E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Getty Images stock
For the past 10 years, New Yorkers have gradually been eating out less and eating in more, but this year marks the first time that the two trends have crossed over.
Put down your forks and listen to this: New Yorker's at-home meals surpassed dining out for the first time in 30 years. That's the news from the Zagat 2013 NYC Restaurant Survey.
It said the citizens of the city that bills itself as the "food capital of the world" are only dining out and doing take-out 6.4 times a week, and they're making meals at home 6.7 times a week. That means more family pasta nights, and bagged lunches taken to work, and fewer trips to Per Se and Peter Luger's.
For the past 10 years, New Yorkers have gradually been eating out less and eating in more, but this year marks the first time that the two trends have crossed over. In 2002, New Yorkers made 5.1 meals at home and ate out or got take out 7.9 times per week. In 2006 that moved to 5.4 and 7.7. When the financial crisis hit in 2008, eating out took an immediate hit, dropping to 6.9 times per week. Meals at home jumped to 6.1 times per week.
In addition, the number of meals per survey per restaurant - an indicator of how many times diners return to their favorite eatery - rose from 9.6 in 2002 to 11.1 in 2008, then fell off to 8.5 in 2009, and declined to 8.1 in 2012. As the country's fortunes rise, so does its appetite for eating out. And vice versa.
But it's not just New York City, eating fewer meals out is a national trend. The NPD market research group reported in October that traffic to casual dining restaurants is down 2 percent this first quarter across the country, while visits to midscale restaurants is down 3 percent. That's in line with a four-year downward trend.
However, Tim Zagat, co-founder of the burgundy restaurant guide, told NBC News he's "not sure that it's more penny-wise to cook at home." There's a big opportunity cost to consider "once you factor in shopping, washing, cooking and cleaning." Instead, he said, budget-conscious diners might be "better off working an hour later -- assuming you have a job."
With persistently high unemployment figures in the headlines, that could be a big assumption. Still, he doesn't deny that New York restaurants have had to change with the times, and the recession, to keep their appeal.
"There isn't a restaurant in New York that still requires a tie," Zagat said. While some high-end joints like Le Bernardin still require men to wear a jacket, "If you put it over the back of your chair in the middle of dinner, they're not going to tell you to put it back on. Ten years ago taking your jacket off in a fine dining establishment would have been unthinkable."
Relaxing those standards means broadening your customer base, and that means being slightly more accessible to younger, more casual clientele, with lower purchasing power.
That's why Zagat sees what he calls "Better Alternative to Home" or "BATH" restaurants as a huge saving trend for the industry. They're the noodle shops, burger joints, BBQs, upscale diners, family style chains and ethnic eateries offering hardy fare and comfy and cozy atmosphere, "like having a second living room." They buy wholesale and, he and his wife wrote in a 2008 Wall Street Journal op-ed on the effect of a bad economy on the restaurant business, "produce meals far more efficiently than home cooks."
Affordable and casual restaurants dominated the list of 199 new restaurant openings included in the Zagat 2013 NYC restaurant survey. 399 of the overall listings offered a complete dinner, including beverage to wash it down and tip for the waiter, for less than $25.
Related: http://lifeinc.today.com/frugal-food
More money and business news:
- 'Pink slip stigma' is stronger the longer you're jobless
- New health insurance form a big help for consumers
- Consumer Reports names best products of the year
- Video: 3 ways to tell if your partner is bad with money
- Having financial troubles? TODAY wants to hear about it
- Sign up for our TODAY newsletter
Follow TODAY Money on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
Article says:
"There's a big opportunity cost to consider "once you factor in shopping, washing, cooking and cleaning.""
But I dont scratch my behind, drop things in the floor, sneeze and use 2nd class ingredients when I cook at home.
I am thinking this is just not a New Yorker issue, but rather an American trend. I live In Minnesota, and we usually go out to eat once a week, now that we have scaled back.
If i lived in New York I couldnt help myself but try ever ethnic restaurant you have so much selection Id go crazy.
Tim Zagat said when you factor in everything it is cheaper to eat out. The only thing I can think of is that he's a Republican. That's exactly how the Right treats facts.
remeber the recent article "NYC wait staff "expect 25%" tips...HAH, how 'bout 0% now that everyones eating @home!
Zagat is an idiot or very poor at math!
Even with a decent income, I can't imagine eating out 5-6 times a week. I eat out maybe 1-2 times a month.
How much is the New York Permit Fee in order to cook at home?
Given the number of restaurants that can't keep a clean kitchen, serve frozen or pre-cooked food, depend on a microwave, why bother. Save money and cook fresh stuff at home.
No $hi+ Sherlock...NOBODY in America can afford the Standard of Living we had before No-Bu++-$Wipe took office.
America needs to realize that NoBama has a WORLD agenda, that drastically marginalizes the US. He is NOT stupid or inept, although he is EXCELLENT at appearing that way. His vision is that NO ONE in America should have a better Standard of Living than anyone in Kenya, and that the Muslim Brotherhood would be MUCH better to be a Superpower than America.
Teaching my kids to cook. dinner prep is often a family project. We learn about other cultures, search out new ingredients in different stores. Eating out is an occasional treat, and usually becomes a discussion of "how can we make this at home?" or "how could this be made better". Always cheaper, more fun, and oh, the taste! Restaurants are in business to make money, apparently, not make customers happy!
Stupid Rich Guy:
"However, Tim Zagat, co-founder of the burgundy restaurant guide, told NBC News he's "not sure that it's more penny-wise to cook at home." There's a big opportunity cost to consider "once you factor in shopping, washing, cooking and cleaning." Instead, he said, budget-conscious diners might be "better off working an hour later -- assuming you have a job." "
Those greaseball New Yorkers aren't dining out? I thought that was a big part of living there. Sitting around chatting about coyfee, doygs, New Yoyk, that kind of thing.
I haven't found anything to admire about New Yankers, or the five burrows.
Taxes, permits, and fees for everything !!!
"It said the citizens of the city that bills itself as the "food capital of the world" are only dining out and doing take-out 6.4 times a week"
That's nearly once a day.
6.4 times...wow, that's New Yorkers ordering something at a restaurant nearly once a day. I didn't know that New Yorkers had that much money to spend dining out. Maybe it's just cheap lunches from a food cart, or maybe one of those food vans I always see on TV.
I'm starting to think that schools that cut Homec from student study's was a horrible, HORRIBLE, mistake. People really need to go back to school and do the Homec class. Back in school, I really didn't understand why I should take Cooking Lessons back in high school...I can tell you THANK GOD I DID!
Though tell the truth, $4.00 an item a the grocery store, is starting to wear thin on my pockets. Cereal, $4.99 a box. bunch of bananas, $4.00. Gallon of milk $2.19, Avacados, $3.99 a pound...not that I would EVEr buy a pound of avacados. But the local mexican families go heavy into avacado.
Still, super markets and grocers have noticed the differance and have RAISED prices due to "more demand" coming from off the street.
I think it's bull@!$%#. We need to eat, and they decide, "Hey we have more and more people buying groceries, we should charge more!"
Wow. Really? Demand increases prices even when there is no shortage of poptarts? Reeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
Zagat is half right. People are cooking more at home, but the grocers are raising prices on foods, so your almost cooking a restaurant priced meal at home. It's @!$%#ed up. Your not even getting any savings form coupons. And some of you think you do, you don't. Those coupons are supposed to make you believe that your getting a deal off that overpriced cantalope. It is what it is, and it's overpriced.
NYC just beat out Rome for the title of "Food Capital of the World."
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/05/14235787-snacking-tourists-fined-after-rome-declares-war-on-the-sandwich
The question about which is more expensive is misleading. In most places it's cheaper to eat at home but in NYC it's often cheaper to eat out or do takeout and bring it home to eat. Food is expensive in NYC grocery stores and restaurants are often cheaper.
So, NYC residents are finally sort of becoming normal after all these years of avoiding reality.
I read through all the comments thus far.
My question:
"Where in the hell do they serve 'Steak Diane?'
I had Stink Diane once, but would never put it on a menu, even in New York city...
Why would ANYONE give a shidt about what new yorkers eat or where?!!! DAMMM there are 49 other states besides ny
Hope you got shots Quell
What is he eating?? I am flummoxed. At the end of the article it sounded like they were trying to make a $25 dinner out for one sound like some kind of economical deal? What are you making at home that is going to be more costly?
I love to cook and find it relaxing. Not only that, I think it's better health-wise as well as wallet-wise. I am absolutely confident that for me, eating is is the better deal. That said, I don't live in NY or Connecticut where diamonds are cheaper than groceries...