Restaurateurs should make sure that their customers have sufficient personal space, according to a newly released restaurant study.

In a survey of nearly 300 dinner customers at a fine-dining restaurant in New York City, senior lecturer Stephani Robson and professor Sheryl Kimes tested the effects of crowded tables on satisfaction and spending.

"At least when it comes to fine dining, these restaurant customers were happiest when their tables are at least a yard apart," said Robson. "Satisfaction dropped off noticeably when we tested tables that were as close as a half meter apart. While we did not see significant differences in spending levels, we did notice that the couples at the closely spaced tables tended to leave the restaurant much faster."

The restaurant research report, "Don't Sit so Close to Me: Restaurant Table Characteristics and Guest Satisfaction," is available at no charge from Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research:

http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/chr/pubs/reports/2009.html