As the new year unfolds, IENS releases its authoritative Dining Out Trends Report 2019, identifying seven transformative trends influencing restaurants worldwide. From visual spectacles and technological advancements to veganism, these shifts are also gaining traction in Dutch dining scenes.
1. Visual Sensation
Social media platforms like Instagram have reshaped hospitality over recent years. Restaurants now design Instagrammable dishes and cocktails to boost shares. Features such as Instagram Stories, Facebook Live, and YouTube amplify this, with fast-service spots leading the charge to captivate diners. Standouts include the rainbow-hued Bao Buns at Happy Happy Joy Joy in Amsterdam and gold-leaf pizzas at Fiko in Amsterdam—essentials for social feeds that turn meals into shareable experiences.
2. The Rise of Technology
A striking 95% of U.S. restaurateurs report technology boosts efficiency (source: Toast). Innovations span drone deliveries and app payments, with Dutch venues embracing order-taking tablets. Some elevate tech into the experience itself, like Robot.He, a Shanghai seafood spot in Alibaba's supermarket where a robot handles seating, orders, and payments via QR codes and apps. From drone servers to AR menus, restaurants balance innovation's gains with essential human warmth.
3. DNA-Based Dining
Diners increasingly seek insights into their food's origins and ingredients. Apps now demystify menus, such as Barclaycard's prototype for ingredient breakdowns. London chain Vita Mojo partners with DNAfit for genetically tailored meals, personalizing nutrition based on individual profiles.
4. Transparency and Sustainability
Consumers demand clarity on sourcing, farming, and processing. Restaurants respond with open policies on pricing, fair trade, diversity, and environmental impact. Major chains launch eco-programs, while independents combat waste—think Amsterdam's InStock, crafting menus from supermarket surplus, or BlueSpoon at the Andaz hotel, turning kitchen remnants into cocktails. Plastic straw bans are now commonplace to curb pollution.
5. Veganism
Plant-based eating drives zero-waste strategies and sustainability across menus. Vegan options proliferate, including wine pairings (despite myths, not all wines are plant-derived). Fusion concepts emerge, like saVeg, a vegan Korean spot in Calgary by YouTube's Cheap Lazy Vegan.
6. Food as an Immersive Experience
Especially among millennials, experiences trump mere purchases. In 2019, restaurants deliver inspiration through multisensory dining and pop-ups. Examples: Bangkok's first official Totoro-themed eatery for superhero vibes, or Eindhoven's Dinner in Motion, a 360-degree culinary journey.
7. Superfood-Focused Restaurants
Superfoods evolve beyond basics into functional dishes enhancing wellness—collagen for skin, cannabis for calm, karkade for stress relief. This fuels holistic and upscale healthy dining concepts.
Image: Happy Happy Joy Joy
