Abstract:

Assuming that eating out is the basis of existence of food service industry, the main purpose of this study is to describe an integrative theoretical model of eating out. An extensive review of relevant literature reveals that the three major consumer decisions related to eating out are (i) decision to eat out, (ii) food choice, and (iii) restaurant choice. Decision to eat out is associated with consumers' motives to eat out while food choice and restaurant choice are influenced by a wide range of factors. It is also noted that these three major decisions of eating out are interrelated. Decisions of eating out lead consumer to a meal experience in a restaurant environment, and restaurant's internal design, product, social meeting, accompany, service, atmosphere, payment, and management control system are the major components of meal experience. The meal experience components interactively generate consumer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Thus, the current study proposes a model comprising eating out purpose, decisions, meal experience and evaluation dimensions. The study also discusses the implications for restaurant managers and researchers.

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