Eating alone? You’re not alone

Solo dining is surging, though it still represents just 1% of all reservations. Toast’s latest Restaurant Trends Report says single-party reservations spiked 22% in the third quarter, with Tuesday bookings, of all nights, up 15% year-over-year, the largest increase of any day. Other interesting tidbits: 9 a.m. breakfast reservations and 4 p.m. early-bird dinners also logged double-digit gains, while tips at full-service restaurants averaged 19.2%, a slight increase from their seven-year low in the second quarter. The National Restaurant Association predicts local sourcing, comfort foods, value menus and smashed burgers will be hot dining trends next year.