🔗 Share this article Communal Restaurant Seating: Why 90% of Gen Z Like Them Term: Shared tables. Look: Lengthy, uncomfortable and back in fashion. Communal Dining is Back? Not Again. The Only Acceptable Place for Long Benches is the School Canteen What kind of adult chooses to dine alongside strangers? Gen Z, it seems. Research indicates from the dining booking company Resy, "Nine out of ten of gen Z diners say they like shared seating, versus just 60% of older generations". A Sign of the Times. Before You Start Harrumphing Regarding Younger People Communal eating in patriotic “British Restaurants” was a major trend during the WWII, in fact – there were about two thousand five hundred of them, supported by Winston Churchill. I Suppose It Made Sense During Times of Rationing, But Why Do It Now? This might seem strange to you, admittedly, but shared dining can be fun! As Pablo Rivero notes: "Dinner becomes a collective event," and "The excitement lies in not knowing your neighbor!" The Enjoyment From Having Dinner Interrupted by A Loud Conversation About Their Therapy Says They’re “a Highly Sensitive Empath” Or being squeezed next to a fitness enthusiast eating chicken to fuel his "workout routines"? Or a nano-influencer capturing you in the background of their reel while eating a salad? You have to remember: gen Z – the most online generation, who grew up during COVID, and many of whom started careers remotely – enjoy organized group events. This same desire driving the popularity of young people’s running clubs, hiking outings and art nights: they’re seeking real-world interactions. I’d Rather Eat in a Solo Ramen Stall They Have in Tokyo. You might not fancy it, but many youths feel isolated (Nearly half of them, according to an Oxfam survey published in June). A recent American study , one-third of men aged between 18 and 23 reported they had no contact outside their household in the previous seven days. Isn't it positive they’re going out and breaking bread with strangers? Perhaps. Research Shows People Who Eat Socially More Often Feel Happier Conversing with new people is beneficial, too: it gives us a greater sense of belonging. Additionally the Resy survey points out another advantage: one in seven survey respondents said they’d found a romantic partner at a shared meal event. Since young people are leaving dating apps, this gives them a shot at a unplanned "meet-cute". That Joke Annoys Me Almost as Much as I Dislike Shared Seating. Mission accomplished. Do say: "Young adults believe shared meals are a total success." Don’t say: "Things are fine until food spills on your vintage clothes."