History of Restaurant in Timeline

A restaurant is a business providing food and beverages to customers, primarily for consumption on-site, though takeout and delivery are common. Restaurants exhibit vast diversity in cuisine, service style, and price point, spanning fast-food chains to upscale dining establishments. They represent a significant part of the hospitality industry and cater to a wide range of culinary preferences and dining experiences.

1920: Prohibition Impacts Restaurants

In 1920, the introduction of Prohibition in the United States led to significant challenges for fine dining restaurants, which heavily relied on the sale of wine and alcoholic beverages for their revenue. This era saw a rise in more casual dining options like cafeterias and diners as a response to the changing landscape.

1950: Proportion of Meals Consumed Outside the Home in 1950

In 1950, 25% of meals were consumed outside the home, in restaurants or institutions.

1964: Civil Rights Act and Katzenbach v. McClung

In 1964, the Civil Rights Act outlawed segregation in public accommodations, including restaurants, based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The Supreme Court case Katzenbach v. McClung upheld this act, asserting Congress's power to regulate racial discrimination in restaurants under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.

1990: Proportion of Meals Consumed Outside the Home in 1990

By 1990, the proportion of meals consumed outside the home in restaurants or institutions had risen to 46%. This increase was influenced by factors like the growing elderly population, single-parent households, longer workdays, and higher income households.

2000: Growth of Restaurants in Vietnam in 2000

In 2000, Vietnam had approximately 20,000 restaurants nationwide, marking the beginning of a period of rapid growth in the restaurant industry.

2005: Michelin Releases New York City Guide

In 2005, Michelin published its first guide for the United States, focusing on New York City. This guide provided critical assessments of restaurants in the city, adding to existing rating systems such as the Forbes Travel Guide and AAA.

2006: Restaurant Statistics in the United States in 2006

As of 2006, the United States had approximately 215,000 full-service restaurants with $298 billion in sales, and approximately 250,000 limited-service (fast food) restaurants accounting for $260 billion.

2008: Restaurant Industry Growth During the 2008 Recession

During the 2008 recession, the restaurant industry in the United States continued to grow despite the economic downturn. However, the industry is also known for having low wages and a high poverty rate among its employees.

2012: Waiting Staff Employment and Wages in 2012

In 2012, the waiting staff in U.S. restaurants numbered 4,438,100, earning an average of $8.84 per hour.

2013: Cooks' Employment and Wages in 2013

In 2013, restaurants in the United States employed 912,100 cooks with an average wage of $9.83 per hour.

2014: American Spending on Dining Out in 2014

In 2014, Jiaxi Lu of the Washington Post reported that Americans were spending $683.4 billion annually on dining out, demanding better food quality and greater variety from restaurants.

2016: Restaurant Growth and Dining Trends in 2016

In 2016, the United States had 1,000,000 restaurants, equating to one restaurant for every 310 people. A Gallup Poll in 2016 indicated that nearly 61% of Americans ate out at a restaurant once a week or more. Also, Americans began spending more on restaurants than groceries in 2016.

2016: Restaurant Spending Overtakes Grocery Spending in 2016

Starting in 2016, Americans began spending more money in restaurants than on groceries.

October 2017: Number of Eating and Drinking Places in the United States in October 2017

In October 2017, The New York Times reported that there were 620,000 eating and drinking places in the United States, and that the number of restaurants was growing at almost twice the rate of the population.

2020: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Restaurant Sales

In 2020, the National Restaurant Association projected that the COVID-19 pandemic would cause a significant decrease in restaurant sales, estimating a decline of $274 billion from the initially projected $899 billion.

2021: Restaurant Industry Revenue in Vietnam in 2021

In 2021, the out-of-home market in Vietnam accounted for VND333.69 trillion.

2022: Restaurant Industry Growth in Vietnam in 2022

By 2022, the number of restaurants in Vietnam had increased to over 400,000, with the restaurant industry's revenue reaching VND610 trillion, up 16% from 2021. The out-of-home market accounted for VND333.69 trillion, up 19% from 2021.