Economy Takes Toll On New Yorkers' Dining Habits

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Going out to eat is one of the most popular things to do in New York City, but as CBS 2HD's Kathryn Brown reports, one iconic rating guide finds many cash-strapped diners are eating in restaurants a lot less each week, and when they do, many are venturing out of Manhattan.

Brooklyn is home to the biggest boom, according to Zagats 2011. It's the place where New Yorkers are coming more and more as the economy continues to stall.

Mile End edged out Barney Greengrass as the City's best deli, and that's not all.

More than 40,000 people reviewed 2,115 of the City's best restaurants and the results show New Yorkers are eating out less and spending less money when they do.

The Zagats guide revealed nearly a quarter of those surveyed reported dining out less often than they did six months ago, an average of three times a week versus three and a half.

The average price of a meal in the City was down slightly as well to $41.76. It's only a $0.05 decline but the first of any kind since 2002.

And the guide shows the boroughs are more popular than ever. Brooklyn leads the charge with an unprecedented number of top-food winners including restaurants like Mile End for best deli and Pacificana for best Chinese.

Top overall honors go to the usual suspects: Grammercy Tavern was voted the most popular restaurant for the sixth time in 10 years and Le Bernadine was voted as having the best food for the second year running.

Results show the dining scene was still sluggish, even though the recession was officially over.

Of 123 newcomers, the majority were casual and relatively inexpensive.

And for the first time, with 26-percent of respondants saying they eat at food carts at least occassionally, the guide reviews the City's best gourmet food trucks.