Over one third of adults plan to use a restaurant as part of a Mother’s Day meal

According to new data from the National Restaurant Association, 40 percent of adults plan to use a restaurant as part of a special Mother’s Day meal this year. Dinner is the most popular mealtime for those who plan to enjoy a restaurant experience, with 43 percent of those respondents planning to visit an establishment and 49 percent planning to order takeout or delivery in the evening hours to celebrate the holiday.

“Mother’s Day has historically been a strong, high-traffic holiday for the restaurant industry,” says Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of Research for the National Restaurant Association. “As families around the country look to celebrate the important role that mothers play in our lives, restaurants offer an opportunity to take the hassle of cooking out of the equation for a day, while making the holiday memorable for everyone at the table.”

Families with young children are most likely to take advantage of the convenience offered by enjoying a Mother’s Day meal at a restaurant. Among those planning to dine at a restaurant, the majority (59 percent) say that their party will include children under the age of 18. Among adults with young children in their party, 96 percent agree that letting restaurants do the cooking for Mother’s Day is easy and reduces stress, and 94 percent say that enjoying the experience with family or friends offers an opportunity to socialize and is a more worthwhile use of time than cooking and cleaning up.

According to the Association’s survey, restaurants that offer special deals, discounts and proudcts will help win over customers. Nearly half of respondents (44 percent) say that a free add-in for mothers, such as a special cocktail, dessert, flowers, chocolates or a small gift, would make them more likely to choose to dine at one restaurant over another. Additionally, 53 percent of individuals planning to order takeout or delivery from a restaurant for the holiday say they would be more likely to choose a restaurant offering a Mother's Day discount.

“Restaurant operators know that dining out with family is often a significant treat. So, when making plans, check online and on social media to see what specials local restaurants are offering to celebrate. And if going to a restaurant is not possible, there will also be restaurants with notable offers for takeout and delivery,” Riehle says.