Eating Out Versus Eating In

The question arises as to whether conviviality is confined to the privatised family meal or can it be achieved when eating out in company (family or otherwise)? Of course for the majority of the guests a dinner party is the equivalent of eating out even though it takes place in someone's home. But what about the situation in the neutral venue of an eatery.

Restaurants try to provide more than just food - a total eating experience - themed venue, specialist tastes. Eating out alone whilst often necessary is not popular. Whereas eating together at a venue is to a degree in some places (the USA in particular) the new family meal. Popular American TV programmes trade on this feature. The seminal role of the coffee shop 'Central Perk' in the hit show 'Friends' as the place where the group would meet share life set a trend which popularised the coffee shop in the UK.

In the series the 'Gilmour Girls' the coffee shop has become the local diner and the family are almost proud of the fact that they rarely eat at home. However there is a formal dinner party and the grandparents house every Friday night which seems to contrast the habits of the present generation with those of the previous one.