"Ordering takeout or delivery instead of cooking at home allows people to spend more time with family and friends, and the nation’s 870,000 restaurants provide myriad menu items to fit the diverse needs of a diverse population," said Steven C. Anderson, Association president and chief executive officer. According to the Association, nearly six out of 10 restaurants with an average per-person check of $8 to $24.99 report that takeout represents a larger proportion of their total sales than it did two years ago. Off-premises service is increasing as well. Fifty-one percent of adult consumers said they want fullservice restaurants to provide a separate area in the restaurant to order and pick up takeout food, 42 percent want fullservice restaurants to offer home delivery, and 43 percent would use drive-thru if offered by their favorite fullservice tableservice restaurant. The research was collected Association’s 2002 Tableservice Operator Survey and 2002 Consumer Survey, and published in its 2003 Restaurant Industry Forecast. Related Links: