US the restaurant industry is on track to see $1 trillion in sales for the first time in history by 2024, according to National Restaurant Associationand 39% of Americans are dining out once a week or more, according to data from the shopping platform Lightspeed Commerce Inc.
Food has always helped bring people together – and remains a “central point” of connection to this day, Pablo Rivero, CEO of the restaurant reservation platform lostsaid The entrepreneur at the beginning of this year.
Between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024, Resy helped facilitate more than 350 million customer sit-downs, grew to 50 million users and saw 600 million bookings since its inception 10 years ago.
The company just released its Resy 2024 Retrospective, which looks back at the year's dining trends and ahead to what's to come in 2025, based on a survey of American restaurants and Resy reservation data.
As Rivero pointed out, people are looking for connections and finding it while eating out: 69% of respondents said they've made new connections at restaurants, with one in five even exchanging numbers, Resy's report found.
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Another notable discovery discovered by Resy? According to a recent survey of 1,000 American diners, one in four respondents said a restaurant's “overall vibe” was the top factor when choosing a place to eat.
Moreover, for some diners in the US, the atmospheres are that only the reason they choose one place over another: 23% of respondents said they will go to cocktail or wine bars “just for the atmosphere” even though they drink very little.
When it comes to the dining trends you can expect to see more of in the new year, Resy's predictions are strong: “affordable” omakase and speakeasy omakase concepts; regional Chinese cuisines; “the return of the pub burger;” seafood, especially raw bars; cabbage (which is the new cauliflower, which was the new beet); and cocktails with delicious side dishes.
Related: These are the most affordable US cities to eat out
On the subject of cocktails, one in four respondents predict a classic comeback in 2025: sour amarettowhich usually contains amaretto, lemon juice and simple syrup, with some variations including bourbonegg white and bitter.
The report also noted that “any serious beverage program,” especially those with a cocktail focus, will have multiple quality non-alcoholic options — not just lemonade or iced tea.