What Statistics Can Tell a Savvy Restaurant Owner

Every year at the beginning of the summer, restaurant owners worry about the number of customers that will pass through the doors of their establishment. The recession which has spelled doom and disaster for so many people across North America has certainly not helped the situation any.

Despite all this, however, a survey of more than 4,000 Americans conducted in 2011 showed that they ate out almost five times per week. When you think about it, that’s a staggering amount of meals, whether take out or dine in, for a population of people who are reeling under the recent downturn in the global economy. So, it might seem that owning a restaurant is a very lucrative business indeed.

Most people who patronize restaurants tend to do so at lunchtime. Evening meals which tend to be the most expensive are the second most popular with breakfast bringing up the rear.

Most people who eat out on a regular basis would classify themselves as an “experimental” eater. About 25% of those surveyed considered themselves to be seriously engaged foodies.

Another thing that has contributed to the North American evolution in palates is food television. Many more people are exposed to a wide variety of different types of cuisine via their televisions these days and consequently they have become much more amenable to being a bit more adventurous when it comes to their meals. Many more people are open to trying ethnic food than they ever have been in the past. This means that restaurants specializing in Italian, Greek, Indian and Mexican cuisines are gaining in popularity each year.

The Internet has also contributed a great deal toward people being able to locate different eating establishments. Anyone with a mobile phone knows just how easy it is to find local deals at restaurants that offer coupon discounts. Many people subscribe to emails that offer them daily deals on restaurant meals. As well, calling up restaurant reviews on a mobile phone couldn’t be easier. You can literally choose your evening dining spot while walking back to the office from lunch! No matter how you slice it, though, food is a major part of nearly everyone’s daily life

Aside from the summer when most eating tends to take place on restaurant patios, many people become especially food conscious during the holiday season when the focus of many families is on eating, drinking and being merry. Each year, many Americans spend more of their pretax income on food which is consumed away from home rather than food which is prepared and consumed in the home. Of these meals, the vast majority are dinner meals which are traditionally the most expensive to eat in a restaurant. Many people will definitely consider the price of a restaurant meal when making a determination of where they will go when it comes to dinner. This is doubly the case when they are feeding more than just themselves and their spouse. If children are involved, many people will chose a restaurant which offers a specially discounted children’s menu. In many cases, people who are more concerned about the price of their meal will pay less attention to the quality of the meal which will be served to them.

The bottom line is that despite the current recession, many people seem to be completely unwilling to give up their restaurant dining. They continue to flock to their local eateries in record numbers. Perhaps this is because many are just too busy to take time out of their daily schedule to shop and prepare home cooked meals. Maybe it’s because they just like the quality of a meal they can have in a restaurant. It seems that this is a trend that will continue to flourish, however.

Kelly Watson is a professional blogger that writes on a variety of topics including San Francisco restaurants. She writes for Restaurants.com, a leading directory of restaurant ratings.