Diners are still finding new places to eat on social media but influencers are out
Although half (49%) of all diners, and 69% of Gen Z diners, turn to social media platforms to help discover restaurants, there is a notable shift away from relying on the recommendations of influencers specifically. Only about one-in-ten consumers now use influencer recommendations when finding a place to eat, highlighting a growing preference for authenticity and peer-driven insights over influencer marketing. This shift suggests that brands may find greater success by fostering genuine community interactions and peer-to-peer recommendations, rather than investing heavily in influencer-driven campaigns.
Restaurants are already using AI behind the scenes
Four-in-five (79%) restaurants are already using AI, with about half of those using it for marketing purposes. The primary way to use AI tools currently is for predictive analysis to inform campaign strategies and content generation. Less than one-third (29%) are using AI to process reservations although three-quarters (74%) of diners say they are comfortable booking a reservation with the assistance of AI.
Read the full report:
2025 U.S Restaurant Trends Report.
Research Author:
SevenRooms: SevenRooms is a CRM, marketing and operations platform for growing restaurants in the hospitality industry. The full suite of products includes CRM, reservations, waitlist and table management, revenue management, reputation management, email and text marketing, and marketing automation. Founded in 2011 and venture-backed , SevenRooms has more than 13,000 clients globally. www.sevenrooms.com.
Methodology:
U.S. Consumers: SevenRooms partnered with Censuswide Research—a third-party, professional research and consulting organization. Total sample size was 1,000 U.S. consumers. Fieldwork was undertaken between December 12, 2024-January 6, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all
U.S. adults (aged 16+).
U.S. Operators: SevenRooms partnered with Censuswide Research—a third-party, professional research and consulting organization. Total sample size was 257 U.S. operators (hospitality decision-makers). Fieldwork was undertaken between December 24, 2024-January 15, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of U.S. hospitality operators.
