Father’s Day Restaurant Specials and Promotion Concepts

Whereas not as notoriously hectic for eating places as Mom’s Day, there’s quite a lot of income to be made on Father’s Day if you understand what restaurant specials and promos to supply.

We surveyed 629 folks from throughout the US to learn how they like to spend Father’s Day. Seems that roughly 23% of respondents plan to exit for dinner whereas 24% are planning a yard BBQ. 

That is nice information for omni-channel eating places that provide prospects a constant and seamless expertise throughout all of their channels, together with dine-in, take out, on-line ordering and supply platforms. These eating places can have the prospect to seize the enterprise of each dine-in visitors and people staying house this Father’s Day. 

Struggling to give you concepts for distinctive Father’s Day restaurant specials and promos? Learn on for a few of our favorites.

Concepts for Father’s Day restaurant promos

Dads eat free (or for 50% off)

A well-liked alternative that by no means will get outdated, you can provide dads a free or closely discounted meal with the acquisition of a minimum of one full-priced meal. This can be a easy but efficient promotion that may drive important foot site visitors into your restaurant, ideally bringing in total households to dine with you. 

That mentioned, this promo might be not a very good match for all eating places and verticals. When you’re an upscale or advantageous eating restaurant, for instance, a free meal or 50% off promo may find yourself costing you a fortune, in addition to conflict along with your model identification. Any restaurant seeking to run this sort of promo must be cautious to take a look at the provide from each angle earlier than transferring ahead.

Present card promo

Supply a particular deal on present playing cards, akin to “Purchase a $50 present card for Dad, get a $10 card for your self.” Or, think about a present card bonus promo that lets prospects get extra bang for his or her buck. In Lightspeed Restaurant, for instance, you can create a present bonus program that routinely provides an additional proportion—let’s say 10%—to a buyer’s present card after they load a certain amount on the cardboard—let’s say $100.

On this state of affairs, a buyer loading $100 onto a present card would obtain an extra 10%, bringing their whole card stability to $110. This encourages gross sales and in addition brings the client again to the restaurant. 

Be taught extra about working a present bonus program in Lightspeed Restaurant. 

In the identical vein because the present card promo, in case your restaurant has a loyalty program, providing double the loyalty factors for meals bought on Father’s Day encourages repeat visits and rewards loyal prospects for selecting you as their Father’s Day vacation spot. 

Collaborations with different companies or males’s charities

Accomplice with native companies that cater to males’s pursuits—barbers, golf programs, bike retailers, and many others.—to create package deal offers or giveaways. For instance, “Dine with us and get 15% off at [local store].” 

Alternatively, you can associate with a charity that focuses on males’s well being. For instance, for each $20 spent your restaurant will donate $1 to a non-profit group that helps males’s well being, such because the Movember Basis.

Give dads a particular present

Whether or not it’s a $10 present card with buy, free samples out of your meals or drink menu, or free branded merch like a bottle opener or t-shirt, small tokens of appreciation can earn your restaurant word-of-mouth referrals and a few severe credit score with dads.

Alternatively, you can run a contest and let dads enter for an opportunity to win a massive, particular present, like an evening on the cinema with the entire household, or a free spherical of golf at a neighborhood golf membership. 

Open mic night time (Dad jokes version)

Host a night the place dads can share their greatest (or worst) dad jokes. For instance:

Did you hear concerning the kidnapping at college? They woke him up.
What number of apples are you able to develop on a tree? All of them.
What’s one of the simplest ways to catch a fish? Ask somebody to throw it to you.

(Sorry, we couldn’t assist ourselves.) 

You possibly can provide reductions or prizes for the most effective (or worst) joke, judged by viewers applause.

Themed trivia night time 

Host a trivia night time with hand-picked classes catering to males’s and father’s particular pursuits like the Roman Empire, politics, sports activities, and many others, and embody questions on well-known dads in popular culture and literature. (In fact, not all dads are occupied with the identical issues, however you get the concept.) 

You possibly can additionally make it actually enjoyable and foolish with questions or contests like “Guess what the thermostat is at”, or “Lead me by an oil change”. Don’t be afraid to have enjoyable with it!

Make it a video games night time

Including some pleasant competitors to your restaurant’s Father’s Day festivities is an effective way to maintain the entire household entertained on Father’s Day. Some simple to implement concepts embody:

Garden video games. If in case you have the area, arrange garden video games like bocce or corn toss, or outsized desk video games like tic tac toe or jenga.
Desk video games. Quick on area? Strive trivia or bingo. When you don’t have the time to prepare a recreation your self, there are corporations you’ll be able to rent to come back in, arrange and host the video games for you. Don’t neglect to supply prizes for winners, like a free appetizer or drink.
Raffles. For a straightforward to handle possibility, provide a raffle ticket to every desk for each $10-15 spent. Prizes can embody a free meal for 4 at a later date, a Father’s Day themed present basket or a prize pack put along with objects out of your restaurant and different native companies.

Eating places with video games are trending proper now, so this can be the right excuse to check it out and see if it could possibly be a daily a part of your idea.

Social media contests

Leverage your social media platforms to run a photograph contest encouraging your neighborhood to share their favourite snaps with Dad. You possibly can ask followers to share a reminiscence, a humorous or sentimental photograph, or pics of Dad making or consuming his favourite meals (even higher if that meals is at your restaurant). 

Take the time to consider:

What’s going to resonate (and what’s the emotion you wish to evoke)? 
What’s shareable (and most certainly to generate user-generated content material)?
What is smart to your model (and helps your model story)?

Create a customized hashtag and provide an thrilling prize like a free dinner, present card or a basket of hand-picked merchandise out of your restaurant’s on-line retailer.

Concepts for Father’s Day restaurant specials and menus

Launch a particular “Dad’s Favorites” menu

Because the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it. A whopping 32% of our survey respondents mentioned that Dad needs good old school meat and potatoes for dinner, so why not craft a “Dad’s Favorites” menu with specials like steak, surf and turf and/or BBQ prime rib? 

See in case you can give you distinctive and playful names like “The Grill Grasp Combo” or “Papa’s Pilsner Pairing” for beer-infused dishes. (You know the way dads love puns.)

Amp up your beer choice

Based mostly on our survey outcomes, it seems to be like quite a lot of dads (37%) wish to have fun their special occasion with a chilly beer. What’s shocking is how few of them wish to drink the rest; consider it or not, 28% of dads would order nothing earlier than ordering a cocktail or glass of wine! 

So whenever you’re planning your Father’s Day restaurant specials, think about tapping a brand new craft beer or partnering with a neighborhood brewery to do one thing particular this Father’s Day, like a particular tasting occasion, branded merch, coupons for a free brewery tour, and many others. 

Searching for social media inspiration for Father’s Day? It doesn’t get significantly better than this publish from Collective Arts Brewing!

Overlook brunch, do lunch

It seems to be like most dads will probably be sleeping in on Father’s Day since 51% of survey respondents say they’re planning to have fun Dad with a night meal. One other 28% are planning to dine-in at a restaurant or get takeout for lunch, which suggests restaurateurs could wish to focus their time and assets on lunch and dinner fairly than a flowery brunch. 

Crafting lunch and dinner Father’s Day restaurant specials and providing an ideal beer choice would possibly simply be the right mixture for households who need a extra informal celebration. 

Think about a prix fixe menu

A thoughtfully designed prix fixe menu ensures that fathers really feel valued and appreciated on their special occasion, whereas preserving issues easy. Think about incorporating traditional dishes that evoke a way of consolation and nostalgia, whereas weaving in modern twists for the trendy epicurean Dad.

Moreover, a prix fixe menu lets you handle your stock successfully, streamline your kitchen operations, and optimize your workers’s efficiency, guaranteeing a clean and environment friendly service.

Don’t neglect about take out and supply

Whereas many households decide to remain house for Father’s Day, that doesn’t imply your restaurant can’t nonetheless be a part of their celebration. Supply (and closely promote) take-out specials to assist your prospects complement their home-cooked meals.

For instance:

BBQ kits. Supply a meal kit-style field with meat, sauces, sides and directions for cooking a restaurant-quality meal at house.
Household-style aspect dishes. Let visitors deal with their grilling when you care for the aspect dishes. Supply trays of salads, roasted veggies, aspect dishes and desserts to assist take the stress out of planning a giant meal.
Inventory the bar. If to-go alcohol is allowed in your space, put collectively a equipment along with your hottest beers and cocktails. If alcohol will not be obtainable to go the place you reside, provide mixers, mocktails and different non-alcoholic choices.

Nice instance of a Father’s Day restaurant particular for take out and supply

In 2020, Name Your Mom Deli put collectively the “Large Poppa bagel platter,”  a package deal of 4 bagels and toppings. Curated  particularly for Father’s Day, prospects had been invited to pre-order the field and both choose it up or have it delivered. 

Selling your Father’s Day restaurant specials

As soon as you understand what your Father’s Day restaurant specials and promos are going to be, it’s essential create a advertising plan to get the phrase out about it. In any other case, your promos and specials received’t obtain your goals—that are to achieve new prospects, reward buyer loyalty and drive gross sales.

Social media advertising is without doubt one of the strongest and reasonably priced instruments in your corporation’s toolbox. With the proper thought and strategy, your social platforms can get butts in seats for little to no financial spend, whereas additionally serving to you construct your model and an engaged neighborhood. 

For greatest outcomes, it’s possible you’ll wish to shore up your natural social marketing campaign with a minimum of some paid social advertisements—or spend money on a extra conventional advertising medium like printed flyers or radio advertisements. Be taught extra about tips on how to win with social media with our Superior Digital Advertising and marketing Information for Eating places. 

Do not forget that a very good advertising technique can take time. It’s a good suggestion to begin planning your Father’s Day restaurant specials and promos as quickly as you’ve wrapped up your Mom’s Day promos. This will provide you with time to assemble supplies—akin to photographs and graphics—and execute your plan throughout your whole chosen advertising channels. 

Earlier than launching your Father’s Day advertising marketing campaign, be sure you take the time to determine how you’ll observe its success. Ask your self:

What metrics will you utilize to find out in case your plan achieved its goals?
The place will you get these metrics? 
What knowledge and insights can be found to you natively in your restaurant level of sale? In your tech stack?

Lightspeed’s Superior Insights turns knowledge into actionable steps that allow eating places to make higher enterprise choices. Be taught extra about Superior Insights.

Regional Father’s Day tendencies

Amongst our survey respondents, we discovered some attention-grabbing regional tendencies that differed from the nationwide common. When you personal a restaurant in one of many areas beneath, it’s possible you’ll wish to preserve these statistics in thoughts when planning your Father’s Day specials.

New England. Nationally, 51% of households desire to have fun Dad throughout dinner, however New England is extra seemingly than some other area to have fun Dad within the morning: 36% of native respondents say they plan to eat brunch or breakfast collectively. Appears like Northeastern cooks could must deal with a brunch menu in any case.
West Coast. Nationally, most dads desire “good old school meat and potatoes” for dinner (32%) however fathers on the West Coast usually tend to have a extra refined palate—solely 20% need a conventional meal, with different cuisines like Mexican (12%), recent seafood (8%) and Italian (9%), outpacing different areas. Holding your viewers in thoughts, you might have a bit extra artistic license along with your menu.
Tri-State Space (NY, NJ, PA). Nationally, fathers throughout the board desire a chilly beer to have fun (37%) however dads in your space are the most certainly to take pleasure in a cocktail (15%) than some other space. Possibly bartenders will assume up a artistic signature drink for Dad on Sunday?

Whereas Mom’s Day is all about selling your restaurant and standing out among the many competitors for the brunch crowd, eating places must get extra artistic with Father’s Day. By providing quite a lot of choices for each takeout and dine-in, you’ll be able to place your corporation because the go-to spot for any Father’s Day celebration.

​​Methods to streamline operations in your busiest days

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With Lightspeed’s unified platform, you’ll be able to elevate and scale your corporation whereas eliminating inefficient processes and workflows—so your staff can spend extra time caring for visitors, and fewer time needlessly working round. 

Chat with certainly one of our specialists to see how expertise can assist you flip tables sooner, assist increase income and develop your corporation with highly effective insights.