Evaluating the Eating Out Experience within the Framework of Consumption Theories Based on the Three-Stage Model of Service Consumption

Gözde ÇULFACI; Reha KILIÇHAN

doi:10.63556/jotags.2026.1880

Authors

Gözde ÇULFACI
Reha KILIÇHAN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63556/jotags.2026.1880

Keywords:

Eating out, Consumer experience, Stages of experience, Consumption theories, Experiential marketing, Tourism marketing

Abstract

This study shows that eating out today is a much more complex phenomenon than merely satisfying a basic physiological need for food. It is closely associated with individuals’ social interactions, cultural backgrounds, and lifestyle preferences. Recent research in gastronomy and tourism highlights that eating out reflects lifestyle preferences and identity expressions rather than serving merely a functional purpose. Expanding on this viewpoint, the current study examines the eating out experience through three phases; the pre-experience stage (expectations, information-seeking, and motivation), the during-experience stage (service environment, service quality, and sensory and emotional responses), and the post-experience stage (evaluation, satisfaction, loyalty, and repurchase intention) and discusses each phase concerning key consumption theories. The study found that existing studies on eating out behaviors primarily focus on the act of eating itself, neglecting both the pre- and post-experience phases. Building upon this gap, the study aims to propose an evaluation of experiential stages within a theoretical framework by integrating consumption theories (Utility Theory, Consumer Choice Theory, Expectation Disconfirmation Theory, Consumer Culture Theory, and Theory of Consumption) with the Three-Stage Model of Service Consumption. The study aims to contribute to the academic literature and the tourism sector by explaining how the eating out experience is shaped before, during, and after consumption, and by offering practical recommendations for food and beverage businesses from the perspective of tourism marketing, through an interdisciplinary approach.

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