The room and atmosphere as aspects of the meal: a review

Abstract

The consumption of food takes place within what can loosely be termed ‘the room’, although in reality, this could be a variety of settings, both indoors and outside. Aspects and features within that room contribute towards and make up the atmosphere, something that is relatively easy to appreciate but rather more difficult to quantify and describe. This review considers selected aspects under the headings of interior variables, background music and noise, and odour; layout and design variables, table layout and seating; and human variables, density and crowding, and social facilitation, which contribute towards the room's atmosphere. It is important to recognise and appreciate that other attributes, of similar if not of equal or more importance, also exist.