• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.125-134
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• 2017

This study is aimed at analyzing desired spaces and demands for their improvements, and subsequently proposing the design plan for eating and drinking places for solo diners by surveying the user satisfaction based on the analysis of the space configuration, and the physical environment of eating and drinking spaces for solo diners. Theoretical discussions about eating and drinking spaces for solo diners and their physical environment were reviewed from the previous studies, and an on-site survey was conducted with a checklist, for which the items regarding configuring elements of physical environments for the satisfaction with eating and drinking spaces for solo diners have been derived. Measurable checklist items according to the configuration of eating and drinking spaces were derived for this survey, which had then been conducted with diners in the eating and drinking spaces for 2 weeks. The analysis results are as follows. First, cleanliness is required as a necessity for the user satisfaction in eating and drinking spaces for solo diners. Second, a '-' shaped bar and the spaces to utilize and combine additional facilities are required in the central service space. Third, the self service should be performed in the additional service space. Fourth, the menu composition and the location selection considering main age groups of diners are needed. Fifth, interior design elements need to be improved to allow diners to feel visual interest along with enjoying food and beverage. It is considered that the strategies of spatial design need to be analyzed and proposed from the perspective of design among the physical environments of eating and drinking spaces for solo diners in future studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 2017

This study analyzed the comparative importance of the selection of a restaurant for solo diners, and suggests a solution for the ideal type of the restaurant that are appealing to solo diners using conjoint analysis techniques. A total of 280 questionnaires were distributed to consumers who had experience dining alone from June $7^{th}$, 2017 to June $14^{th}$, 2017, and 261 were completed (93.21%). As a result, the importance of the attributes of the restaurant was found to be the menu for solo diners (36.92%), price (30.29%), seating for solo diners (20.87%), and serving time of food (11.91%). The ideal combination of selection attributes was found to be having a menu for a solo diner, having a seat for a solo diner, meal service time of less than 10 minutes, and a low price of 2,500won. These results will form a database that contributes to the development of differentiated products and is building marketing strategies that can satisfy the needs of solo diners.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.84-94
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to empirically test a proposed relationship among perceived restaurant quality, type of restaurant, satisfaction, and return patronage intentions with a focus on solo diners. More specifically, the objectives of this study are to assess the effects of three perceived qualities (i.e., food, service, and physical environment) and types of restaurants on solo diner (1) satisfaction and (2) return patronage intentions. The findings show that the greatest weight was put on food quality in increasing both solo diner satisfaction and return patronage intentions. Service quality was the second important contributor in satisfying solo diners, followed by physical environment quality. In addition, the findings indicated that solo diner satisfaction was affected by different types of restaurants.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.155-166
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• 2021

Objectives: Driven by a growth of single-person households and individualized lifestyles, solo dining in restaurants is an increasingly recognizable trend. However, a research gap exists in the comparison of solo and group diners' menu-decision making processes. Based on the self-control dilemma and the temporal construal theory as a theoretical framework, this study compared the ordering intentions of solo vs. group diners with healthy vs. indulgent (less healthy) entrées. The mediating role of consumption orientation and the moderating role of amount of menu nutrition information were further explored to understand the mechanism and a boundary condition. Methods: A scenario-based online survey was developed using a 2 (dining social context: solo vs. with others) × 3 (amount of menu nutrition information: no nutrition information vs. calories vs. calories/fat/sodium), between-subjects, experimental design. Consumers' level of nutrition involvement was controlled. A nationwide survey data (n = 224) were collected from a crowdsourcing platform in the U.S. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance, independent t-test, univariate analysis of covariance, and moderated mediation analyses. Results: Findings reveal that solo (vs. group) diners have less (vs. more) intentions to order indulgent menu items due to a more utilitarian (vs. more hedonic) consumption orientation in restaurant dining. Findings also show that solo (vs. group) diners have more (vs. less) intentions to order healthy menu items when the restaurant menu presented nutrition information including calories, fat, and sodium. Conclusions: The findings contribute to the literature of foodservice management, healthy eating, and consumer behavior by revealing a mechanism and an external stimuli of solo vs. group diners' healthy menu-decision making process in restaurants. Furthermore, the findings provide restauranteurs and health professionals with insights into the positive and negative impacts of menu nutrition labelling on consumers' menu-decisions.