Dining St. Louis
Restaurant News
October, 2009
St. Louis Restaurant Guide to fine dining establishments with news about restaurant openings and special events. Restaurants are listed by area for your convenience.
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Dining St. Louis: Special Spotlight
Hard Times for Restaurants Good Times for Diners
NEW YORK, NY, (PRNewswire-USNewswire), October 25, 2009 - The results of Zagat's 2010 America's Top Restaurants survey covers thousands of eateries across 45 U.S. markets. In the survey, over 145,000 diners shared their opinions about dining, especially on how the past year's economy affected the restaurant industry.
Hard Times: This year, the national percentage of meals eaten out or taken out declined from 50% to 48%, and the national average of restaurant meals per week dropped from 3.3 to 3.2. These losses are magnified by sobering changes in surveyors' dining habits - 43% say they're eating out less, 41% are more price-sensitive, and 36% are eating in less pricey places. As 22% are skipping appetizers and/or desserts, 19% are cutting back on alcohol. Meanwhile to save money, 10% go to expensive places for lunch in lieu of dinner, and 7% are simply less likely to try new places. A stolid 26% say the economy has had no affect on their dining habits, while 44% are cooking more and enjoying it.
Good Times: In spite of the year's economic woes, surveyors are finding some reasons to smile. Overall, there were more good new restaurant openings than closings. Over the past year, 54% of surveyors nationwide say they are finding better deals at restaurants, 40% feel their patronage is more appreciated, 31% are finding it easier to get reservations and 22% of surveyors feel that service has improved. When they do dine out, 20% of surveyors are making online reservations, up from only 8% less than five years ago. In a nod to their health, another 20% say they are eating healthier. However, service is still a problem for the industry, with 68% naming it the top complaint. Overall, surveyors report that they are taking advantage of dining deals, e.g., 62% in San Francisco, 71% in New York, and 75%% in Los Angeles.
"There's no doubt that the recession has seriously affected diners' habits across America," said Tim Zagat, CEO and Co-Founder of Zagat Survey. "Yet all our surveys highlight how the industry is adapting to the needs of the diners, offering better value, service and bargains for the wallet-weary. It may take time, but we are convinced that the industry will weather the storm and emerge stronger."
Bargain Hunting: This year, many premier chefs are launching bargain spinoffs. In Atlanta, the owners' of Bacchanalia (Top Food winner) have opened Abattoir. In San Antonio and Charlotte, the chefs of Top Food winners Le Reve and Barrington's have respectively opened wallet-friendly Italian Il Sogno and New American Good Food on Montford. Likewise, New York's Daniel Boulud has opened DBGB and San Francisco's Perbacco is about to open Barbacco. In addition to the many recession-friendly openings this year, prix-fixe menus and extended Restaurant Week deals have allowed diners to enjoy fine dining affordably.
Economics: The national average meal cost this year is $34.62, up 1.2% from last year's $34.21. Among the most expensive restaurants, the average cost has gone up only 0.49%, from $76 to $76.37. While Las Vegas remains the nation's most expensive dining city at $44.44, Austin is a comparative bargain ($26.74). The average tip has increased slightly this year to 19.1% nationally, compared with 19.0% last year. This year, St. Louis and Philadelphia diners are the nation's best tippers, coming in at 19.6%, while Hawaii and Seattle are the worst tippers, giving just 18.4%. And as companies cut back on budgets, surveyors claim that only 15% of their meals out are for business.
Cuisines: Surveyors say Italian is their favorite cuisine, with 27% of the nationwide vote. American food came in second with 16% of the votes, followed by Japanese and French (11% each), Mexican (10%) and Thai (8%). Not only is Italian the favorite, but it's also among the best; an Italian restaurant appears in the Top 5 food rankings in over 50% of the markets covered in this guide. Also, Italian food is eaten more often than any other national cuisine, with variations of American coming in second.
To Your Health: Green dining has been on diners' radars for some time now, but even in the poor economy, 61% of surveyors around the country are willing to pay more for "green" products and menu items, up about 5% from last year. When it comes to their health, 69% consider low-carb, low-fat, heart-healthy menu items to be important, while 65% say trans fats should be banned from restaurants.
Virginia Restaurants Urged to Go Smoke-Free
WASHINGTON, D.C., (PRNewswire-USNewswire), October 18, 2009 - Health advocates are calling on all Virginia restaurants and other workplaces to go completely smoke-free following the release of a landmark report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) that concluded smoke-free laws reduce the number of heart attacks and save lives.
The recent IOM report also found that there is conclusive evidence that secondhand smoke causes heart disease and heart attacks, and there is compelling evidence that even relatively brief exposure to secondhand smoke may cause heart attacks. The IOM is one of the most prestigious scientific authorities in the U.S. and part of the National Academy of Sciences.
Virginia, on December 1, will implement a new law that restricts smoking, but allows restaurants to have separately ventilated smoking rooms. Health advocates said the IOM report underscores why restaurants should go completely smoke-free, rather than creating smoking rooms, so they do not put the health of any employees or customers at risk by subjecting them to hazardous secondhand smoke.
"This new report is a powerful reminder that it is unacceptable for any worker or customer to be subjected to secondhand smoke," said Amy Barkley, Tobacco States and Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "No one should have to put themselves at risk of a heart attack, lung cancer or the other serious diseases caused by secondhand smoke in order to earn a paycheck or enjoy a night out. Virginia restaurants should seize the opportunity to protect the health of their workers and customers by going completely smoke-free."
Health advocates also called on Virginia officials to effectively enforce the new law and provide information to businesses about the health hazards of secondhand smoke and how to go smoke-free.
"Health advocates urge officials to successfully enforce the new law and give all Virginians the right to breathe clean air," said Keenan Caldwell, Government Relations State Director for the American Cancer Society in Virginia. "Across the country, a growing number of states and communities have proven that smoke-free laws are very popular with the public, easy to implement and protect health without harming business. It's time for all Virginia restaurants and workplaces to join this movement and go completely smoke-free."
Even before this IOM report, there was already conclusive evidence that secondhand smoke causes death and disease, while smoke-free laws protect health and save lives. As the U.S. Surgeon General stated in issuing a groundbreaking report on secondhand smoke in June 2006, "The debate is over. The science is clear: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance but a serious health hazard that causes premature death and disease in children and nonsmoking adults."
In the U.S., 27 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have passed smoke-free laws that cover all restaurants and bars, without loopholes or exceptions. The states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina (Jan. 2, 2010), Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota (on hold pending resolution of litigation), Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin (July 5, 2010).
Archived St. Louis Fine Restaurant News:
 Restaurants Join Forces to Relieve Hunger and Reduce Food Waste in America
Red Kitchen & Bar Celebrates Official Grand Opening
Diners Seek 'Greener' Restaurants, Greater Value, Healthier Foods and Local Ingredients
Urban Eats Café to Support Development of New Renewable Energy Sources
U.S. Military Veteran Opens Jennings Store Under Little Caesars Veterans Program
Terrace View at City Garden to Create New Urban Dining Experience
Legendary Porter's Steakhouse in Collinsville Re-Opens with New Look and Dining Experience
Chef Trosch Joins Lumière Place from the World-Renowned Fontainebleau Resort
National Restaurant Association Calls on 111th Congress to Quickly Enact Food Safety Reforms
Restaurant Operators More Pessimistic About Sales Growth in Coming Months
Healthy Kids' Meals, Local Produce, Mini Desserts Among Hottest Menu Trends for 2009
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Bissell Mansion Restaurant
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