• by Teresa Buyikian , December 11, 2023

Restaurants get ready: A whopping 63% of adults plan on dining out this holiday season, according to a recently published survey by the National Restaurant Association.

Even if staying home, many customers still prefer to put down the baster and leave the cooking to others. Forty-eight percent plan on ordering takeout during the holidays.

"Our research confirms that restaurants serve a practical need during the holiday season -- giving guests the gift of time so they can enjoy … company with family and friends," said Michelle Korsmo, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "The data also reveals that takeout and delivery remain critical components of the guest experience for every age group…from Gen-Z to baby boomers.”

Per the report, consumers are utilizing takeout or delivery food in differing ways and “consumers see value in letting restaurants help heighten their meals at home.” While 66% of those ordering in will order the entire meal from the restaurant, 89% will do so for the main course, 86% will do so for sides only and 74% for appetizers alone. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed intended on purchasing desserts from a restaurant.

The report also highlighted the role generational differences play in choosing where to eat. Ninety-one percent of millennials planning to order out this holiday season said they were most likely to purchase the main course from a restaurant; 82% of millennials place high importance on takeout or delivery options when choosing a restaurant, as compared to 53% of baby boomers. 

A main reason that millennials cite for ordering restaurant delivery or dining in during the holidays is to avoid grocery shopping during busy times (75%), with Gen Z following at 65%. Baby boomers were least likely to factor in grocery shopping during the busy holidays (57%).

At opposite ends of the spectrum, the report found that overall, baby boomers are the least likely to let restaurants do their cooking at 72% over the holidays, whereas Gen Z at 86% are the most likely to dine out or have their meals delivered.

The National Restaurant Association conducted the online survey of 1,010 adults nationwide Nov. 10-12.