đ Share this article Shared Dining Tables: Why Nine in Ten of Gen Z Like This Trend Term: Shared tables. Look: Lengthy, uncomfortable and back in fashion. The Return of Communal Eating? Not Again. The Only Acceptable Place for Long Benches is the Cafeteria What kind of adult chooses to dine alongside strangers? Gen Z, it seems. According to data from the dining booking company Resy, "Nine out of ten of gen Z diners say they like communal tables, compared with just six in ten of boomers". Iâve Never Felt More Out of Touch. Before You Start Harrumphing Regarding Younger People Communal eating in nationalistic eateries was a major trend during the second world war, actually â there were about 2,500 of them, supported by Winston Churchill. It Was Logical When Food Was Scarce, But Why Do It Now? This might seem strange to you, admittedly, but communal tables can be enjoyable! As the Resy CEO explains: "They naturally turn dinner into a shared experience," and "You never know who youâll be seated next to; thatâs the fun of it!" The âFunâ of An Interrupted Meal by A Loud Conversation About Their Therapy Revealing They Are an Empath Or being squeezed next to a Hyrox bore eating chicken to fuel his "farmerâs carries"? Or a nano-influencer filming you accidentally of their reel as they massacre a salad? Consider this: young adults â the most online generation, who grew up during COVID, and many of whom started careers remotely â love a structured communal activity. Itâs the same impulse behind the rise of youth running groups, group hikes and crafting nights: theyâre seeking real-world interactions. Iâd Rather Eat in a Solo Ramen Stall Found in Japan. This may not appeal to you, but lots of young people are lonely (Nearly half of them, according to an Oxfam study published in June). A recent American study , one-third of men aged between 18 to 23 reported they had no contact outside their household in the previous seven days. Isn't it positive theyâre getting out and breaking bread with strangers? Perhaps. Studies Indicate People Who Eat Socially More Often Feel Happier Conversing with new people is good for us, too: it enhances our feeling of community. Plus the Resy data points out another advantage: 14% of survey respondents said theyâd landed a date at a shared meal event. Since young people are leaving dating apps, this offers a chance for a unplanned "meet-cute". That Joke Annoys Me Almost as Much as I Hate Communal Tables. My work here is done. Appropriate comment: "Young adults believe shared meals are a total success." Donât say: "Things are fine until food spills on your vintage clothes."