Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches, and it’s a busy holiday for restaurants. This year it falls on a Saturday, and with 74 per cent of couples planning to dine out for the holiday, operators should be planning to compete for attention and revenues.
There are a few demographics you may choose to target this year, so here are some suggestions to appeal to your guests this Valentine’s Day:
Romance: Set the scene with romantic décor, music, and flowers to get couples feeling festive and excited to try your menu. A prix fixe menu can help you show off your best dishes while minimizing prep and ingredients, and can be a way to increase cheque totals. You could also feature shareable dishes, highlight innovative pairings, offer themed takes on your menu favourites, or create brand-new dishes for the occasion. Giving your guests a meal to be excited about can motivate more couples to visit.
Friendship: While traditionally a holiday for couples, celebrating friendship is increasingly popular with the rise of Galentine’s and Palentine’s celebrations. This leaves many possibilities open for attracting groups of people, from Happy Hour with themed cocktails and mocktails to a fancy brunch or ladies’ lunch to game or trivia night, and more. If you want to get interactive with your guests, consider hosting an event like a cooking class, wine and paint night, or karaoke to up the fun factor for the night.
Family: Families, especially those with younger children, may well want to celebrate their love with a night out, so don’t forget to include a few family-friendly options for the day. Create a fun menu with items like heart-shaped pizzas, shareable dishes like pasta and salad, and offer activities like themed colouring or cookie decorating. You may even want to include some entertainment, like a travelling magician or live music, to keep kids engaged and add to the fun.
As you plan for Valentine’s Day at your rstaurant, do everything you can to provide a memorable experience for your guests:
- Ambiance is key. Work on decorating with Valentine’s Day in mind. For seating, mix it up intentionally with larger tables for families and romantic nooks for couples.
- Many people will also want to dine out for Valentine’s Day, so make sure that you have a menu that works off-premise. Stock up on takeout containers and ensure that your menu items can travel without compromising taste or aesthetics so your guests experience the same level of service that they would have onsite.
- Staff accordingly. Taking reservations for the festivities can help you plan for staff, but also look at last year’s traffic and sales numbers to gauge what’s required. Ensure that you have enough delivery, serving, and kitchen staff to provide the elevated experience your guests are expecting.
Creating an unforgettable experience drives 74 per cent of repeat visits, so work on making your guests fall in love with your restaurant this Valentine’s Day.
