New research by Musgrave MarketPlace shows that 36% of Irish people like to eat out at least once a week, with the weekend being the most popular time.

The research was carried out as part of Musgrave MarketPlace’s ‘Discover Musgrave MarketPlace event’. While dinner is the most popular meal to dine out for, 1 in 4 say they go out for lunch once a week. Even though we have seen an increase in brunch menus in restaurants, the report shows only 13% go out for brunch on a weekly basis.

The Musgrave MarketPlace dining research reveals that half of the people surveyed spend an average of €50-€100 when dining out while 11% spend in excess of €100 each time they eat out. When it comes to splitting the bill, it seems we have a relaxed attitude to who pays. 42% say they simply take it in turns to pay with their dining companion. 30% of people say they ‘go Dutch’ and split the bill equally.

In line with current food trends, 38% of people questioned say they would like to see more casual dining options in Ireland and 1 in 5 would like to see more healthy eateries popping up.

A generous 60% of people polled always leave a tip while just over a third (36%) say it depends on the level of service they receive on the day. 10% of the bill is the average tip (71%) and 1 in 5 leave an average of 15% based on their bill.

With more and more restaurants now spending additional time on making their dishes look ‘insta worthy’, it’s no surprise that over 1 in 4 (26%) say they take pictures of their food when dining out.

Commenting on the research Noel Keeley, Managing Director, Musgrave Wholesale Partners said:

“It’s clear from our research that as a nation we love to dine out. The restaurant scene in Ireland is always evolving so it’s important that we stay ahead of the curve, innovate within our own business and continue to anticipate the needs of our customers.”