Communal tables bring sociability back to restaurant dining
Implications - Once associated mainly with beer halls and college cafeterias, communal dining has reemerged in the restaurant world as a means to cultivating a feeling of larger community. However fleeting, the reemergence of communal eating transforms conventional dining experiences into a marketplace for human relationships. This progression speaks to the interest in cultivating organic offline interaction in an increasingly online world and the desire for community experiences without long-term commitments.
Workshop Question - What role does social media play for your customer, and how does your brand or product fit into that equation? How could you maximize your position?
Trend Themes
1. Communal Eating - Communal dining has reemerged in the restaurant world as a means to cultivating a feeling of larger community.
2. Elevated Staff Food Halls - There is a trend toward overhauling staff dining areas to resemble food hall-style dining halls with open-concept, communal seating.
3. Indoor Market Concept - Designers are creating indoor market spaces that evoke a feeling of community and culture, often with eclectic mix of chairs, tables, and vendors.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality Industry - Hospitality professionals can capitalize on the trend of communal eating by providing communal dining experiences in their establishments.
2. Restaurant Industry - Restaurant industry professionals can take note of the trend toward elevated staff food halls and indoor market concept and apply these design elements to their own spaces.
3. Interior Design Industry - Interior designers can tap into the trend of communal eating and elevated staff food halls by creating dining spaces that promote a sense of community and encourage social interaction.
