Wining and Dining Solo dining is the new trend

Couples eating out is declining, while people are spending less and sharing courses

l RESEARCH

RESTAURANT dynamic pricing platform, EatClub, has released the results of its 2023 dining research and the insights show Aussies are changing their dining habits in response to cost of living pressures.

“As the country’s leading dining deal app used by millions of Aussies to secure dining and drinks deals every week, the results of our latest research show some extraordinary changes in the behaviour of diners across the country,” EatClub co-founder and chief executive Pan Koutlakis said.

“2023 is the year of the singles. We have identified that over the last 12 months, we have seen a significant increase in the number of diners going out for a bite to eat solo. In fact, the amount of people dining out solo has doubled.

“While the number of solo diners is increasing, couple bookings are declining.”

Key findings are:

• Aussies are dining out more but spending less

• Diners are opting for the second cheapest bottle of wine on the wine list

• Diners are sharing courses to reduce cost

• The number of solo diners has doubled in 12 months

• Couple diners has decreased

• Vietnamese and Thai cuisine have seen the strongest growth

• Pizza is still the most popular takeaway food

• Overall, diners are spending less per occasion.

Mr Koutlakis said not only had the demographic of diners changed, the type of food people were eating had changed as well.

“During lockdowns, people were big on burgers and pizza for takeaway. While they are still popular now, burgers have dwindled a little in popularity and pizza has continued to be a strong favourite,” he said.

“Dine-in has been on the rise since lockdowns have ended. Despite recently interest rate rises, this trend has not changed.

“What has changed is where people go. Bars and pubs have experienced a 20 per cent increase in the number of visits and spending since interest rates started to bite.

“It looks as though this is how Aussies cope with stress, they head to the pub. Not only has the number of people going out to bars and pubs increased, so has the frequency of their visits. Take-away spending has slightly decreased since the rate hikes.”

Tuk Tuk By The Sea