Why do we love eating out so much? 5 reasons, and the question of price

We could easily eat at home. It's cheaper, we know the food, and nobody rushes us. And yet we go out. At the weekend, after work, for a birthday, or just because.

So what really drives us to go to a restaurant? We read what researchers who have studied the question say, and drew five reasons from it. An honest caveat before we start: none of these studies was carried out in Morocco. So no percentages here, just leads. Tell us whether you recognise yourself.

1. Because we need to see people

A restaurant is often a pretext. To catch up with friends you haven't seen in months, celebrate good news, or chat without having to tidy the living room first.

That's what emerges from a national survey carried out in Spain by two sociologists from the University of Oviedo, published in 2017 in the journal Appetite. Whether we eat out for work or for pleasure, being together is a real driver. Spain isn't Morocco, but we find it hard to believe things are very different here.

2. Because we're tired of the routine

Same kitchen, same table, same washing-up to do. Sometimes we just want a change of scenery. A terrace, a busy street, a place that isn't home.

The same Spanish study puts it in its own way: eating out breaks the routine, at home as at work. In other words, we're not just paying for a dish. We're also treating ourselves to a break.

3. Because we want to treat ourselves

A perfectly grilled fish, a sauce we couldn't recreate, a beautiful plate. We also go out to eat what we never cook at home.

And that's no small thing. In 2024, Brazilian researchers reviewed 111 studies on what makes people choose a restaurant and leave happy (journal Food Research International). Four main criteria come up: the food, the atmosphere, the service and value for money. And it's the food that weighs most. Logical, but nice to read.

4. Because sometimes we don't want to do anything

No shopping, no cooking, no serving, no washing-up. Just sit down and wait for the plate to arrive. After a long week, that's often the real luxury.

That one needs no study to understand.

5. Because we've seen the place everywhere

A video on Instagram, a story, a friend talking about it over dinner. And the urge to try it kicks in. You surely have, like us, a list of places “to try one day” somewhere on your phone.

Word of mouth matters, but not always as much. A study published in 2020 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health shows that the criteria change depending on the occasion. For a celebration, word of mouth comes first. For a quick meal or an outing with friends, it's price.

And what about price?

Of course, we think about it. A successful outing isn't necessarily a cheap one. It's one where we feel we got our money's worth.

That's actually why the same restaurant can seem expensive on a Tuesday lunchtime and perfectly justified for a birthday. It's not the bill that changes. It's the occasion.

In real life, it all gets mixed up

We rarely go out for just one reason. We go out for the friends, the food and the atmosphere all at once. And we don't pick the same place for a quick lunch, a dinner for two or a big group meal.

That's exactly what SAM.ma is for: finding the right place for the mood of the moment, with photos, menu, opening hours and booking all in one place. And if you're in Rabat, we've picked 10 places for a night out.

Find a restaurant on SAM.ma

And you?

What really makes you go to a restaurant? The food, the atmosphere, friends, discovery, or just not wanting to cook? Tell us in the comments on our Instagram post @sortiraumaroc.