Zagat is out with the results of its 2014 Holiday Tipping Survey, revealing that generosity is at an all time high. More than 800 respondents nationwide came to Zagat.com to tell us who they tip, how much they give and why they are shelling out this holiday season.
Zagat is out with the results of its 2014 Holiday Tipping Survey, revealing that generosity is at an all time high. More than 800 respondents nationwide came to Zagat.com to tell us who they tip, how much they give and why they are shelling out this holiday season.
At this time of year the most common tip to give is money followed by gift cards, a bottle of wine/spirits and baked goods. The average reported cash tips across a variety of service personnel are the highest they’ve been since 2011 - steadily rebounding from a dip in 2012. Thirteen percent say they are planning to tip “more” this year vs. only 3% who say “less.”

When asked about the reasoning behind who and how much they tip during the holidays, respondents say “based on wanting to express gratitude” (53%), “where it’s deserved for work and assistance” (29%), “obligation” (14%), “fear of negative consequences if I don’t” (2%), and other reasons (2%).

And if you’re giving something other than cash, be careful of what you choose -- 27% of surveyors admit to re-gifting non-cash gifts.

Happy Holidays!

 Posted by Tiffany Herklots, Zagat

The results of Zagat’s 2015 San Francisco Restaurants Survey are here! This year 7,932 local diners shared their opinions of over 1,600 Bay Area restaurants. Ratings and reviews, as well as more than 100 curated lists are available today on Zagat.com, Google Maps and Search.
The results of Zagat’s 2015 San Francisco Restaurants Survey are here! This year 7,932 local diners shared their opinions of over 1,600 Bay Area restaurants. Ratings and reviews, as well as more than 100 curated lists are available today on Zagat.com, Google Maps and Search.

This year Kokkari Estiatorio wins big, taking Top Food and Decor honors, eclipsing Gary Danko who previously held the Top Food spot for the past 5 years consecutively and 11 times since 2003. However, the team at Gary Danko has much to celebrate, winning major titles Top Service and Most Popular (and coming in at No. 2 for Food). This year’s SF/Bay Area Top 10 Food list is as follows:

  1. Kokkari Estiatorio 
  2. Gary Danko 
  3. Quince 
  4. The French Laundry 
  5. Evvia 
  6. Acquerello 
  7. Boulevard 
  8. La Folie 
  9. Frances 
  10. Benu 

According to the survey, the average reported spend per person for dinner out is $41 (vs. $39.40 nationwide). But you don’t have to go broke for good food in San Francisco. Based on the survey results, Zagat editors compiled a list of the Bay Area’s “Best Buys” - or places with high food scores and an average cost of $25 or less:

  1. Tartine Bakery & Cafe 
  2. Cheese Board Pizza 
  3. b. Patisserie 
  4. 4505 Burgers & BBQ 
  5. 4505 Meats 
  6. Fremont Diner 
  7. Mama’s 
  8. Zachary’s Chicago Pizza 
  9. Arizmendi Bakery 
  10. Fatted Calf 

In addition, some of this year’s most exciting tables include hot newcomers The Commissary serving up Spanish-influenced Californian cuisine by Traci Des Jardins, the Bernal Heights Japanese ICHI Sushi + NI Bar, Siamese Kin Khao tucked away in the Parc 55 Hotel near Union Square, Lazy Bear, the brick-and-mortar version of the popular underground pop-up, as well as Pabu, Tosca Cafe and Urchin Bistrot.

San Francisco diners are avid but not the most generous. They eat out 4.5 times per week for a combined lunch and dinner - exactly on par with national figures. As for gratuity, they leave a reported 18.7%, which is below the 19.3% national average.

Diner Habits and Preferences:

  • Noise is the No. 1 dining irritant (28%) among San Francisco diners followed by Service (25%), Crowds (14%), Prices (13%), Parking (8%), Food (7%) and Traffic (2%). The biggest complaints relating to Noise are bad acoustics; unruly babies/children; loud music and people on mobile phones. 
  • When it comes to cuisines, diners say Italian is the favorite (25%), followed by American (12%), French (10%), Japanese (10%), Seafood (7%), Mexican (6%), and Thai (5%). 
  • When choosing a restaurant to dine at, 80% of respondents said they consult online menus, 77% say consumer reviews, 63% say restaurant websites, 38% look for photos and 16% seek out blogs. 
  • As for cell phone use, 29% say they text or email at the table "occasionally", 42% say "rarely" and 24% claim "never." 
  • When it comes to farm-to-table dining, a practice the Bay Area has led for decades, 71% of surveyors still report they "love" the movement. 

For additional results and to explore Zagat’s Top 50 restaurants in San Francisco proper, visit zagat.com/sanfrancisco.

Posted by Tiffany Herklots, Zagat
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Looking for the best bites in Los Angeles? You’re in luck because today Zagat is out with the results of it’s 2015 Los Angeles Restaurants Survey, helping you find the perfect restaurant for any occasion.
Looking for the best bites in Los Angeles? You’re in luck because today Zagat is out with the results of it’s 2015 Los Angeles Restaurants Survey, helping you find the perfect restaurant for any occasion.

This year’s results are based on based on the opinions of 9,469 diners who collectively rated and reviewed more than 1,400 LA restaurants. This year’s big winners are Mélisse (Food), The Bazaar by José Andrés (Decor), Providence (Service) and El Cholo (Most Popular). See our full list of the Top 50 restaurants by Food rating.

Below is a list of top spots by cuisine category:

New American: Bashan                                  
Trad. American: Dal Rae Restaurant            
Barbecue: Bludso's BBQ                                
Burgers: In-N-Out Burger                  
Californian: Darren's Restaurant        
Chinese: WP24                                                  
Continental: Dal Rae Restaurant                    
Delis: Langer's                                                  
Dim Sum: Hakkasan Beverly Hills                
Eclectic: Ink                                                    
Gastropubs: The Tripel                                    
French: Mélisse                                                
Italian: Michael's on Naples Ristorante            
Japanese: Sushi Gen
Korean: Park's BBQ
Mediterranean: Lucques
Mexican: Cook's Tortas
Pizza: Pizzeria Mozza
Seafood: Providence
Steakhouses: Chianina Steakhouse
Thai: Jitlada Restaurant
Vegetarian: Crossroads Vegan

Congratulations to this year’s winners! For more information on what’s new in LA, check out French Food in LA: The Best, the New and More and 11 Tasting Menus to Savor. New Ratings and reviews can be found today at Zagat.com and across the Google products you use everyday including Search and Maps.

 Posted by Tiffany Herklots, Zagat