What types of restaurants are popping into consumers’ minds when they want to dine out for a special occasion, whether it’s for a birthday, anniversary or holiday?
Today, diners seem to be seeking out polished and upscale casual-dining chains that offer crowd-pleasing menus—from family-style Italian to contemporary American fare, according to Technomic's Consumer Brand Metrics ongoing study of consumer attitudes. Strong adult beverage programs are also central to special occasions, judging by the leading chains.
Here are the top five restaurant chains that consumers visit the most for special occasions, ranked from fifth to first.