10.23.2008 10:13 AM

America's Favorite Restaurants

When Dining Out, Do You Opt For Tap Water and Look for Local Ingredients?

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A restaurant in San Francisco cooking without trans fats.

Photo: Dieter Spears / Istock

By Annie Bell Muzaurieta

In the ever-morphing restaurant world, some things just don't change; according to the 2009 Zagat America's Top Restaurants Survey, Italian cuisine is still our favorite.

But there has been progress made in the green restaurant scene, thanks to interest from diners.

According to MarketWatch, more diners are looking for green and health conscious options.

More and more chefs have gotten in on the act by using using fresh, seasonal and sustainable ingredients, and the article says the trend applies to casual, local eateries as well as high-end restaurants.

The article says that 69% of surveyors said that locally grown fare is important to them, and 59% say they would pay more for sustainably produced food. In cities such as Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, some restaurants have banned bottled water. Diners have shown their approval, with only 10% ordering bottled water while 11% have switched to tap.

In terms of healthy fare, 69% of diners say low fat, heart-healthy food items are important to them and 65% agreed that trans fats should be banned.

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