Zagat releases 2009 Europe's Top Restaurant Guide
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Zagat releases 2009 Europe's Top Restaurant Guide
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Category: Europe - Exclusive experiences
- Rewards
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-11-11
Dinner stays strong despite setbacks in economy and tourism; with customers going green and healthy, 75% support a smoking ban
Zagat Survey released its 2009 Europe’s Top Restaurants guide today. The guide covers 1,639 of the Continent’s best eateries in 27 cities from Amsterdam to Zurich, based on the experiences of 16,829 savvy diners. Despite economic challenges and rising costs, 84% of the respondents report that they’re eating out as much or more than last year.
“People always appreciate a good meal” said Tim Zagat, CEO and Co-founder of Zagat Survey. “This guide is designed to highlight the best bets and the best values throughout Europe.”
Calling all Cuisines: When asked about their favorite cuisine, 35% of surveyors cited Italian food, followed by French (23%) and Mediterranean (15%). However, an increasing number of other ethnic cooking styles are sprouting up in high-end European restaurants. There are 101 different cuisines featured in this guide, from Bavarian to Basque and Turkish to Tuscan.
Healthy Eaters want a Healthy Planet: The respondents in this survey are adamant about accessing healthier food. In fact, 64% favor banning trans-fats from restaurants. Also roughly 55% say they’d pay more for sustainably raised organic food.
No If’s, And’s or Butts: Ireland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and, most recently, the U.K. have adopted no-smoking legislation. A full 75% of surveyors support such a ban in restaurants.
Service With a Smile: In nearly every city that Zagat surveys, service is the No. 1 complaint about dining out. When asked what country has the friendliest service, Italy wins with 39% of the vote, followed by Spain and Ireland ranking second and third respectively.
For Tech-Savvy Travelers: With the inception of zagat.mobi, Zagat’s award-winning mobile website, consumers can get reliable information about where to eat, drink, stay and play across the US and Europe – and connect to any restaurant with a single click.
To celebrate its 30th birthday, Zagat has launched zagat.com/celebrate, which offers a look back at the dramatic changes in dining over the past 30 years. And to lend a hand in tackling global hunger, Zagat is teaming up with Action Against Hunger this year.
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