Casual concepts preferred by Mother’s Day diners: Survey

spring flowers tea macarons

Despite casual dining’s continuing slump, diners look poised to flock to casual spots on Mother’s Day, which is typically regarded as the restaurant industry’s busiest day.

Sixty-nine percent of those planning to visit a restaurant on Sunday said they will patronize a casual eatery, according to a recent National Restaurant Association survey. Approximately one-fifth will choose a fine-dining spot, while 12 percent have their sights set on a buffet restaurant.

Seafood topped the list of cuisine types moms most wanted to order on Mother's Day, followed by ethnic options and steak, the survey showed.   

Thirty-five percent of Americans will visit a restaurant on Sunday, according to the NRA. 

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Operations

Hitting resistance elsewhere, ghost kitchens and virtual concepts find a happy home in family dining

Reality Check: Old-guard chains are finding the alternative operations to be persistently effective side hustles.

Financing

The Tijuana Flats bankruptcy highlights the dangers of menu miscues

The Bottom Line: The fast-casual chain’s problems following new menu debuts in 2021 and 2022 show that adding new items isn’t always the right idea.

Financing

Malls are quietly making a comeback

Once left for dead as shoppers moved online and then the pandemic hit, malls are regaining lost traffic. And that has been a boon for restaurant chains like Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon and Chick-fil-A.

Trending

More from our partners