Communal Restaurant Seating: Why 90% of Gen Z Like Them
Term: Communal tables.
Look: Long, uncomfortable and back in fashion.
The Return of Communal Eating? Not Again. The Sole Appropriate Location for Long Benches is the Cafeteria
Who would voluntarily eat with strangers as an adult with free will? The younger generation, it seems. According to data from the dining booking company Resy, "90% of young adult patrons say they like communal tables, versus just 60% of older generations".
A Sign of the Times. Before Complaining About the Youth of Today
Communal eating in patriotic “British Restaurants” was a major trend during the second world war, actually – there were about 2,500 of them, backed by Winston Churchill.
It Was Logical When Food Was Scarce, But Why Do It Now?
It’s an alien concept for you, admittedly, but communal tables can be fun! As Pablo Rivero explains: "They naturally turn dinner into a shared experience," and "You never know who you’ll be seated next to; that’s the fun of it!"
The “Fun” of An Interrupted Meal by Someone Explaining Loudly That Their Therapist Revealing They Are an Empath
Or sitting beside a fitness enthusiast chomping chicken breasts to fuel his "farmer’s carries"? Or a social media user capturing you in the background in their video as they massacre a salad? Consider this: young adults – the most online generation, who came of age during the pandemic, and many of whom started careers remotely – love a structured communal activity. This same desire driving the popularity of youth running groups, hiking outings and art nights: they’re craving offline social connection.
I Prefer Dining in a Solo Ramen Stall Found in Japan.
You might not fancy it, but many youths feel isolated (47% of them, according to an Oxfam survey released this summer). In a 2023 US report a third of males aged between 18 and 23 reported they had no contact outside their household in the previous seven days. Isn't it positive they’re getting out and sharing meals with new people?
Perhaps. Studies Indicate Those Dining in Groups Report Greater Happiness
Talking to strangers is good for us, too: it enhances our feeling of community. Additionally the Resy data points out another advantage: one in seven survey respondents said they’d landed a date at a shared meal event. Given gen Z have gone off the apps, this gives them a shot at a spontaneous "meat-cute".
That Joke Annoys Me Almost as Much as I Dislike Shared Seating.
My work here is done.
Do say: "Young adults believe shared meals are a total success."
Don’t say: "Things are fine until food spills on your vintage clothes."