Early bird dinner
Early bird dinner is a dinner served earlier than traditional dinner hours, particularly at a restaurant. Many establishments offer a seating prior to their main dinner seating with a reduced price menu, often more limited in selection than the standard dinner menu. Some restaurants offer specific meals or meal options which are sometimes referred to as "early bird specials".[1][2][3] The term was first used for a clothing sale in 1904, and then in restaurants in the 1920s.[4]
The hours which are deemed as "early bird" hours differ, depending on the locale and the establishment. Early bird seating may be as short as one hour or may be several hours long. It may use a
Generally, the idea is for the restaurant to increase revenue and profitability by offering lower-cost meals to attract price-sensitive customers, such as middle-class families and retired people, at a time when the restaurant would otherwise be empty.[4]
Rise and fall
The prevalence of early bird dinners at American restaurants increased in the 1970s, as
Alternatives
Early bird dinners are often stereotypically associated with
The association with lower-income elderly people has produced a stigma. This is sometimes avoided by re-branding the offering with names such as "twilight dinner", "sunset dinner" or "happy hour".[4] Another approach is to offer other kinds of discounts, such as coupons or a menu with smaller portions at a lower cost.[4]
See also
References
- ISBN 9780071740630.
- ^ "La Terraza restaurant "Sunset special" dinner menu". La Terraza, New City, NY. Archived from the original on 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
- ISBN 978-0-470-17591-0.
- ^ a b c d e f Saxena, Jaya (29 January 2018). "The Extinction of the Early Bird". Eater. Vox Media. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ a b Cave, Damien (8 January 2010). "Hard Times Have Younger Floridians Catching the Early Bird". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-02-10.