Are We Entering the Decisive Diner Era?

3 Min Read By MRM Staff

More decisive diners, the popularity of  “grown-up” kids’ menus, the mainstreaming of solo dining, and rising tip fatigue were among key trends identified in new research from Lightspeed Commerce. 

“Today, American consumers are placing greater expectations on their dining experiences as they expect to receive the best service possible given the time and money invested into dining out, Adoniram Sides, SVP, Hospitality at Lightspeed, told Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine. “A critical takeaway from these results for restaurant operators is ensuring that they are continuing to deliver on the basic foundations of good customer service.”

According to the survey of 1,000 U.S-based consumers, 40 percent say rude service would keep them from returning to a restaurant, followed by cold food (34 percent), long waits (27 percent), and sticky tables or menus (24 percent). Nearly one in three say they’ve walked out due to long wait times, while one in five have left…