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
-
Communal Eating — Communal dining has reemerged in the restaurant world as a means to cultivating a feeling of larger community.
-
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.
-
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
-
Hospitality Industry — Hospitality professionals can capitalize on the trend of communal eating by providing communal dining experiences in their establishments.
-
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.
-
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.
