it comes to optimizing the experience, those surveyed want their paper menus back with more than three in four Americans surveyed preferring physical menus to a QR code menu experience.
• Half of Americans spend less than $20 per person per meal and a monthly average of $166 per person dining out, with men spending 19% more than women.