The restaurant reservation site OpenTable has released its 2025 dining predictions. So, what’s hot and what’s not as the new year begins?
Per a press release, OpenTable has shared the trends and consumer behavior that reshaped the culinary landscape in 2024 and will continue to do so in 2025. A surprising element will continue to gain momentum in the new year.
Out-of-the-box dining habits will continue in popularity in 2025. Another standout trend is that 54% of diners plan to eat out more in the new year than they did in 2024. OpenTable reported, “Younger generations are leading this movement, with 71% of Gen Zers and 68% of Millennials planning to increase their dining frequency in 2025.”
“We’re seeing a new age of dining out that is more adventurous than years past, evidenced by diners embracing midweek dining, dining solo or with large groups, or upping the ante with a dining experience,” said Debby Soo, CEO of the restaurant reservation service. “And with more than half of diners planning to dine out more in 2025 than 2024, this is great news for restaurants all around.”
Kevin Boehm, co-CEO and co-founder of Boka Restaurant Group and OpenTable advisory board member, added, “We’re consistently seeing more large parties at our restaurants — while we do see a lot of special occasions, we’re also seeing ‘just because’ group dining. We love this because we know magic happens when people come together over a meal and hope to see this build momentum into 2025.”
What Are the Biggest Dining-Out Trends Ahead in 2025, According to OpenTable?
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Three of the biggest dining-out trends ahead for 2025 are piggybacking on their popularity in 2024. These are expected to continue through the new year, according to OpenTable’s report.
First, mid-week dining has emerged as a new trend, with Wednesdays seeing an 11% increase in dining year-over-year. This is the largest increase of any other day, according to the company. In 2025, 43% of Americans said they plan to dine out on Wednesday if they were to dine out during the week as a way to break up the week.
Second, the report found that while solo dining is up 10% year-over-year, group dining is also trending high. Parties of six or more are gaining momentum.
Third, diners are looking for their meals to be experiences rather than the same old, same old. From multi-course tasting menus to cooking classes, the press release noted that 42% of Americans are more interested in experiential dining in 2025 versus 2024. Research also found that diners are seeking out new restaurants rather than sticking to old favorites, and that trend will escalate in the new year, with 61% of diners looking for new restaurants to try.
