10 Unique Restaurant Promotion Ideas to Boost Sales

Great food, a nice atmosphere, and good hospitality are givens when it comes to attracting new diners and keeping your regulars coming back. So when you’ve locked down those basics and you’re looking to level up your marketing game, what should you focus on? Restaurant promotions.

Offering interesting and creative events, discounts, and specials are key to customer satisfaction and loyalty. Below are ten ideas that you can implement to grab attention. Make sure you have Email Marketing and SMS Marketing set up so that you can spread the word about whichever promotions you decide to try.

1. Wine Dinner

Bring in oenophiles with themed dinners around a specific type of wine. These types of events typically include a set menu with wine pairings at each course. Consider partnering with a wine company or brand, like Tellers in Oklahoma City did below. If you can host the actual winemaker on-site for the event, that adds an additional level of interest for diners.

2. Watch Party

Nothing brings people together like celebrating pop culture moments. Host watch parties for big sports games, TV show season premieres, and cultural events (like award shows and the Olympics). Max’s Grille in Boca Raton threw a Kentucky Derby Watch Party including food & drink specials and a contest for best dressed with Gift Cards for the winners.

3. Photo Contest

Encourage some friendly competition among your customers, and reward them for their participation with a photo contest. Bostonia Public House in Boston perfectly executes this strategy by combining an on-premise experience with a digital competent. The restaurant offers a build-your-own bloody mary bar as part of its brunch menu and encourages diners to post their creations on social media (and tag the restaurant) for a chance to win a $50 gift card.

4. Date Night Menu

Friday and Saturday nights are the most popular evenings for date night, so you might want to create a promotion that gets couples through your door during the weekday. Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington, Massachusetts offers a four-course dinner for two that includes an appetizer, pizza, two entrees, and a dessert board. The special is available just Monday through Thursday for $100.

5. Eating Challenge

Appeal to the hungriest of eaters with an eating challenge like West End Tavern in Boulder. The bar & restaurant tempts diners with its Winginator Challenge: eat 50 wings in 30 minutes (free if all the wings are gone, $115 if not). Not only has this challenge attracted lots of customer interest, but it’s also garnered tons of press coverage for the restaurant as well.

6. Kid-Friendly Event

Find ways to entice families to expand your customer base. Pizza making and cookie decorating classes are always popular. During the holidays, host gingerbread house decorating or breakfast with Santa. Eastern Standard in Boston used the final weekend of the summer to offer DIY sundaes free to kids 14 & under.

7. Yappy Hour

Many restaurants are attracting pet owners with Yappy Hours, a dog-friendly spin on happy hours. Dooney's Pub in Delran, New Jersey hosts one every Monday for their outdoor seating area. Customers can bring their dogs and enjoy frozen drinks or buy a bucket of spiked seltzers to sip.

8. Bottomless Menu

Unlimited food is always a crowd-pleaser. Diners like getting a deal, and a weekly menu promotion can build up a bunch of regulars. Capo in South Boston offers all-you-can-eat pasta every Wednesday night for $32.

9. Weekday Lunch Combos

Notice a lull in visits during the workweek? Draw in a lunch crowd with a discounted mid-day special like Poco Fiasco in Dallas. The restaurant’s promotion includes a slice of pizza, Caesar salad, and a fountain drink for just $9, and it’s available only Monday through Friday from 11:30am to 3pm.

10. Trending Specials

Jump on social media trends or cultural moments with themed menus and dishes. In the summer of 2023, there were plenty of Barbie-focused restaurant specials to match the movie hype. Additionally, many restaurants offered Olympics-inspired plates this past summer. 

At Buttermilk & Bourbon in Boston, the team is running a “Girl Dinner” special, a nod to a TikTok trend. The promotion is also an opportunity to feature the restaurant’s beverage director front-and-center in marketing materials. Plus, the special was highlighted on social media as well.

Read more: Social Media Marketing for Restaurants: 10 Keys to Success