According to a Recent Study/Survey … Special Edition

This special edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine’s “According to …” research roundup features news about Mother’s Day trends from Cake,  OpenTable’s top restaurants for moms, the Value Wars and stats compiled by Big Star Wrigleyville in its first month of operations. 

Mother’s Day Trends

Last year, a survey from the National Restaurant Association found that 92 million Americans will eat out on Mother’s Day. In light of this annual upswing in restaurant traffic, wanted to share a few supporting stats from CAKE around Mother’s Day revenue trends.

• From 2015-2017 average revenue was higher on Mother’s Day than any other Sunday of the year
  • 2015: 26 percent higher
  • 2016: 36 percent higher
  • 2017: 17 percent higher
• Over the past 2 years (2015 – 2017) revenue has steadily increased on mother’s day
  • 2015 – 2016: 47 percent increase
  • 2016 – 2017: 14 percent increase
• Average ticket size has also increased
  • 2015-2016: 44 percent increase
  • 2016-2017: 17 percent increase
• Larger tickets for family meals also led to a huge increase in average tip size: Both 2015 and 2016 saw a 26 percent increase in tip size on Mother’s Day, and in 2017 there was a 35 percent jump in tip size on Mother’s Day.

The Value Wars

A value menu here, a value menu there, a value menu everywhere for restaurant customers courtesy of three major quick service restaurant (QSR) chains — Jack in the Box, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell — that are looking to drive traffic in a flat market. According to a recent study by The NPD Group, a leading global information company, these value menus are working. Value menu traffic for total QSR increased by 10 percent and consumer spend by 13 percent in the first quarter of 2018, reports NPD.

The value wars among the three major chains began in late 2017 when McDonald’s announced that they would launch a new value menu in January 2018. For McDonald’s, their primary business objective was to bring back customers that they lost over the past few years when they moved away from value via their Value Menu. Other QSR chains, like Taco Bell and Jack in the Box, introduced a value offering of their own to compete directly with that of McDonald’s with the objective of retaining their customer base.

In addition to driving traffic and winning back or retaining customers, the idea of value menus is that once the customer ordered from the value menu, they would also purchase from the regular-priced menu. While results for each of the three chains varied, on average for all three chains, 72 percent of consumers purchasing from the value menu also purchased from the regular menu, finds the NPD report, Value Wars 2.0: The Value Menu Strikes Back, which is based on research that analyzes actual receipts from consumers and can follow the same consumer’s purchasing behavior over time.

“A value proposition is definitely warranted to increase customer visits and drive frequency in today’s marketplace as the recent crop of value menus bear out,” said Bonnie Riggs, NPD restaurant industry analyst. “But It’s important to fully understand the impact and effectiveness of these promotions, whether it’s understanding value-seeking customer behavior or loyalty erosion.”

Big Star’s Big Numbers

As the start of Cubs season brings the masses back to Chicago’s north side, hoards of hungry fans have descended upon Big Star Wrigleyville, the much buzzed about, funky new addition to One Off Hospitality Group. Since opening on April 2, the two-story, 9,000-square-foot, honky-tonk taquieria has been filling up with neighborhood revelers and game-goers, while racking up some impressive stats in the process. 

OpenTable’s Top Cities Mom’s Love

According to data from OpenTable, Americans will be dining out this Mother’s Day to celebrate the moms in their lives, making it the single busiest day for group dining of the year. Coast to coast, families and friends will gather to honor mom, particularly in the top 25 cities that celebrate Mother’s Day.

“No one brings everyone together at the table like mom does,” said Caroline Potter, Chief Dining Officer at Open Table. “Mother’s Day has become the single most popular day for group dining, beating out all other holidays when we typically see diners gathering in large parties. And while love for mom is pervasive in cities across America, the diners in the top 25 definitely make it a point to celebrate the moms in their lives.”

According to OpenTable data, among the cities that love moms the most, the South proves it knows a thing or two about showering mom with love. Baton Rouge takes the top prize, while Charlotte, North Carolina (#3) and Houston (#4) make the top five. Not to be outdone by Southern counterparts, New York City demonstrates it can slow down long enough to make Mother’s Day special, securing the number two spot, while the Midwest also claims bragging rights with Indianapolis in fifth place.

The following cities, listed in order, comprise the Top 25 Cities that Celebrate Mother’s Day:

1. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
2. New York, New York
3. Charlotte, North Carolina
4. Houston, Texas
5. Indianapolis, Indiana
6. Atlanta, Georgia
7. Jacksonville, Florida
8. Dallas, Texas
9. Omaha
10. Raleigh, North Carolina
11. Plano
12. Chicago, Illinois
13. Fort Worth
14. Richmond
15. Albuquerque
16. Sacramento
17. San Diego, California
18. Virginia Beach
19. Oklahoma City
20. Columbus, Ohio
21. Orlando, Florida
22. Seattle, Washington
23. Kansas City
24. Austin, Texas
25. Tampa, Florida

Diners can also find more tips and trends regarding Mother’s Day on the OpenTable Blog.

The list of the ‘Top 25 Cities That Celebrate Mother’s Day’ was based on an algorithm using four variables: the volume of diners seated on Mother’s Day; the volume of reservations on Mother’s Day; the percent increase in the volume of diners seated on Mother’s Day compared to an average Sunday; and the percent increase in the volume of reservations on Mother’s day compared to an average Sunday. All qualifying cities have a minimum of 50 restaurants on OpenTable.

Top Brunch Spots in Canada

Canada’s busiest brunch day is just around the corner: Mother’s Day. For those looking for advice on where to treat mom, OpenTable announced the 100 Best Brunch Restaurants in Canada for 2018.

Restaurants from coast to coast round out the list, with Ontario having the most restaurants featured (36), followed by British Columbia with 28 and Alberta with 18. Quebec (11), Manitoba (4), Newfoundland (2) and Nova Scotia (1) also have establishments in the top 100.

“Mother’s Day is our biggest group dining day of the year, and brunch, with its wide array of menu options and kid-friendly hours, is the meal that checks a lot of boxes for families gathering to celebrate the moms in their lives,” said Caroline Potter, Chief Dining Officer at OpenTable. “We’re thrilled to highlight the restaurants that are offering memorable daytime dining experiences for this special day – or any weekend day.”

From sustainable dining such as Vancouver’s Forage with its commitment to farm-to-table fare, to the rustic elegance at The Lake House in Calgary, to Canadian comfort food at Toronto’s Bannock, this year’s list features an extensive variety of brunch destinations moms will enjoy.

Canada’s 100 Best Brunch Restaurants is generated solely from more than 550,000 restaurant reviews collected from verified OpenTable diners between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018. All restaurants with a minimum “overall” score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the percentage of reviews for which “hot spot” was selected as a special feature.

Based on this methodology, the 100 Best Brunch Restaurants in Canada for 2018 according to OpenTable diners are as follows (in alphabetical order):

AGO Bistro – Toronto, ON
Agrius – Victoria, BC
Altitude – Casino de Mont-Tremblant – Mont-Tremblant, QC
American Grille – Marriott Vancouver Airport – Richmond, BC
Ancaster Mill – Ancaster, ON
AquaTerra – Kingston, ON
Arms Reach Bistro – North Vancouver, BC
Arôme – Casino du Lac Leamy – Gatineau, QC
Banco Bistro – Casino du Lac Leamy – Gatineau, QC
Bannock – Toronto, ON
Bar George – Montréal, QC
Beaumont Kitchen – Etobicoke, ON
The Beach House – Vancouver, BC
The Beach House Restaurant – Victoria, BC
The Belgard Kitchen – Vancouver, BC
Berkeley North – Hamilton, ON
Bistro Nolah – Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, QC
The Block Kitchen and Lounge – Calgary, AB
Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant – Calgary, AB
The Bruce Hotel and Restaurant – Stratford, ON
Brooklyn Tavern – Toronto, ON
Cafe Belong – Toronto, ON
Café Cancan – Toronto, ON
Cambridge Mill – Cambridge, ON
Canteen – Edmonton, AB
Catch 122 Cafe & Bistro – Vancouver, BC
Cluny – Toronto, ON
Colette Grand Cafe at Holt Renfrew Vancouver – Vancouver, BC
Deane House – Calgary, AB
The Distillery Bar + Kitchen – Vancouver, BC
Dockside Restaurant & Brewing Company – Vancouver, BC
Drake Commissary – Toronto, ON
Drake Devonshire Inn – Wellington, ON
The Drawing Room – The Prince of Wales Hotel – Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Earth to Table: Bread Bar – Guelph, ON
Edible Canada at the Market – Vancouver, BC
Elbow Room – Calgary, AB
Epic Restaurant – Fairmont Royal York – Toronto, ON
Fairmont Banff Springs – Riverview Special Events – Banff, AB
FARMHOUSE Tavern – Toronto, ON
The Fifth Ticket – St. John’s, NF
Firestone Restaurant and Bar – Lethbridge, AB
Flour Mill Restaurant – Niagara Falls, ON
Forage – Vancouver, BC
The Gates on Roblin – Headingley, MB
Glo Restaurant + Lounge – Victoria, BC
Golf’s Steak House & Seafood – Kitchener, ON
H4C Place St-Henri – Montréal, QC
Hart’s Table & Bar – Edmonton, AB
Harvest Room – Fairmont Hotel Macdonald – Edmonton, AB
Hooded Merganser at Penticton Lakeside Resort – Penticton, BC
Hot House Restaurant & Bar – Toronto, ON
Hunter’s Landing – Toronto, ON
Juniper Bistro – The Juniper Hotel – Banff, AB
La Ronde – Château Lacombe – Edmonton, AB
La Société – Toronto, ON
The Lake House – Calgary, AB
Lakeside Dining Room – Hotel Eldorado – Kelowna, BC
Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa – Cambridge, ON
Liquidity Bistro – Okanagan Falls, BC
Lisa Marie – Toronto, ON
Lov de la Montagne – Montréal, QC
Lure Restaurant & Bar – Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe – Victoria, BC
The Manor Casual Bistro – Edmonton, AB
Marina Restaurant – Victoria, BC
The Merchant Tavern – St. John’s, NF
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen – Toronto, ON
Milestones Grill + Bar – Multiple Locations – Victoria, BC
Neverland Tea Salon – Vancouver, BC
Oceans 999  Pan Pacific Vancouver – Vancouver, BC
Old Mill Toronto – Toronto, ON
OLiV Tapas Bar & Restaurant at Strewn Winery – Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON
Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse Ellerslie – Edmonton, AB
Pat Quinn’s Restaurant & Bar – Delta, BC
Pavillon 67-Resto Casino – Montréal, QC
Pineridge Hollow – RM of Springfield, MB
Plant Matter Kitchen – London, ON
Prairie’s Edge – Winnipeg, MB
Promenade Cafe and Wine – Winnipeg, MB
Renoir – Montréal, QC
Restaurant at Peninsula Ridge – Beamsville, ON
River Café – Calgary, AB
Rosélys – Montréal, QC
Salmigondis – Montréal, QC
Seasons in the Park – Vancouver, BC
Seasons of Bowness Park – Calgary, AB
Smack Dab – Kelowna, BC
Smuggler’s Inn – Calgary, AB
Sorrentino’s – Stony Plain, AB
Spencer’s at the Waterfront – Burlington, ON
Summit Restaurant at Villa Eyrie Resort – Malahat, BC
The Stubborn Goat Gastropub – Halifax, NS
Table 21 Kitchen & Wine Bar – Etobicoke, ON
The Teahouse Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
Themed Afternoon Tea – Fairmont Hotel Vancouver – Vancouver, BC
Trattoria Gusto – Port Hope, ON
Tucker’s Marketplace – Burlington, ON
Vista 18 Westcoast Grill and Wine Bar – Victoria, BC
Whitewater Brewing Company- Lakeside Brew Pub – Cobden, ON
Wilfrid’s Restaurant – Fairmont Chateau Laurier – Ottawa, ON

The complete list may also be viewed here.