24 percent: Earning extra rewards during the meal, like loyalty, credit card points, or exclusive offers.

33 percent: being provided a complimentary dessert or cocktail.

The top three experiences or amenities date-night guests said they want available to them were: The restaurant was too crowded to find their date: 24 percentĪll told, though, what SevenRooms data showed was, arguably, the experience upon arrival is more critical than detractors.They were seated next to a couple talking too loudly: 26 percent.They were seated too close to another table: 31 percent.The restaurant ran out of menu items they were looking forward to: 31 percent.The restaurant was louder than expected and they couldn’t have a conversation: 43 percent.Their meals arrived at different times (more than 10–15 minutes apart): 45 percent.So moving to dealbreakers, here’s what would turn a customer away from a restaurant for a future date: “Whether a guest is booking an online reservation, adding themselves to a digital waitlist, or coming into a restaurant to join a waitlist before popping into a wine bar around the corner to wait, technology has made it easy for restaurants to show guests an experience that will keep them coming back,” SevenRooms said. spots were walk-ins, a 5 percent jump as well. 25 percent: Of all completed covers at L.A.47 percent: Of all completed covers at NYC restaurants were walk-ins, a 5 percent increase from June.Walk-in diners and digital waitlists have become more prevalent for date-night planning:

53 percent: Customers who go on dates who say they do not make a reservation, but still go to the restaurant.They now use a variety of ways to get in. The parameters of date night in America have not been rattled by COVID-it’s the expectations we need to get into.Īlso, in recent months, SevenRooms said, diners have found it more challenging to secure prime tables at their go-tos. In fact, it suggests people are returning to a world they’re familiar with. 54 percent: Typically book a casual meal where they can stay and talk at the table for a while.But, they could be convinced to go elsewhere. 46 percent: Usually book a restaurant they’ve been to before.In big metros like New York City and L.A., tables for two are the most popular party size booked, at 50 and 56 percent, respectively. 53 percent: Preferred style of date: one-one-one.26 percent: Preferred day of the week: Friday and Saturday.To take stock of the landscape, the company asked customers what they want of date nights. “Our research reveals that diners value experiences, additional perks and service points at different levels than ever before,” SevenRooms CEO Joel Montaniel noted. The goal being to paint a portrait of the current American date night, as well as the turn-offs and dealbreakers that could cost a restaurant a future loyal guest. Experience and retention platform SevenRooms on Thursday released a “ Date Night Diner Report” through research from YouGov and its own data. As checks rise and frequency tightens, margin for error does as well. Yet with prices climbing and safety concerns lingering, diners are returning to sit-down concepts with an elevated set of expectations. If, at this stage in the industry’s COVID rebound, there is a dichotomy forming between experiential brands and those rooted in convenience, then “date night” falls squarely into the occasion wishlist of full-service operators.

Swirl wine bar