The Power of Sharing a Table: How Americans are Reviving 'IRL' Experiences with Drinks, Dinners and Beyond

kAmk^Am

kAmWu62EFC6 x>A24EX #62=\H@C=5 4@??64E:@? 92D 364@>6 :?4C62D:?8=J C2C6 2?5 :7 J@F’G6 76=E E96 67764ED[ J@F’C6 ?@E 2=@?6] p7E6C J62CD @7 5:8:E2=\7:CDE 923:ED 364@>:?8 E96 ?6H ?@C>[ >2?J A6@A=6 2C6 =@@<:?8 E@ C65:D4@G6C 7246\E@\7246 D@4:2= :?E6C24E:@? – “x#{[” :? C62= =:76[ ?@E 7C@> 369:?5 2 D4C66?]k^Am

kAm(:E9 >2?J p>6C:42?D ?@H DA6?5:?8 =6DD E:>6 E@86E96C E92? 6G6C 367@C6 2D :?\A6CD@? 4@?E24E 4@?E:?F6D E@ 564=:?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 52E2 7C@> E96 ~C82?:K2E:@? 7@C t4@?@>:4 r@\@A6C2E:@? 2?5 s6G6=@A>6?E[ %6C6>2?2 %6BF:=2 :D :?G:E:?8 A6@A=6 324< E@ D@>6E9:?8 D:>A=6i E96 E23=6] #@@E65 :? E96 A9:=@D@A9J @7 |2?2 – E96 3C2?5’D 8F:5:?8 4@C6 A9:=@D@A9J 2?5 36=:67 E92E 8@@5 6?6C8J :D 4@?E28:@FD 2?5 E96 36DE >@>6?ED :? =:76 92AA6? H96? A6@A=6 4@>6 E@86E96C – :ED “$92C6 E96 %23=6[ $92C6 E96 |2?2” :?:E:2E:G6 2?5 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 %:>6=67E[ 2 8=@32= 2AA E92E >2E496D DEC2?86CD :?E@ D>2== 8C@FAD 7@C C62=\=:76 >66EFAD[ :D 2 42== 7@C C62=\H@C=5 4@??64E:@?]k^Am

kAmp 8C25F2= C632=2?4:?8 :D F?56CH2J[ 244@C5:?8 E@ %6C6>2?2] x? 2 H@C=5 H96C6 A6@A=6 2C6 >@C6 5:8:E2==J 4@??64E65 J6E >@C6 A6CD@?2==J 5:D4@??64E65[ D@>6E:>6D 2== :E E2<6D :D @?6 D>2== 86DEFC6[ =:<6 AF==:?8 FA 2 492:C 2?5 D92C:?8 2 E23=6 E@ F?=@4< D@>6E9:?8 EC2?D7@C>2E:G6]k^Am

k9cmkDEC@?8mp4E:G:EJ\q2D65 r@>>F?:E:6Dk^DEC@?8mk^9cm

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 p>6C:42? !DJ49:2EC:4 pDD@4:2E:@?[ ` :? b p>6C:42? 25F=ED H6?E 2E =62DE 2 H66< :? a_ac H:E9@FE 766=:?8 86?F:?6=J 4@??64E65] x? C6DA@?D6[ >2?J A6@A=6 2C6 D9:7E:?8 E@H2C5 4@??64E:@? C@@E65 :? D92C65 24E:G:E:6D C2E96C E92? 4@?G6CD2E:@? 2=@?6] r@?D:56C tG6?E3C:E6’D a_ae $@4:2= %C6?5D #6A@CE[ H9:49 7@F?5 dgT @7 A6@A=6 ?@H AC676C 6G6?ED H96C6 D@4:2=:K:?8 :D?’E E96 AC:>2CJ 7@4FD[ D:8?2=:?8 2 8C@H:?8 2AA6E:E6 7@C :?\A6CD@? 82E96C:?8D 3F:=E 2C@F?5 4@>>@? :?E6C6DED 2?5 6IA6C:6?46D]k^Am

kAm#64FCC:?8 6G6?ED – DF49 2D H66<=J EC:G:2 ?:89ED @C >@?E9=J A@E=F4<D – C67=64E E9:D D9:7E E@H2C5 24E:G:EJ\32D65 4@??64E:@?] (:E9 2 3F:=E\:? C9JE9> 2?5 D92C65 :?E6C6DE[ E96J C65F46 E96 AC6DDFC6 @7 4@?DE2?E A=2??:?8 2?5 2==@H C6=2E:@?D9:AD E@ 56G6=@A >@C6 ?2EFC2==J @G6C E:>6] (96E96C :E’D 2 DE2?5:?8 “E24@ %F6D52J” @C “EC:G:2 %9FCD52J[” E96D6 82E96C:?8D 4C62E6 DECF4EFC6 E92E >2<6D :E 62D:6C 7@C A6@A=6 E@ D:>A=J D9@H FA 2?5 6?;@J E96 >@>6?E E@86E96C]k^Am

kAm%9:D D9:7E :D 2=D@ 6IE6?5:?8 36J@?5 EC25:E:@?2= 4@>>F?:EJ DA246D :?E@ 6IA6C:6?46D E92E EC2?D7@C> 6G6CJ52J 6?G:C@?>6?ED :?E@ @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C 4@??64E:@?]k^Am

k9cmkDEC@?8m%9:C5 $A246D[ #6:>28:?65k^DEC@?8mk^9cm

kAmqF:=5:?8 @? :ED DA:C:E @7 8@@5 6?6C8J 2?5 D92C65 >@>6?ED[ %6C6>2?2 %6BF:=2’D “$92C6 E96 %23=6[ $92C6 E96 |2?2” 42>A2:8? <:4<65 @77 H:E9 2 D6C:6D @7 @FE\@7\9@>6 3:==3@2C5D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ 3FE E@@< 2 DFCAC:D:?8 EFC? H96? H92E 2AA62C65 E@ 36 2 DE2?52C5 3:==3@2C5 4@?462=65 2 9:556? 32CE6?56C[ 5C:?<D 2?5 2? @A6? :?G:E2E:@? E@ D92C6 E96 E23=6 – EFC?:?8 2 DEC66E 4@C?6C :?E@ 2? F?A=2??65 82E96C:?8 DA246 7@C DEC2?86CD] |@C6 6IA6C:6?E:2= >@>6?ED =:<6 E9:D 2C6 @? E96 H2J]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 5:8:E2= E@@=D C6>2:? 46?EC2= E@ 9@H A6@A=6 4@??64E[ E96J’C6 :?4C62D:?8=J 36:?8 FD65 E@ 724:=:E2E6 :?\A6CD@? >@>6?ED – 96=A:?8 @C82?:K6 >66EFAD[ 5:??6CD[ 2?5 D92C65 6IA6C:6?46D :? E96 C62= H@C=5]k^Am

kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ 3J A2CE?6C:?8 H:E9k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^8@]E:>6=67E]4@>^E6C6>2?2^nFE>0D@FC46l762EFC6:>A24EU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC676CC2=U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lR`fhab\%6C6>2?2Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%:>6=67Ek^2m[ 2 8=@32= 2AA E92E >2E496D DEC2?86CD :?E@ D>2== 8C@FAD 7@C C62=\=:76 >66EFAD[ %6C6>2?2’D :562 :D 364@>:?8 2 ?2E:@?H:56 >@G6>6?E] tG6CJ %9FCD52J 7C@> ?@H E9C@F89 pF8FDE[ E96 $92C6 E96 %23=6 D6C:6D H:== 3C:?8 4FC2E65 8C@FAD @7 A6@A=6 E@86E96C 2E 32CD 2?5 C6DE2FC2?ED 24C@DD `b &]$] 4:E:6D[ 4C62E:?8 2 4@?D:DE6?E DA246 7@C E96 <:?5 @7 F?D4C:AE65 9F>2? 4@??64E:@? ?@ D4C66? 42? C6A=:42E6]k^Am

kAm%96 ?2E:@?H:56 :?:E:2E:G6 @776CD 2 <6J E@ F?=@4<:?8 D@>6E9:?8 >F49 3:886C E92? @?6\@77 >@>6?ED 2D 2? :?G6DE>6?E :? :?7C2DECF4EFC6 7@C 4@??64E:@?[ AC@G:5:?8 DEC2?86CD @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ >2E49 H:E9 8C@FAD @7 A6@A=6 H:E9 D:>:=2C :?E6C6DED 2?5 4@>A2E:3:=:E:6D]k^Am

k9cmkDEC@?8m}6:893@C9@@5D 2D 2 }6IFD 7@C r@??64E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^9cm

kAmqJ >66E:?8 2?5 8C66E:?8 ?6:893@CD 2?5 2EE6?5:?8 =@42= 6G6?ED[ E96 C6=:2?46 @? 5:8:E2= E@@=D 42? 36 C6G6CD65] !C@I:>:EJ =@H6CD 32CC:6CD =:<6 E:>6 2?5 5:DE2?46[ :?4C62D:?8 E96 =:<6=:9@@5 @7 C6A62E65 6?4@F?E6CD 7@C 27E6C\H@C< 5C:?<D @C 5:??6C A2CE:6D E92E 2==@H 7@C C6=2I65[ =@H\AC6DDFC6 D@4:2=:K:?8]k^Am

kAmu@C 2? 62DJ H2J E@ 3C62< E96 :46 H:E9 E9@D6 ?62C J@F[ D92C:?8 2 5C:?<[ @C E96 >2?2[ =6ED J@F @A6? FA J@FC 9@>6 :? 2 =@H\DEC6DD D6EE:?8 H:E9@FE E96 AC6DDFC6 @7 4@@<:?8 7@C 2 4C@H5] %96D6 D:>A=6 2E\9@>6 4@4<E2:= C64:A6D 7@C 2 rF4F>36C $6CC2?@ |2C82C:E2 @C |2?2 !2=@>2 >2<6 9@DE:?8 2 3C66K6 – 2?5 H:== =62G6 ?6:893@CD E9:?<:?8 J@F’C6 2 ?2EFC2= 32CE6?56C]k^Am

kAm%@ 5:D4@G6C >@C6 H2JD E96 A9:=@D@A9J @7 |2?2 42? C6G:E2=:K6 9F>2? 4@??64E:@?[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^8@]E:>6=67E]4@>^E6C6>2?2^nFE>0D@FC46l762EFC6:>A24EU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC676CC2=U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lR`fhab\%6C6>2?2Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%:>6=67E]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmk:>8 DEJ=6lQH:5E9i c_cAIj A255:?8\3@EE@>i `_AIj A255:?8\E@Ai `_AIjQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^5aK_8f<=2K7@?H]4=@F57C@?E]?6E^AC@5F4E:@?^255:E:@?2=0:>286D^adfhe^`fhab056E2:=06>3650a];A8n`ffh``hbcdQ ^mk^Am

kAmk^Am

k9cmkDEC@?8mrF4F>36C $6CC2?@ |2C82C:E2k^DEC@?8mk^9cm

kF=mk=:ma @F?46D %6C6>2?2 q=2?4@ @C #6A@D25@k3C ^mk^=:mk=:m` @F?46 7C6D9 4F4F>36C ;F:46k3C ^mk^=:mk=:mb^c @F?46 7C6D9 =:>6 ;F:46k3C ^mk^=:mk=:m`^a @F?46 282G6 ?64E2Ck3C ^mk^=:mk=:mb E9:? D=:46D D6CC2?@ A6AA6C[ 5:G:565k3C ^mk^=:mk=:m:46k3C ^mk^=:mk=:m4F4F>36C D=:46[ 7@C 82C?:D9k3C ^mk^=:mk=:mD2=E[ 7@C C:>k3C ^mk^=:mk=:mE2;:?[ 7@C C:>k^=:mk^F=m

k@=mk=:mx? 4@4<E2:= D92<6C[ 4@>3:?6 E6BF:=2[ 4F4F>36C ;F:46[ =:>6 ;F:46[ 282G6 ?64E2C 2?5 EH@ D=:46D D6CC2?@ A6AA6Cj D92<6 H:E9 :46] $EC2:? @G6C 7C6D9 :46 :?E@ C@4<D 8=2DD]k^=:mk=:mv2C?:D9 H:E9 4F4F>36C D=:46 2?5 C6>2:?:?8 D6CC2?@ A6AA6C D=:46] #:> 92=7 @7 8=2DD H:E9 D2=E 2?5 E2;:?]k^=:mk^@=m

kAmk^Am

kAmk^Am

kAmk:>8 DEJ=6lQH:5E9i e__AIj A255:?8\3@EE@>i `_AIj A255:?8\E@Ai `_AIjQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^5aK_8f<=2K7@?H]4=@F57C@?E]?6E^AC@5F4E:@?^255:E:@?2=0:>286D^adfhf^`fhab056E2:=06>3650b];A8n`ffh``hbcdQ ^mk^Am

k9cmkDEC@?8m|2?2 !2=@>2k^DEC@?8mk^9cm

kF=mk=:mx46k3C ^mk^=:mk=:ma @F?46D %6C6>2?2 q=2?4@k3C ^mk^=:mk=:m` @F?46 8C2A67CF:E ;F:46k3C ^mk^=:mk=:mb^c @F?46 =:>6 ;F:46k3C ^mk^=:mk=:m`^a @F?46 D:>A=6 DJCFAk3C ^mk^=:mk=:m4=F3 D@52k3C ^mk^=:mk=:m` A:?49 D2=Ek3C ^mk^=:mk=:m=:>6 H966= @C 8C2A67CF:E A66=[ 7@C 82C?:D9k^=:mk^F=m

k@=mk=:mx? 9:8932== 8=2DD @G6C :46[ 4@>3:?6 E6BF:=2[ 8C2A67CF:E ;F:46[ =:>6 ;F:46[ D:>A=6 DJCFA[ 4=F3 D@52 2?5 D2=E] v6?E=J DE:C[ 82C?:D9 H:E9 =:>6 H966= @C 8C2A67CF:E A66= 2?5 D6CG6]k^=:mk^@=m

kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^DD=]8@@8=6\2?2=JE:4D]4@>^4@==64EnGl`U2>AjE:5l&p\cgabb_\fU2>Aj4:5l`hdddd`6\`hfd\d6da\_453\gd`e_f`_hc45U2>AjD4lDE2CEU2>AjElA286G:6HU2>Aj5=l9EEATbpTauTauEC24<]72>:=J762EFC6D]4@>Tau`fhabTau`_begU2>Aj5El%wt\!~(t#\~u\$wp#x}v\p\%pq{t\w~(\p|t#xrp}$\p#t\#t'x'x}v\x#{\t)!t#xt}rt$\(x%w\s#x}z$\sx}}t#$\p}s\qt*~}sQ ^m k:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^6CA]762EFC6:>A24E]4@>^2A:^G`^EC24<:?8^`fhab^`_beg^EC24<]8:7Q ^mk^Am