Assessment of User's Perception of outdoor Eating Area in Abuja Restaurants in Conference proceedings of the School of Environmental technology International Conference

Abstract

Outdoor eating refers to an extension of indoor seating area where people sit and take their meals in a conducive open atmosphere. It is generally located on the footpath mostly in front of a restaurant and adds to the appeal of the environment as a tourist destination. There is no better indication that a restaurant is more open for business than when it makes good use of adjacent footpaths for outdoor eating. Sadly, most restaurants in Abuja tend to neglect the use of outdoor dining spaces. This paper therefore examines the user’s perception of the outdoor eating area in Abuja restaurants. The Study used structured questionnaire and observation schedule to elicit relevant information among Two Hundred and Eighty-Three (283) users who dine at TwentyEight (28) different restaurants located in different parts of Abuja. The result indicates that the majority of the users perceives outdoor eating as a way of eating in a free natural environment without the psychology of sitting in an enclosed space. The study hereby suggests the incorporation of the outdoor eating area in the design and construction of restaurants in Abuja.