The results of our Fall Restaurant Survey are in and from what we’ve gathered, NYC customers are not afraid to eat outside during a Big Apple winter.
Our fall survey aimed to gather information about the dining habits of New Yorkers amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As restaurants have continued to adjust to ever-changing guidelines, we wanted to learn directly from customers how the foodservice industry can ensure a robust bottomline heading into the winter months.
We received nearly 200 responses to our fall survey over the course of a month. And the treasure trove of key results include:
Concerns Remain About Indoor Dining. Nearly half of all New Yorkers surveyed reported that they are “not likely” to dine inside a restaurant at 25% capacity.
Cold Weather Does Not Scare Away New Yorkers. When asked if they would eat outside during the colder fall and winter months, 83% of New Yorkers surveyed said “yes.”
Outdoor Heating Sources Are Big Draws. Unsurprisingly, 98% of New Yorkers surveyed noted that they would be “much more interested” in outdoor dining if the restaurant had a heat lamp or other heating device.
Plexiglass Barriers Are Not Major Factors. We were surprised to see that barriers/plexiglass did not play a large part in the diner’s decision-making process. Only 33% of New York-based respondents said that they would be “much more interested” in indoor dining if the restaurant had barriers/plexiglass.
Conclusions & Takeaways
The results we received tell us that outdoor dining is here to stay—even through the winter months. New Yorkers are prepared to brave the cold and actually prefer it to dining inside, even if plexiglass and barriers are clearly present indoors.
This means that patio heaters are key to the survival of NYC restaurants during the cold winter months.
We recently published a blog discussing outdoor heating options and the steps you as a restaurant owner need to take to warm the chill and keep your customers toasty. Click here to check it out. And to learn more about outdoor heaters from Sam Tell, click here to talk to a sales rep!
