The delights of dining out seem to have worn off – because we are far more fussy about the food, service and decor.
Only 72 per cent of Britons are happy with the quality of dishes they are served in restaurants and cafes, a study found.
That compares with 81 per cent in the 1990s, before the rise in ‘foodies’.
And the percentage content with service has fallen from 65 to 57 in the past 20 years, while only 56 per cent said they received value for money.
Only 72 per cent of Britons are happy with the quality of dishes they are served in restaurants and cafes, a study found
People are also less likely to enjoy the company and conversation of those they take to dinner.
Manchester University’s Professor Alan Warde, co-author of the research, said: ‘We see that people are generally less satisfied with the last meal they ate in a restaurant.’
They were now more likely to eat out with their family, rather than just their partner or just friends, the British Sociological Association’s annual conference in Newcastle will hear today.
Professor Alan Warde, a co-author of the research from the University of Manchester, said: ‘The results show some important changes over 20 years in how happy people are with dining out.
People are also less likely to enjoy the company and conversation of those they take to dinner
‘We see that people are generally less satisfied with the last meal they ate in a restaurant, with lower rates of satisfaction for the food, decor, service and value for money.
‘And while people are more likely to eat out with their family, and less with just their partner or just friends, the survey found that people’s satisfaction with their dining companions also fell during the 20 years.’
Last year 11.3 billion meals were eaten out of the home – the equivalent of 3.3 meals a week for every person in Britain, according to market research company NPD.
The UK has more than 27,000 licensed restaurants, based on the latest figures, which is a fifth more than a decade ago.