By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — New Yorkers are reacting to the economic crunch by tightening their belts, and that means bad news for local restaurants, according to a survey released Wednesday by Zagat.
The annual dining survey found that New Yorkers are going out to eat three times a week, the lowest rate in the past five years. They're also spending a lot less when they do go out, the survey found.
Of the 38,868 diners interviewed, close to half said they hunt for dinner deals, and nearly a quarter are skipping extras like appetizers and dessert. Nineteen percent said they save by steering clear of alcohol.
“The economy is absolutely having an impact on the New York restaurant industry,” Nina Zagat, Co-Founder of Zagat, told DNAinfo. “New Yorkers are still eating out, but less, and they are more cautious about how they spend their money.”
There were 157 new restaurants opening their doors in the city this year, up from 119 last year. Another 102 restaurants went belly up, compared to 88 in 2008.
Meanwhile, the average cost of a local meal jumped up to $41.81, up from $37.61 in 2005.
There were a few points of silver lining in the dire news: 56 percent of customers found better meal deals this year. And 22 percent of New Yorkers said the economy hasn't changed their dining habits at all.
The data results, taken this year, will be released in the 2010 Zagat book.
