Eating out used to be a Tuesday night thing. Now, for most Americans, it’s saved for birthdays and anniversaries, and the casual weeknight dinner has moved to the backyard.
Restaurant costs climbed around 6% from early 2024 through late 2025, while groceries rose closer to 3% over the same stretch. Diners are still going out, but ordering less, using more promotions and rethinking what the trip is worth. That math has added up: 61% of Americans now say dining out feels like a special occasion, not a regular one.
Dinner is starting earlier, and at home
It’s not just where people eat. It’s when. Reservations in the 4-5 p.m. window climbed 13% year over year, and Bacardi’s 2026 cocktail research found that 34% of U.S. consumers are building their evenings around earlier start times, lighter drinks, smaller bites and gatherings that wrap before 8 p.m.
Bacardi called it Afternoon Society. The daycap, a post-work cocktail that closes the day without kicking off a night out, is a big part of it. A backyard table at 4:30 costs nothing to reserve and is easier to pull off than an 8 p.m. restaurant booking.
Backyards are getting a serious upgrade
Americans are putting money into where their evenings now happen. 77% of Americans say they don’t spend as much time outside at home as they’d like, and among those who’ve made outdoor upgrades, eating al fresco is one of the top three things they plan to do more of.
Contractors are seeing it too. Demand for multi-zone outdoor layouts is rising nationwide, with dedicated dining areas leading most projects. Outdoor kitchens, all-weather seating and permanent lighting are showing up in spaces that used to max out at a folding table.
The backyard is the new gathering spot
When restaurant visits get reserved for milestones, everyday dinners need a new home. Bacardi’s research found that 84% of consumers feel technology has made their interactions less personal, which helps explain why in-person, screen-free gatherings are becoming more deliberate.
Without a check at the end or a two-hour table limit, the backyard fits what people are actually after. The gathering is the occasion. The address just changed.
If your outdoor space isn’t pulling its weight yet, this summer is a good time to fix that.
Jennifer Allen is a retired professional chef and long-time writer. Her work appears in dozens of publications, including MSN, Yahoo, The Washington Post and The Seattle Times. These days, she’s busy in the kitchen developing recipes and traveling the world, and you can find all her best creations at Cook What You Love.