The restaurant industry continues to evolve, bringing new ways guests dine out and interact with restaurants. From AI-powered service tools to changing guest expectations, staying ahead means adapting your service to meet these shifts head-on. Having the right insights helps you deliver wow moments for guests and grow your business.
Here’s what you need to know about 2025’s dining trends.
Experiences drive dining decisions
Americans are craving unique, memorable experiences more than ever. OpenTable data shows a 27% increase in Experience dining year-over-year,* with 42% of people saying they’ll seek out experiential dining more frequently in 2025.**
Tasting menus remain the most sought-after dining experience, followed closely by dinner-and-show combinations and bottomless brunch. The message is clear—guests want more than just a meal and seek experiences worth sharing and remembering.
Creating unique experiences doesn’t require a complete concept overhaul. Start small with chef’s table events or wine pairing workshops and use OpenTable to promote them. Offer something distinctive that aligns with your restaurant’s identity while giving guests a reason to choose you over the competition.
Group dining makes a comeback
Group dining is seeing significant growth and is a trend expected to continue in 2025. Our data shows an 8% increase in OpenTable dining for parties of six or more, with 10 am and 6 pm seeing the highest increase in group dining YoY. It’s clear there is a renewed appetite for social connection and celebration.
For restaurants, the trend of group dining is a shift that presents opportunities to create dedicated group offerings and adjust your service models to accommodate larger parties. Consider how your space can be flexible and adapt to different group sizes while maintaining the quality of experience for all guests.
Mid-week dining gains momentum
In what might be considered a surprising shift, midweek has emerged as a popular time to dine out. Data shows an 11% increase in seated diners on Wednesdays—the largest jump compared to any other day of the week. Hybrid work schedules are likely driving the trend, with people being more motivated to spread out their restaurant visits beyond traditional peak times.
Restaurants seeing the most success with mid-week service are the ones creating specific draws for these days, whether through special menus, wine promotions, or unique experiences. The extra touch gives diners a compelling reason to venture out on traditionally slower days.
AI moves beyond the buzz
In recent years, AI has gone from a curiosity to a practical tool and can significantly enhance many aspects of the restaurant industry. AI-driven systems are helping spots streamline inventory management, reduce food waste, and optimize staff scheduling.
Additionally, AI-powered chatbots and voice assistants deliver personalized customer interactions, while predictive analytics inform menu development and marketing strategies. These advancements will help your restaurant operate more efficiently and meet evolving customer expectations.
Contactless payment becomes the norm
The shift toward contactless ordering and payments continues, with predictions suggesting that over 80% of restaurant transactions will be cashless by 2025. Convenience is one aspect driving this trend, but it’s also a recognition to meet evolving guest expectations and give them a seamless, efficient service.
Digital wallets and QR codes are also becoming standard features of the dining experience. They might not necessarily be the latest trends, but restaurants do need to find a way to incorporate these technologies while maintaining the personal touch that defines great hospitality. You could give guests both options, whether they want a traditional check experience or prefer to pay quickly through their phone.
Functional foods take center stage
Health-conscious dining is evolving beyond calorie counting to focus on foods with specific benefits. Supergrains, medicinal mushrooms, and adaptogenic ingredients are moving from niche offerings to menu staples as guests seek out foods that support their wellbeing.
With a trend like this, there’s an opportunity to innovate with ingredients that offer both flavor and function. Consider highlighting the nutritional benefits of dishes on your menu and training staff to speak knowledgeably about these ingredients.
Menu simplification streamlines service
Driven by both operational efficiency and guest preferences for quality over quantity, the trend toward simplified menus continues to gain momentum. A focused menu allows for better execution and clearer choices for guests. Not to mention it can help reduce food waste.
Many of the most successful restaurants serve fewer dishes exceptionally well rather than maintaining extensive menus of adequate items. This approach not only improves consistency but often leads to better guest satisfaction and more efficient kitchen operations.
Dining optimism points to growth
The outlook for dining in 2025 is distinctly positive, with 54% of Americans planning to eat out more frequently. Even more encouraging, younger generations are leading this charge—71% of Gen Z and 68% of Millennials expect to increase their restaurant visits in the coming year.
Such enthusiasm creates opportunities for restaurants ready to embrace change while staying true to the fundamentals of hospitality. The key is preparing for increased demand while maintaining service quality and guest satisfaction.
Making the most of the latest dining trends
Success in 2025 will come from understanding which trends make sense for your concept and implementing them in ways that enhance rather than detract from your core offering. Whether you’re launching a new tasting menu, embracing AI, or creating special mid-week experiences, every change should support your mission of providing exceptional hospitality.
At the heart of every successful trend adaptation is the timeless goal of making guests feel valued and eager to return. Keep this in mind as you navigate the exciting changes ahead in 2025.
*OpenTable Data: OpenTable looked at online reservations for all restaurants active on the OpenTable platform from January 1 – September 30, 2024 and compared it to the same range in 2023.
**OpenTable Consumer Research: An online survey was conducted by PureSpectrum among 1503 US consumers. Within this sample, major cities have been weighed for direct comparison. The research fieldwork took place between 25 October – 4th November, 2024.
