Do 18-25 year olds premeditate their quick casual food consumption?

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Fickert on September 18, 2009 at 3:50pm

Depends on the meal. Lunch typically is 10 - 30 minutes in advance: "Where do I want to go that's close?"

Dinner, about an hour to call or text people and set it up. Although with text messaging today it can be in as little as 5 minutes.

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Permalink Reply by Brett Bartlett on September 18, 2009 at 4:27pm

yeah I would agree with you Andrew with the 5-10 minutes ahead of time.

Ok lets say two variables of the meal lunch/dinner are constant. (ex. every member wants the same type of food, and all want to eat somewhere close.)

Which place do they decide to go to?

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Permalink Reply by Amy on November 3, 2009 at 3:55am

I apologize in advance for this being so long.

My eating out habits depend entirely on cravings. My stomach determines where I go, how far in advance I plan to eat there and who all I want to invite. I have favorite locales for every one of my favorite foods and rarely venture to new places unless circumstances demand it or its a type of food I don't have a place for yet (we just moved). My choices often reflect service, hours of operation and authenticity. I rarely choose chains.

Example 1:
I know I have Thursday night off and so do most of my girl friends. We want to go out and its my turn to pick, but.. I know Ariel won't eat Asian food and loves desserts, Joanna likes to have drinks on her night off, and Sasha lives really far out on one side of town. My pick: an excellent Greek place not far from Sasha's that has pastries and a bar next door for "happy hour". Yum, baklava. Besides, my boyfriend doesn't like Greek so should get this one in with the ladies. :)

Example 2:
I got out of class early and I don't have to be at work for a few hours. I'm most likely eating alone but will invite someone via text on 10 minutes notice to see if they're up for it. My pick: Vietnamese Pho. My two specific locations offer reasonable price, won't ruin my diet, use ginger in the broth, understand English well enough to leave out the "green stuff" being onions and cilantro - yuck, carry Coke not Pepsi, won't charge me for unlimited hot tea if I decide to take a book instead of a date, and one is open until 4:00am (in the case of late night cravings after a movie).

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Permalink Reply by Dan Smith on November 4, 2009 at 7:28am

Brett,
I am not sure that I completely understand the question but I will try to offer an answer from both the perspective of a restaurateur and a dad of 4 twenty-something kids.

Cash! Time! Availability of their posse!

In other words, my kids (that have grown up in restaurants) who can be pedantic when it comes to restaruants, do certain things with certain friends and it quite often depends on the time of the pay cycle for each of them. They can be very spontaneous as well as very deliberate. If Dad is available to pay, they can figure the necessary manipulations. If not, they are very discerning about who is going and how much they have to spend. All that being said, my oldest is very particular and takes his time finding culinary experiences that he and his girlfriend will enjoy. My only married child is very consious about what her friends like to do and is a real planner. My 21 and 24 year olds are extremely spontaneous and know very well how to get mom and dad to pay for things. I think it is called being spoiled.

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