38 Miles from Manhattan — This popular blog picked up on new Market Force research that showed confidence rising for restaurant goers. In December of 2009, just 5% of consumers said that they expected to eat out more in the coming month. Six months later that figure rose to 25%. 38 Miles also picked up on the effect social media played. According to this study, about half of consumers surveyed read an online review or found out about a restaurant through online searching of blogs and social networks.   Read more