Buffets are most sought-after menu for Easter Sunday

The National Restaurant Association estimates that 33 million Americans - 14 percent of adults - will celebrate Easter by dining out.

When it comes to must-have food items, more than half of consumers who dine out on Easter (51 percent) say they will be looking for a buffet, 39 percent say they have to have ham, 37 percent said pastries are on their list of must-haves, and 27 percent said eggs. Lamb was less popular among the list of must-have food items at 7 percent.

Of those who dine out on Easter Sunday, 46 percent of those do so at lunch, while 44 percent visit a restaurant for dinner. In addition, 29 percent of individuals visiting a restaurant for an Easter meal are planning to dine out for brunch, while 21 percent said they are going out for breakfast. Seventeen percent are planning to have more than one meal at a restaurant on Easter Sunday.

When it comes to factors involved in choosing a restaurant on Easter Sunday, diners are most likely to choose their favorite restaurant, regardless of Easter specials, for their special holiday meal (48 percent). Sixteen percent of Easter diners said they would choose a restaurant with holiday specials or menu items, while 13 percent said they would choose a restaurant that they haven’t been to before.Food and activities for children were the deciding factor for nearly one out of five Easter diners.  Fourteen percent said they would likely choose a restaurant with Easter-related activities for kids, such as egg painting or egg hunting.

The National Restaurant Association surveyed 1,000 American adults about Easter dining in 2011. The estimate of 33 million Americans dining out this Easter is based on economic analysis and projections, as well as research conducted over the last two decades.