5 Holiday Promotions for Restaurants To Boost Sales & Orders
The holiday season is when restaurants see some of their biggest revenue spikes, but only if they plan ahead. Holiday promotions for restaurants can turn a busy season into your most profitable one, driving repeat orders, filling seats on slower nights, and giving customers a reason to choose your restaurant over the competition.
The challenge? Most restaurant owners know they should run holiday promotions but aren't sure what actually works, or how to execute them without adding stress to an already hectic time. The right promotion paired with a direct online ordering system makes all the difference. That's exactly what we help restaurants do at The Foody Gram: take orders through your own branded website, keep 100% of the revenue, and stay connected with your customers year-round.
Below, you'll find five proven holiday promotions you can start planning now, each one designed to boost sales and order volume without overcomplicating your operations. Whether you run a single location or manage multiple spots, these ideas are built for real-world restaurant owners ready to make this holiday season count.
1. Build a holiday ordering hub on your website
Your website is the best place to anchor all your holiday promotions for restaurants. Instead of spreading offers across third-party apps, direct customers to one place you control, where every order goes straight to you with no commission fees cutting into your margins.
Pick one goal and one primary offer
Start by deciding what you want this page to do. Do you want to drive catering orders, push gift card sales, or fill seats on specific nights? Pick one primary goal and build your offer around it. A focused page converts better than a cluttered one.
Set up holiday ordering in The Foody Gram
The Foody Gram lets you launch a branded ordering page fast, typically within 48 to 72 hours. You can feature your holiday menu, set pickup and delivery windows, and collect payment directly. Your customers order on your site, and you keep 100% of every transaction.
Your own ordering page means you own the customer data, not a third-party app.
Create bundles and add-ons that raise ticket size
Bundle your most popular items into holiday meal packages at a slight discount, then layer in upsells like extra sides, a dessert, or a seasonal drink. Customers get convenience, and you increase the average order value without adding much complexity to the kitchen.
Use preorder windows to control volume
Set specific preorder cutoff times so your kitchen never gets blindsided. Preorders let you prep smarter, order the right inventory, and staff appropriately. A clear deadline also creates urgency, which pushes customers to commit earlier in the season.
Promote it across in-store, social, and email
Put the ordering link everywhere: table tents, receipts, and your social profiles. A QR code at the register or printed on packaging works well for repeat customers already in your space, and a quick email to your list can drive immediate traffic.
Track results and fix drop-off points
Check your order dashboard weekly to see where customers abandon the process. If you notice drop-off at checkout, simplify the steps or reduce required fields. Small fixes here can meaningfully increase completed orders across the full holiday stretch.
2. Run a limited-time holiday menu and drink specials
A seasonal menu is one of the most effective holiday promotions for restaurants because it gives customers a clear reason to visit now rather than later. Keep the offering tight, two to four items max, so your kitchen can execute them consistently under pressure.
Choose items that travel well and stay profitable
Pick dishes that hold up in takeout containers and use ingredients you already stock. Focus on high-margin items like soups, roasted proteins, and hearty sides that travel better than fried food.
Engineer the menu for speed and consistency
Design specials your team can produce in under five minutes without slowing regular service. Write a simple prep card for each item so every cook executes it the same way. Consistency drives repeat orders.
Price specials with margin and waste in mind
Factor in food cost, labor, and packaging before setting a price. A low-priced special might drive volume but still lose money once you account for waste.
Price every special like your margins depend on it, because they do.
Use scarcity and clear start and end dates
Tell customers exactly when the special ends. A firm end date drives action faster than an open-ended offer and creates urgency without discounting.
Photograph and describe specials for online menus
Add one strong photo and a two-sentence description to each special on your ordering page. Good visuals increase click-through and conversion significantly.
Measure what sells and cut what slows service
Check your sales data weekly and cut any special that slows your kitchen or consistently undersells. Redirect your energy to items that move volume and keep tickets fast.
3. Offer gift cards with a simple bonus deal
Gift cards are one of the most overlooked holiday promotions for restaurants. They bring in upfront revenue now and drive repeat visits in January when traffic typically slows down.
Decide on digital, physical, or both
Digital gift cards are easier to fulfill and require no printing costs. If your customers skew older or you sell at the register, add physical cards as an option alongside digital.
Pick a bonus structure that protects margins
A simple "spend $50, get a $10 bonus card" structure works well. Set the bonus value low enough that the deal stays profitable, and never discount below your average food cost.
The bonus card should bring customers back, not give away margin you can't recover.
Build urgency with deadline and redemption rules
Set a purchase deadline before the holiday and a separate redemption window starting in January. This spreads your revenue across slow months without creating a rush you can't serve.
Promote gift cards at every checkout touchpoint
Mention gift cards on your ordering confirmation page, at the register, and in your post-order email. Customers who just paid are already in buying mode and easiest to convert.
Prevent fraud and handle gift card questions fast
Use unique codes for every card and track balances in one place. Train staff to answer balance questions quickly so customers trust the process and come back to redeem.
Track breakage, redemptions, and repeat visits
Monitor how many cards go unredeemed (breakage) and which redemptions lead to a second visit. This data tells you whether the promotion builds loyalty or just discounts your way through the holidays.
4. Sell holiday catering, party packs, and meal kits
Catering and party packs are among the most high-value holiday promotions for restaurants you can run. A single catering order can equal five or six regular tickets, and meal kits for pickup let you serve more customers without adding seats.
Package your top sellers into party-friendly formats
Pull your three to five best-selling items and build a party pack around them. Offer set portions for groups of 6, 12, or 20 so customers can order quickly without doing math.
Create clear portion sizes and reheating instructions
Include a printed card with every order that covers portion counts and reheating steps. Customers who can serve your food confidently at home are far more likely to order again.
Set cutoff times and capacity limits that you can hit
Cap your catering slots at a number your kitchen can actually fulfill. A hard cutoff 48 hours before pickup gives you time to prep without last-minute chaos.
Overselling one holiday order can cost you ten future customers from word-of-mouth damage.
Price for labor, packaging, and delivery realities
Factor in containers, inserts, and the extra staff time required to pack bulk orders correctly. Catering priced too low will drain your kitchen and your margins.
Market to offices, families, and last-minute hosts
Target local offices for team holiday meals and promote directly through your email list. A simple "feeds 10" message converts fast for families who need a low-effort solution.
Tighten execution with pickup flow and labeling
Label every bag with the customer name, order number, and pickup time. A clean pickup process reduces confusion and builds the kind of trust that turns a first-time catering order into an annual tradition.
5. Host a simple event or contest that drives orders
Events and contests round out your holiday promotions for restaurants by giving customers a reason to show up beyond just hunger. A well-run event does not need to be elaborate; it just needs a clear hook, a specific offer, and a plan your staff can execute without extra chaos during the busiest weeks of the year.
Pick an event format that fits your space and staff
Choose a format your team can run without additional hiring. Trivia nights, decorating contests, or a holiday dish competition all work well in tight spaces and require minimal setup or equipment.
Tie the experience to a menu item or ordering deal
Every event should connect directly to a specific order or featured menu item. Bundle entry with a meal or offer a discount tied to attendance so you capture revenue before the guest arrives.
Events that do not drive an order are an expense, not a promotion.
Use reservations, timed seatings, or ticketing rules
Cap attendance so your kitchen stays in control. Timed seatings in 90-minute blocks prevent overcrowding and keep service quality consistent across the full night.
Promote with short-form video and a posting schedule
Record a 30-second teaser video showing the food or setup and post it on a fixed schedule across your channels in the two weeks before the event.
Reduce no-shows with reminders and deposits
Collect a small deposit at booking and send a confirmation reminder 24 hours before. Both steps cut no-shows significantly without discouraging genuine customers from signing up.
Capture emails and convert guests into repeat buyers
Ask for an email at checkout or event sign-up, then follow up within 48 hours with an exclusive return offer. Guests who attend once are your strongest candidates for repeat orders through January.
Next steps for your holiday plan
The five holiday promotions for restaurants outlined above work best when you treat them as a connected system, not a checklist. Start with your website ordering hub since every other promotion you run should funnel customers back to it. From there, layer in specials, gift cards, catering, and events based on what fits your capacity and staff this season.
Pick two or three of these ideas and execute them well rather than attempting all five at once. A focused plan with clear cutoff dates and consistent promotion will always outperform a scattered approach. Track your order volume weekly, adjust what is not converting, and double down on what moves.
Your restaurant deserves a direct ordering system that supports every promotion you run without taking a cut of each sale. Check out our restaurant website and online ordering plans to find the right fit for your business and budget.