Dimmi Australian Dining Index

The Dimmi Australian Dining Index reveals our dining habits through online bookings

Australia's leading online reservations site Dimmi, has compiled data from over 300,000 diners and 2,000 restaurants to reveal a comprehensive insight into Australian dining habits. The Dimmi Australian Dining Index shows what's really on our minds (and in our stomachs) when it comes to enjoying a meal out.

Cost
The grim economic outlook and spate of fine dining restaurant closures has been reflected in a drop in dining out at the high end over the past year. Only 16 per cent of diners now spend more than $90 per head, compared with 20 per cent a year ago. However, we are still spending an average of $60 per person when we head out for a meal.

Cuisine
When it comes to what's on our plates we are a nation united - Modern Australian and European-style restaurants are still our favourite across the board, with South American, Asian and Indian also making an appearance in the top five cuisines.

It's not all about the food...
While food and wine quality are still paramount, service and value for money are moving up the ranks when it comes to the most important part of a dinner out.

According to Dimmi Founder and CEO, Stevan Premutico, the results reflect a clear shift in the Australian dining scene. "We're definitely seeing a move away from fine dining towards value for money - around $50 seems to be the new threshold as diners seek out more casual options that offer great service and good food and wine at a reasonable price," Premutico said.

Increase in online booking
We are also becoming more tech-savvy, with a 67 per cent annual increase in online bookings. Diners in the ACT and Western Australia are leading the charge when it comes to booking online, closely followed by South Australia and NSW.

The convenience of online bookings can be seen in the time of day when these bookings are made, with 55 per cent of online bookings taken when the restaurant is either closed or in the middle of service.

Last minute bookings
According to Premutico, last minute tables are actually more courteous when it comes to turning up on the night. "At Dimmi, we're here to help restaurants manage their bookings closely and fill those tables in a cost effective way. With 30 per cent of all online bookings made in the 24 hours before dining there's a huge opportunity for us to capture those last minute bookings,"  

We're satisfied with our dining experience
When asked the question, "How likely are you to refer to a friend or colleague?" diners scored this question an average of 8.4 out of ten.

The Dimmi Australian Dining Index is a quarterly benchmarking study into the nation's dining habits. 

Click here to view a full size version of the infographic.