Valentine’s Day Means Big Business

As Valentine’s Day is huge business for the restaurant industry, we’ve got some great ideas to help fill your seats on this busy holiday.

In fact, according to the National Restaurant Association, Valentine’s Day is traditionally the second most popular holiday for dining out, only bested by Mother’s Day.

So, as the millions of Americans make their plans this Valentine’s Day, your restaurant concept development needs to be special enough for guests to choose your establishment to celebrate.

Love for the Ages. Create a marketing campaign promoting your Valentine’s restaurant specials and prix fixe menus on your website and in-store that speak not only to couples sharing Valentine’s Day, but for those who want to celebrate all the loves of their lives. For example:

  • Offer a special restaurant Valentine’s Day menu for couples to enjoy complete with all-food course shared plates and cocktails to share, but also…
  • Create a special father/daughter or mother/son menu of your best selling menu items, ending with a special strawberry ice cream sundae or red velvet cupcakesjpeg
  • Plan a fun ‘Valentine’s Day Friends We Love’ for those celebrating friendship, without the pressure of a date. Target area high school/collegestudents and local area workplaces, offering a selection of crafted cocktails, shared plates appetizers, one of two individual entrée choices, and a festive red velvet cake* for dessert
  • Entice multi-generational love with a ‘Valentine’s Day Family of Love’ family-style menu from appetizers to dessert. What better way to honor gram & pop or mom & dad? End meal with an optional, specially crafted champagne punch for couples celebrating afterwards or special offer to return for late-night cocktails + dessert

Valentine’s Day To Go. Developing a special To Go menu of Valentine’s Day sweet treats is a great way to go the extra mile for guests and capturing those that either didn’t make a reservation on time, prefer to stay home to celebrate or want a special small gesture gift option. Have your pastry team craft delicious dessert confections, mini-cakes, cupcakes, etc. that play off your dessert menu for online pre-order or pick-up.

Not Just for Dinner. Restaurant owners & restaurant operators are in business this Valentine’s Day as it falls on a Sunday. Market your restaurant’s specialized menus + themes, during various times of the day throughout the weekend of Feb 12-14. Offer a full market brunch menu, traditional tea service with all the lovely trimmings, lunch and dinner services, and even a late-night cocktails + dessert menu for two to fill your restaurant seats this Valentine’s Day weekend.

*Founding Farmers red velvet cake, the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert!