New Yorkers Are Turning to Dinner Party-Style Restaurants to Make Friends (and Find Dates)

“We were apart because of COVID, but people don’t just want to return to the old-style of dining,” says Rodriguez. “Everyone seems more open now.”

While bars will likely remain easier places to meet someone new, the pandemic seems to have proved that diners are craving alternatives for a variety of reasons. Restaurants are becoming spaces that are more than just about feeding hungry diners. Some have transformed into spaces where people can potentially meet someone new and feel the rush of be... See more

convivial spaces like Niche Niche may be more sought after than ever coming out of the depths of the pandemic.

Arce tells Eater that these pop-up dinners and communal style restaurants hinge not just on the format but on the personality of the host — not everyone nails both. “An MC of sorts is necessary,”

This new crop of restaurants and pop-ups offer interactive ways to connect that don’t necessarily have to rely on liquid courage.

the “dreaded group dining table.” It was not an immediate hit when it first launched last summer. She attributed the initial hesitation to mixed attitudes toward COVID-19 guidelines, as well as potentially lingering feelings of social anxiety during the pandemic. These days, Jetta says, she can barely tell which groups came together or solo as they... See more