Valentine’s Day diners dish on dinner plans
Heading out for a romantic tonight? You’re not alone. According to a survey conducted by OpenTable, 51 percent of respondents said they plan to dine out today for Valentine’s Day, while 36 percent said they plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day tomorrow or Saturday. 8 percent even said they plan on dining out more than once for Valentine’s Day!
Here’s what else OpenTable discovered about V-Day diners:
Positive reviews and ambiance matter most
- Respondents indicated that the top three factors in selecting a restaurant for Valentine’s Day are positive reviews (34%), romantic ambiance (27 %) and service (16%).
- Less important attributes included restaurant location (14%), special Valentine’s Day menus (8%) and the quality of the wine list (1%).
How much will diners spend on Valentine’s Day?
- Diners indicated that they plan to celebrate love in a big way with a projected check average of $139.
Most desirable menus
- When presented with menu options, diners said they prefer A la Carte (67%) over Prix Fixe (33%) menus.
- Traditional menus came out on top with the majority of diners (56%) saying they would select a classic three-course meal (starter, entrée, and dessert).
- Others preferred sharing several small plates (23%), feasting only on entrees (13%) or enjoying an extensive menu (8%).
Romance and restaurants go hand in hand
- 21 percent of diners said they would go on a first date on Valentine’s Day, while 42 percent said that Valentine’s Day dining is reserved for those dating for a month or two.
- The remaining 37 percent of respondents think that dining on the most romantic day of the year should be reserved for those who have been dating at least 3 months.
- 71 percent of diners said that only some PDA is appropriate on the most romantic day of the year, while 21 percent think Valentine’s Day is all about the PDA. Still, 8 percent said that PDA in a restaurant is never appropriate.
Biggest romantic dining faux pas
- Put your phone away! 56 percent of women and 61 percent of men say talking and texting at the table is the biggest dining faux pas a date can commit.
- Being rude to wait staff was the second biggest no-no for 32 percent of women and 28 percent of men.
The biggest dining related topics of contention in a relationship?
- The most popular answer among women was type of cuisine, followed by exploring new restaurants vs. visiting an old favorite.
- Ranked lower on the list: atmosphere at a restaurant, location, one on one date night vs. adding friends to the meal out, price point and reservation time.
Who is the sexiest celebrity chef?
- Bobby Flay is the sexiest male celebrity chef commanding 27 percent of the vote.
- Runner ups in order include: Tyler Florence, Eric Ripert, Marcus Samuelsson and Ming Tsai.
- In the female category, Amanda Cohen was voted way hot, stealing 18 percent of the vote.
- Runner ups in order include: Melissa Perello, Stephanie Izard, Tiffany Derry and Barbara Lynch.
