The foodservice sector's rollercoaster ride during the recession may not yet be over and, while the long-term trend is one of recovery, establishments might want to make sure any planned investments in refurbishment, decoration and restaurant furniture refreshes go ahead promptly.
Figures from industry analyst Horizons show that, in June 2015, there was a slight dip in the number of people eating out, when compared with the same month of the previous year.
The data relates to the two weeks leading up to June 19th-21st 2015, and the fortnight ending June 20th-23rd 2014 - which it is worth noting was slightly warmer, perhaps enticing more people out to enjoy a meal and some drinks in the early-summer heat.
Whatever the reason, 69% of those surveyed had eaten out in the relevant fortnight of 2015, compared with 71% the previous year - only a slight drop, but a reversal of the long-term trend.
Spend fell slightly too, from £12.72 per person including drinks in 2014, to £12.54 in 2015 (and if this seems low, it is again worth pointing out that the survey covers all meals, including breakfast, and snacking too).
Interestingly, the ongoing trend towards snacking has also stalled, with a corresponding two percentage point drop - just 10% of people surveyed had 'snacked out' in the two-week survey period, compared with 12% the year before.
Breakfasting out was also down from 12% to 10%, while the proportion eating out for lunch fell by a more modest one percentage point, from 47% to 46%, and evening meals scored a positive change from 62% to 63%.
Horizons' foodservice analyst Nicola Knight noted that there was a marked decline in eating out among 35 to 44-year-olds, who typically have the most big-ticket items to spend on, like holidays, house moves and children.
"If this age group is once again starting to spend on higher ticket items like these, or perhaps new cars, fridges or DIY, it might be that eating out becomes one of those expenses they are prepared to forgo temporarily," she added.
For restaurateurs though, a return to big-ticket spending is perhaps an indication that there is more money to be made in the middle age groups - particularly in the more robust evening meal market.
Good quality restaurant furniture is key to attracting bookings for this more formal mealtime, while a high standard of furnishing and decoration should help to underpin menu prices too.