New Yorkers still fill restaurants, but they are spending less and choosing cheaper places to dine, according to the 2012 Zagat Restaurant Survey. The survey, which polled 44,306 New Yorkers, found that new restaurant openings are catering to shrinking wallets in the Big Apple.
Some highlights of the Survey:
- New Yorkers eat out 3 times per week on average
- Average restaurant tab was down 10% from last year
- For the first time, less than 50% (49%) of meals were eaten out or taken out
- There were twice as many restaurant openings than closings this year
- New York Japanese restaurants received the highest average food score at 24.3
- American and French restaurants tied for second place
- Diners still named Italian as their favorite cuisine
- Le Bernardin received the highest score for food for the fourth consecutive year, while Asiate received the highest score for décor and Per Se for service
- The majority of new restaurant openings were informal/less expensive
- Around 400 of the 2,120 restaurants in the New York guide offer dinner, drink and tip for under $25
Although some elite eateries continue to score high, Zagat found that for the most part, customers are demanding more casual and inexpensive restaurants.
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