Six Father's Day Promotions for Restaurants

I asked Jen Heigl, one of my favorite MustHaveMenus writers, to come up with ideas that restaurants can use to draw customer traffic on Father's Day. Thanks, Jen!


With Father’s Day coming up quickly (it's June 21 this year, in case you were wondering) it’s important for restaurants, caterers, and all food service businesses to feature special dining opportunities and promotions to pull in Father's Day restaurant traffic. How can you prepare your menu, your staff, and your dining room for this upcoming holiday?

1. Make your restaurant and your menu kid-friendly! With family-friendly, and kid-friendly menus, you’re more apt to gain more of the family demographic. Stick with bite-sized and easily recognizable foods, such as traditional kid-friendly favorites like macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers, and peanut butter and jelly. Juice and milk should also be available for your pint-sized customers.

2. Feature Dad-friendly events, like discounts for crazy ties or silly t-shirts–perhaps a ‘Daddy & Me’ dress alike contest. Suggest families bring in photos and other mementos for free dessert or drinks.

3. Offer heartier menu items that satisfy big eaters, and Dad-friendly menu items, like meats, burgers, and pastas. Does your food business include a liquor license? Feature a new beer or special ‘Father’s Day’ cocktail for those special Dads.

4. Don't forget to get your staff into the Father’s Day spirit. Suggest that servers, hosts, and kitchen staff invite their fathers and grandfathers in for lunch or dinner and offer discounts for staff family members.

5. It's common knowledge that lots of Dads love music and sports! Be sure to include local musicians and sports figures in your Father’s Day promotions. Feature exclusive interviews, meetings, and autograph opportunities to really pull in the Father’s Day crowd.

6. What’s a Father’s Day event without a giveaway? From baseball tickets to concert tickets to free meals, giveaways are always a crowd pleaser. Why not feature discounts on future dining opportunities to keep your customers coming back for more – even after the holiday!

With these Father's Day promotions, you're sure to pull in the Father's Day crowd - and keep them coming back year after year!