The month of love as fallen upon us, and that means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner; one of the biggest days for dining out. Is your Establishment prepared? It takes a lot more than coloring your space red, white and pink! While you may want to keep some staff members on-call throughout the day, you should also plan to strategize your marketing. Here are a few ways you can get the word out and ideas that will have your restaurant full of reserved tables!

Serve Aphrodisiacs

Is the best way to someone’s heart through their stomach? On February 14^th, you bet! The holiday of love calls for some aphrodisiac-infused foods. Some foods have been shown to spark some romance after ingested. Plus, they taste delicious! If you don’t have aphrodisiac-inspired foods on your menu, you can look into getting a deal with your local farmers market for the holiday. Here are a few foods that will set the mood at your establishment:

• Chocolate
• Oysters
• Chilli peppers
• Avocados
• Salmon
• Vanilla
• Strawberries
• Asparagus

Drinks

Pairing your signature and holiday-inspired dishes with a nice beverage is ideal. Allow your guests to raise a glass with some fan-favorite alcoholic drinks. You can also get creative with your own signature Valentine’s Day inspired cocktails. For some non-alcoholic options, you could look towards milkshakes, punch, mocktails and soda mixes. Here are some great beverages to serve:

• Red wine
• Champagne
• Martinis
• Rose
• Sangria

Set the Mood

From dimming the lights to unpacking the fine China dinnerware, there are many ways you can set the mood in your establishment. Whether you’re looking to create a playlist with the best love songs, or hire a musician for the evening, music is a great way to set the atmosphere of the holiday. You can also provide elegant table center pieces like candles, flowers or other decorations.

Dessert

Ending the night on a sweet note makes all the difference. Indulging with a sugary dessert after a savory meal is the cherry on top to most meals. If you want to take dessert a step further for people who may not have a sweet tooth, you can offer a cheese and fruit platter with an assortment of nuts. Here are some temporary desserts you can add to your menu during your Valentine’s Day promotion:

• Crème brulee
• Molten lava cake
• Red velvet cheesecake
• Chocolate-covered strawberries
• Heart-shaped baked goods

Partnering

Kill two birds with one stone during this busy evening; partnering with an entertainment establishment will give you and your partnered company some well-deserved exposure. Both places can offer deals, rates and discounts for cross-promotion. For example, “Book a reservation before February 11^th and get 10% off your order PLUS 15% off a movie ticket!” This is a great way to generate impulse sales! Here are some places you can look into partnering with:

• Hotels/motels
• Movie theaters
• Mini golf
• Nail salon
• Sweets shop
• Flower shop

Take-Out

Does your establishment offer take out? For the homebodies that want to have a nice night in, or maybe couldn’t get a reservation on time, reassure them with your take-out options. You can section off an area at the front of your lobby specifically for people picking up their orders. This will also help you manage crowd control between people picking up their orders and people waiting to be seated.

Fun Extras

Are you looking to go above and beyond to give your guests the ultimate dining experience? Take a look at these examples to make your establishment the hot-spot on Valentine’s Day:

• Sell single roses
• Offer a special discount for people celebrating by themselves
• Extend Valentine’s Day (It falls on a Wednesday this year!)
• Hire a photographer to take pictures
• Valet parking
• Contests where the proceeds go to a charity of your choosing
• Prepare for the chance of marriage proposals

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