There is no better time to get guests to ease into summer with a sprawling Easter brunch— the laidback feast is perfect for those who want to sleep in on the long weekend, or those who seek sustenance after church service. Plus, with many venues closed, those that do open can capitalise on the additional weekend days and foot traffic, as guests look to dine out to celebrate.
Easter is easily one of the busiest and most profitable days of the year for restaurants. With 15.2 million gearing up to celebrate Easter with a predicted spend of $2.2 billion this year, make the most out of the annual tradition at your venue.
From planning irresistible menus to swooping in early with yummy promos, here’s how to drum up the excitement at your venue and attract more customers for Easter brunch.
Offer a prix fixe Easter brunch menu
A well thought-out brunch menu is your strongest marketing tool. Easter is a holiday laden with traditions on the table, from chocolate eggs for the kids to hot crossed buns for all. Pull together a menu to impress — think candied carrots and a handsome leg of lamb or glazed ham and in-season asparagus soup.
Find a creative way to incorporate seasonal produce such as adding on a vibrant fruit platter to showcase fresh cantaloupe, berries and more. A low-effort way to add a little brightness to the menu.
Simple Italian Perth is putting their inventive Italian spin on the Easter menu—think lamb shank paired with Sicilian potato mash and a chocolate crostata for dessert. Over in New Zealand, Upper Hutt’s Dough Bakery is keeping tradition alive with hot crossed buns on offer.
Bonus: A prix-fixe brunch menu can also help streamline kitchen operation and provide a predictable cost per guest.
Make it a family event
The Easter holiday is family time for many, so make your venue a top choice for parents looking to relax after an exciting morning cracking open Easter chocolate eggs.
Activities like Easter-themed colouring, egg hunts on paper or holiday trivia cards can keep the little ones occupied while parents enjoy a long, languid brunch. If you’re running these as contests, gift guests their next meal or a free dish at your restaurant as a nice incentive for them to return!
If your restaurant features a kid’s menu, consider swapping out the mini burgers and dinosaur-shaped nuggets for bunny-shaped dishes or meals that center around eggs to keep the theme alive.
Bring the Easter festivities to the bar
Now that you’ve got entertainment for the children covered, don’t forget to turn your attention to your adult patrons. Give your bar an Easter-themed twist with drinks fit for the occasion and give diners more opportunities to spend with your restaurant.
Ideas like a creamy Bailey’s cocktail topped with a chocolate egg or a zingy, purple-streaked lavender mimosa make for fun pairings to your food, and are also festive enough for pictures! Encourage guests to share their tipple on social media and tag your venue for a little extra boost.
Get guests into the giving spirit this Easter
Who can say no to a nice Easter basket? Ask customers to book early for a chance to get a limited-edition gift full of themed goodies. These could be signature items from your restaurant, such as a mini bottle of your housemade sauce, a takeaway box of a popular dessert item, or even a gift card to your venue.
While you’re serving generosity, encourage guests to do the same by letting them purchase baskets or gift cards for family and friends!
Lean into outdoor dining
Depending on where you are located, Easter often also signifies the start of patio season! The arrival of summer means guests are ready to dine out, soak up the sun and kick back a few more glasses of quenching drinks.
If your venue layout allows it, set up your floor plan strategically for Easter brunch to take place outside. To take it up a notch, book a live band or musicians to make it feel even more like a celebration throughout the weekend.
Get early bookings in with emails and texts
The earlier you start promoting your Easter brunch, the better.
Emails are perfect for announcing your upcoming event, sharing menu details and early-bird promotions. Consider targeting diners who previously celebrated Easter at your venue and encourage early reservations. Your customer database is crucial to this step—leverage your CRM or restaurant reservation system to reach out to the right audience.
With a 98% open rate, you shouldn’t be sleeping on SMS marketing either. Schedule a text to your customer list and inspire guests to celebrate the festivities at your venue. FOMO is real, so include enticing details about your brunch to make it an offer your guests can’t refuse.
Leverage your reservation system to drive bookings
Now Book It’s restaurant reservation system is intentionally and thoughtfully built with event integrations to help you maximise revenue and fill seats over the holidays. Here’s how you can optimise it to turn interest into confirmed bookings:
- Create a dedicated Easter brunch event in the booking system with your event time, pricing, and menu details for a seamless booking process
- Your event reservation link should be prominently placed on every promo post on social media channels, your Google Business listing, and your website homepage
- Take booking guarantees or deposits and send booking reminders to reduce no-shows and cancellations
- Rely on a 24/7 AI booking assistant to handle calls about the event and log reservations
- Use real-time table availability to create urgency on sold out tables and get guests to secure their seat quick
- Offer tiered seating times to maximise covers in your existing space without overwhelming the kitchen
- Add enticing upsells like an Easter cocktail to the reservation process
More tips on best practices for planning a profitable restaurant event here
Make your Easter brunch the one book this year
If you play your cards right this Easter, it’s a chance to turn new guests into loyal customers. With the right marketing, a compelling brunch menu, and a powerful reservation system, you’ll be fully booked and fully in control.
Need help putting together your Easter brunch event?
Book a demo to learn how Now Book It can simplify reservations and more.
