April 30, 2018 – West Des Moines, IA – Don’t wait to make your restaurant reservations. Mother’s Day surpasses even Valentine’s Day as the most popular holiday on which to dine out according to research from the Iowa Restaurant Association. In fact, nearly half of moms would pick a favorite restaurant as the place to celebrate Mother’s Day. Not sure what to include with that card? “There’s really no need to worry about how to celebrate the moms in your life,” said Jessica Dunker, Iowa Restaurant Association president and CEO. “Moms love restaurants. Not only do restaurants provide a much-deserved reprieve from cooking at home, they also provide a celebratory atmosphere.”  Restaurant gift cards and certificates are also a top gift pick for moms, with one in five saying this is their preferred gift. Dunker noted that it is important to get on top of making Mother’s Day restaurant reservations. “It’s not too soon to make reservations regardless of the meal you’re planning to celebrate,” said Dunker.  Fifty-five percent of Mother’s Day diners will go out to a restaurant for dinner, 34 percent lunch, 30 percent brunch, and 12 percent for breakfast.  In addition, one in five Mother’s Day diners (23 percent) will go out for more than one meal that day. Atmosphere is also an important factor because children are a major part of the mix when dining out on Mother’s Day. Two-thirds of those dining out on Mother’s Days this year will have children under the age of 18 in their party. Find a Restaurant Looking for a new restaurant to try this Mother’s Day? Dunker encourages people to check out Dine Iowa, a free statewide restaurant directory.  Available online as well as a free smart phone app and on Facebook, Dine Iowa allows consumers to check out menus and hours, as well as run unique searches on everything from Gluten Free offerings to patio seating.  It is available at www.dineiowa.org.

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Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s hospitality industry with educational and promotional programs across the state.  www.restaurantiowa.com. Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist 515-276-1454 kkostek@restaurantiowa.com