Omnivore - Zagat releases survey results

Zagat has released its 2009 guide to the country’s best restaurants. You can find its Atlanta listings on the popular guide’s site.

Zagat’s polling of readers turned up a lot of interesting information about dining out during the present economic downturn (a.k.a.”recession”). Among the findings:

Service and Tipping: If restaurants want a remedy for the slowing economy, they should teach their staffs to be nicer. When asked what irritates them the most when dining out, a staggering 68% of surveyors said service. Noise/crowds (13%), prices (6%) and food (6%) complaints follow. Despite poor service, diners in recent years have become increasingly generous. The nationwide average tip is now 19%, having inched up from approximately 17% ten years ago.

For the full story about Zagat’s findings on dining habits, go here.