United States

Diners Prefer Fast Food to Sit-Down Restaurants, Survey Says

Customer satisfaction with sit-down restaurants has hit a 10-year low

When it comes to food, more Americans are looking for convenience over quality these days.

NBC News reports that satisfaction with full-service restaurants has reached its lowest point in 10 years, according to a report on Tuesday from the American Customer Satisfaction Index. The survey of 5,500 Americans also found that fast food restaurants rated higher than full-service restaurants in customer satisfaction ratings.

Fast food restaurants, referred to as "limited-service," includes traditional chains, like Burger King, along with fast-casual restaurants, such as Chipotle and Panera Bread. Chick-fil-A earned the top-rated restaurant chain spot among limited-service establishments in the survey with a score of 87 out of 100 points. Cracker Barrel won among full-service restaurants with a score of 84.

Potential reasons for the decrease in satisfaction with full-service restaurants could be higher menu prices, increasing competition and lower grocery prices that have encouraged people to cook at home.

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