‘Tis the Season: How to Craft the Perfect Restaurant Holiday Menu

The holiday season is fast approaching! As a restaurant owner, you know what that means – it’s time to create a festive menu that will have your customers feeling eager to celebrate with you.

Planning the perfect holiday menu is your chance to showcase your creativity, tantalize taste buds, and secure some year-end profits. So, let’s dive in and explore how your restaurant can make the most of this holiday season.

How to Build a Restaurant Holiday Menu in 10 Steps

As a restaurant owner, creating a seasonal menu is crucial to attracting customers and maximizing profits during this lucrative period. According to a 2024 Tock survey, 68% of diners planned to celebrate the holidays at a restaurant or bar. With numbers like that, you can’t afford to be unprepared.

Let’s take a look at best practices for planning a memorable and successful holiday menu for your restaurant.

1. Start Early

First things first, don’t wait until the last minute to start planning. Trust us, you’ll want plenty of time to brainstorm, experiment, and perfect your holiday offerings.

Planning in advance gives you ample time to research trends, source ingredients, and train your staff on the new menu items. Start promoting your holiday offerings ahead of time through social media, email campaigns, and in-store displays. And the earlier that you’re able to offer reservations, the better.

2. Consider Your Restaurant’s Style

When crafting your holiday menu, stay true to your restaurant’s unique style and cuisine. If your table-service restaurant is known for its Italian dishes, put a festive spin on your classic recipes with seasonal ingredients and flavors. Staying consistent with your brand identity will appeal to regulars and attract new customers seeking a specific type of holiday dining experience.

To keep things exciting, offer a mix of classic holiday dishes and innovative creations. Your customers will love seeing traditional favorites like roasted turkey and pumpkin pie on the menu, but don’t be afraid to put your own unique twist on things. Surprise and delight them with inventive recipes that showcase your restaurant’s personality and flair.

3. Incorporate Seasonal Ingredients

Speaking of seasonal ingredients, now’s the time to let them shine!

According to Restaurant Dive, holiday diners are looking for traditional holiday flavors. Incorporate festive seasonings like cinnamon, nutmeg, and peppermint and showcase beautiful seasonal produce like squash, cranberries, and chestnuts. Consider highlighting comforting dishes and warm drinks, like roast chicken and hot cider, especially if you’ll be expecting some colder weather.

Sourcing seasonal ingredients isn’t just festive — it’s also cost-effective. Working with local farmers reduces the burden of import costs and supply chain disruptions, boosting your profit margin while supporting your community.

4. Cater to Different Dietary Needs

And let’s not forget about our diners with dietary restrictions! Try and have seasonal menus available that cater to every customer.

Make sure to offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options that are just as delicious and festive as the rest of your menu. Clearly label these dishes so everyone can easily find something they’ll love.

Also, take religious restrictions into consideration. For example, if you’re offering a Hanukkah menu, ensure that it’s kosher.

5. Add Your Menu to Your POS System

Don’t make things more complicated than they need to be for your staff. From servers entering orders on handheld POS devices to chefs receiving them on kitchen display systems, your tech needs to be in sync with your menu.

Keep everything streamlined by creating and organizing your seasonal menu items in your restaurant POS system.

• Add the dishes: Start adding seasonal menu items to your POS system ahead of time so you can ensure everything is set up properly.
• Keep things organized: Create and utilize a menu tagging system so your staff can quickly identify seasonal dishes in the POS when they’re ordered.
• Manage availability: If you’re only offering your seasonal menu on specific days, set that schedule up in your POS system so the right items appear when they’re supposed to. Adjust your menu’s availability based on time, day, and location (if you have more than one).
• Set up courses: If your holiday menu includes multiple-course meals, ensure menu coursing is set up correctly in your POS system.

6. Create a Festive Atmosphere

Now, let’s talk about ambiance. Your holiday menu is just one part of the equation – you’ll also want to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that screams “holiday cheer!”

Further research from Tock shows that 67% of surveyed diners are looking for a special holiday experience when they book a reservation. To deliver on that expectation, think outside of your menu.

Deck the halls (and your restaurant) with festive decorations, string lights, and cozy accents that will make every guest feel right at home. Decorate a Christmas tree or light a menorah or kinara. Accessorize staff uniforms with themed accessories, like bows and hats. And don’t forget to update your music playlist — seasonal tunes will complete the holiday vibe.

7. Prepare Your Staff

Of course, none of this matters if your staff isn’t on board. Take the time to train them on your new menu items so they can confidently recommend dishes and answer any questions your customers may have. Encourage them to taste everything so they can speak from experience and get just as excited about your holiday offerings as you are.

And above all else, ensure that you’ve prepared a holiday staffing plan so you have the team you need to execute. Go over blackout dates, time off, and seasonal schedules so everyone is on the same page.

8. Promote Your Holiday Menu

Once your menu is set and your staff is trained, it’s time to spread the word! Promote your holiday menu on various channels, like:

• Social media: Post about your seasonal offerings when they’re available. Use enticing photos to get mouths watering.
• Your website: Publish your holiday menu so customers can browse what you’re offering. PS: If you don’t have one, now’s the time to build a restaurant website.
• Targeted ads: Set aside a budget for targeted ads on search engines. You want to ensure that when someone is searching for “holiday dinner” in your area, your restaurant comes up.
• Email blasts: Send emails out to customers who’ve signed up for your loyalty program, letting them know it’s time to dine in for the holidays.

Across all of these platforms, don’t forget to highlight any special promotions or events you’ll be running throughout the season. If your restaurant doesn’t already offer reservations and waitlists, then now is the time to set that up.

9. Offer Gift Cards and Catering

And why stop at just dining in? Offer gift cards to help your customers share the joy of your holiday menu with their loved ones and colleagues. It’s a great way to expand your reach and bring in some extra revenue during this busy time of year. You can even offer a bonus incentive for gift card purchases over a certain amount.

Holiday catering is also popular during this time of year. If it makes sense for your restaurant, consider offering online ordering and catering services for your holiday menu. Let your restaurant be the centerpiece of holiday parties across your local area, from family gatherings to corporate events.

10. Analyze and Adjust

Last but not least, don’t be afraid to track your menu items' performance and adjust as needed. Use reporting and analytics tools to track which dishes are flying out of the kitchen and which might need a little tweaking.

Your POS system should be able to run a menu item sales analysis to make this easier. Consider running promotions on top sellers or modifying the recipes for underperforming dishes.

And don’t forget the most invaluable metric of all: customer feedback. Request reviews and send out surveys to keep a pulse on how your guests are enjoying the menu. Staying on top of that feedback allows you to make data-driven decisions while managing your online reputation.

Seasonal Success Starts With Your Menu

So there you have it, folks – your guide to creating a holiday menu that will have your customers coming back for more.

Don’t forget to promote your offerings through various channels and train your staff to ensure smooth service during the busy holiday rush.

With a bit of creativity, planning, and holiday magic, you can make this season the most successful and memorable one yet for your restaurant.

Happy holidays and happy menu planning!