For Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, nearly half of consumers will let foodservice establishments do the cooking. A new survey from the National Restaurant Association finds that 4 in 10 consumers plan to go out or order in for the special occasion.

“Historically, Mother’s Day has been one of the most popular holidays to celebrate at restaurants,” says Hudson Riehle, National Restaurant Association senior vice president of Research. “After more than two years of limited on-premises dining, consumers are ready to return to restaurants, especially to celebrate special occasions and socialize with family and friends.”

According to the survey, 27 percent of consumers plan to go out to a restaurant, while 18 percent of plan to order takeout or delivery. The survey also finds that 48 percent of individuals planning to go out will go for lunch, 45 percent are planning to go for dinner, 30 percent will go for brunch and 21 percent for breakfast.

“The draw for restaurant prepared meals is that they allow more time for socializing, which is something that consumers have been missing for the last two Mother’s Days,” says Riehle. “And because consumers haven’t been able to use restaurants as often as they would have liked, especially for on-premises meals, the holiday is an exciting opportunity to return to an old favorite or try a new local venue.”

When deciding on a restaurant to eat out at, consumers say they are looking for specials and discounts. Forty-six percent are looking for special Mother’s Day menus, 44 percent are hoping for a free add-in for mom (such as a special cocktail, dessert, flowers or chocolates) and 41 percent are looking for a discount.