50 Million Americans Expected to Dine Out for Father's Day, National Restaurant Association Research Finds

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Jun 14, 2011, 01:32 ET

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association projects that 50 million adults will dine at a restaurant to celebrate Father's Day this Sunday, June 19. According to new research by the Association, a majority of Father's Day diners will choose Dad's favorite restaurant to mark the occasion, while dinner will be the most popular meal time.

"Father's Day is yet another important celebration that families will choose to spend at our nation's restaurants," said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the National Restaurant Association. "Our survey results show that the restaurant industry continues to play a significant role in honoring fathers."

The National Restaurant Association's new survey shows that dinner will be the most popular meal time on Father's Day. Sixty-seven percent of Father's Day diners say they will go out to a restaurant for dinner on June 19; 24 percent will go out for lunch, 10 percent for brunch, and 11 percent for breakfast. In addition, 10 percent of Father's Day diners plan to go out for more than one meal at a restaurant.

The National Restaurant Association's survey also asked adults to describe their most important factor for choosing a restaurant for their special Father's Day meal. Sixty percent of patrons said they would dine at Dad's favorite restaurant, regardless of Father's Day specials. Only 6 percent of Father's Day diners said they would choose a restaurant with Father's Day food and drink specials. Fifteen percent of Father's Day diners said they would choose a restaurant that is kid-friendly, while 13 percent said they would choose a restaurant that Dad hasn't been to before.

The National Restaurant Association surveyed 1,000 adults June 9-12, 2011, about their Father's Day dining plans. The Association's projection of 50 million adults dining out this Father's Day is based on economic analysis and projections, as well as survey research conducted by the National Restaurant Association over the last two decades.

View the pdf chart, "Father's Day Diners' Most Important Factor in Choosing the Restaurant for Their Special Meal": http://www.restaurant.org/pressroom/pressrelease/?ID=2125.

SOURCE National Restaurant Association