As 2023 comes to a close, bringing holiday and year-end celebrations, OpenTable has examined customer behaviours from the past 12 months. Featuring an updated methodology using OpenTable diner reviews and new metrics, the list uncovers some of the most in-demand restaurants by OpenTable diners this year.
Dining held steady, with vigor for special occasions: While year-round dining remained flat YoY (-1 percent), diners showed renewed interest in dining on special occasions – Valentine's Day and Mother's Day respectively grew nine percent, and six percent YoY, and diner spend for these holidays was up 15 percent vs. non-holidays this year – a positive signal of what to expect for the busy holiday season.
Solo dining is on the rise: With an increase of four percent YoY, it was the largest increase of any party size. Thursday and Friday were the most popular days.
This year, West African, African and Lebanese were among the top trending cuisines: Each saw double-digit dining increases, respectively up 72 percent, 23 percent and 18 percent YoY.
Menu items with East Asian ties were increasingly talked about by diners: Diner reviews saw increased mentions of crispy rice (27 percent), omakase (17 percent), yuzu (17 percent), lychee (nine percent), miso (four percent), ramen (four percent) and kimchi (two percent).
Cocktails were on diners' minds, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic: Diner reviews also revealed increased mentions of mocktails (48 percent) and non-alcoholic (8 percent), likely due to a rise of sober and sober-curious lifestyles. In addition, speakeasies saw gains (25 percent), as well as cocktails, made popular on social media: espresso martini (39 percent), Aperol spritz (27 percent) and negroni (4 percent).
"Diners showed up in full force for occasions like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day this year – we expect this trend will continue through to a strong holiday season for restaurants," said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable.
