Getting the lowdown on restaurants

Where do potential customers go to get information about local dining choices? The Internet is the #1 source, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center. The survey revealed that newspapers and word-of-mouth are also popular sources.

• 55% of those surveyed indicated that they seek out news and information about restaurants. The group was composed primarily of women, young adults, urban residents and technology adapters.
• 51% of those adults say they get news and information about local restaurants, bars and clubs by surfing the Web.
• 38% of survey respondents rely on search engines to sift through the choices, while 17% turn to specialty websites and 3% follow social networking sites and/or Twitter.
• 31% of restaurant seekers rely on newspapers, with 26% referring to printed copies and 5% to newspaper websites.
• Word-of-mouth is still a powerful way to create buzz, with 23% of respondents indicating they rely on recommendations by family and friends.
• Only 8% of respondents look to local TV—either live broadcasts or websites—for their restaurant information.

Source: The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project; December, 2011