🔗 Share this article Shared Restaurant Seating: Why 90% of Gen Z Enjoy Them Term: Communal seating arrangements. Look: Long, uncomfortable and back in fashion. Communal Dining is Back? Oh no. The Sole Appropriate Location for Refectory Tables is the Cafeteria Who would voluntarily eat with strangers as an adult with free will? The younger generation, it seems. Research indicates from the restaurant reservations company Resy, "Nine out of ten of gen Z diners say they like communal tables, versus just 60% of boomers". A Sign of the Times. Before Complaining About the Youth of Today Group dining in patriotic “British Restaurants” was a big thing during the WWII, in fact – there were about two thousand five hundred of them, supported by Winston Churchill. I Suppose It Made Sense When Food Was Scarce, What's the Appeal Today? This might seem strange to you, I know, but communal tables can be enjoyable! As the Resy CEO explains: "They naturally turn dinner into a shared experience," and "You never know who you’ll be seated next to; that’s the fun of it!" The Enjoyment From Having Dinner Interrupted by A Loud Conversation About Their Therapy Revealing They Are an Empath Or sitting beside a Hyrox bore eating chicken to fuel his "workout routines"? Or a nano-influencer capturing you in the background of their reel while eating a salad? Consider this: young adults – the most digitally connected group, who came of age during the pandemic, and many of whom started careers remotely – enjoy organized group events. This same desire behind the rise of youth running groups, group hikes and art nights: they’re seeking real-world interactions. I Prefer Dining in a Solo Ramen Stall Found in Japan. This may not appeal to you, but many youths feel isolated (47% of them, as per an Oxfam study published in June). In a 2023 US report , one-third of men aged between 18 to 23 reported they had no contact outside their household in the past week. Isn't it positive they’re getting out and sharing meals with new people? Perhaps. Studies Indicate Those Dining in Groups More Often Feel Happier Talking to strangers is beneficial, too: it gives us a greater sense of belonging. Plus the Resy data points out another advantage: 14% of survey respondents said they’d found a romantic partner at a shared meal event. Since young people are leaving dating apps, this offers a chance for a unplanned "meet-cute". I Hate That Pun Almost as Much as I Hate Communal Tables. Mission accomplished. Appropriate comment: "Young adults believe shared meals are a total success." Don’t say: "Things are fine until food spills on your vintage clothes."