What are the 3 things millennials want in luxury fine dining restaurants?
- While upscale dining is all about quality, some parameters are changing as customers today look for restaurants that deliver authentic, informal and less pretentious experiences
Fine dining isn’t what it used to be – but that is not a bad thing.
Des Gunewardena, CEO and chairman of luxury British restaurant group D&D London, believes diners, among them deep-pocketed millennials, are moving away from the traditional hallmarks of the term “fine dining”.
Gunewardena is behind more than 40 restaurants worldwide, which have been frequented by celebrities and royalty throughout the years, from Elizabeth Taylor and Diana, Princess of Wales to Naomi Campbell and Elton John.
That portfolio includes Michelin-starred restaurant Angler in London and Queensyard, which opened in New York City’s new US$25 billion Hudson Yards neighbourhood last month – the most expensive real-estate development in history.
Gunewardena, who has been at the helm of the D&D Group with David Loewi since its formation 13 years ago, has witnessed the evolution of fine dining. He says there are three things diners today seek today when it comes to a luxury dining experience.
People aren’t interested in how clever you are on the plate; they’re not going to the restaurant to be impressed by how clever the chef is
“Everyone wants informality, and they want to have fun when eating out,” Gunewardena says, adding that many of his customers ordering “seriously good wine” are tech guys wearing jeans and T-shirts.
“They do not want to feel as if these are intimidating places – people get more enjoyment out of informality where staff is relaxed.”