Sweetest Day Ideas for Restaurants

Start October 15th off right with some Sweetest Day deals at your foodservice business. The holiday goes back as far as 1922 and was a day to brighten the lives of Cleveland’s citizens. Sweetest Day is a great opportunity for restaurants, bars and more to celebrate a simple holiday before the Halloween rush. We wanted to bring some sweet ideas to foodservice businesses to help them promote the holiday at their establishment. 

Meal Deals

There are so many ways that you can change at your business to bring a bit of sweetness to customers and patrons. We have listed some big and small ways you might celebrate Sweetest Day.

• Table for two – Make meals a bit more affordable by offering deals on meals for two. Couples will be able to order and split dishes and the cost on a date night out. Make main meals a little larger to accommodate two. If you want to really appeal to couples try adding in appetizers to the meal deal as well. 


• Dessert offers – What is Sweetest Day without any dessert or treat? This offer is a little easier to add onto the specials list by offering a half price dessert or even a buy one get one deal for desserts. 


• Creative signs and designs – If changing up the menu isn’t an option for your food business, try getting creative with the decorations. You can reuse any generic Valentine’s Day decorations to cut cost on decorating. Heart shaped designs and streamers can go a long way to bring a little festive flair to interiors. If your business has any chalkboards  or changeable menu boards use that to draw and design a sign that will attract date nights and sweetest goers. 

Dessert for Days

What is more sweet than some delicious desserts at your foodservice business? Update and expand your dessert menu with extra special sweet treats for the celebration. 

• Chocolate fondue – Fondue is a romantic dessert for two or some fun family treats for bigger groups. Give folks options on dark, milk or white chocolate to appeal to different tastes. The bitterness of dark chocolate will balance out any sugary sweetness of fruit, marshmallows and more. 


• Surprise cakes – Lava cakes are a popular and steady item on menus. Have a surprise cake or piñata cake instead of the usual chocolate filled kind. Fill the cake with any type of candy or even fun colored sprinkles. For an extra sweet idea make the cakes heart shaped or add “Sweetest Day” in frosting on the tops. 

Sweetest Staff

We focused a lot on promotions and ideas you can use for customers, but what about staff? Sweetest Day is the perfect opportunity to show some appreciation for your foodservice staff. Let them get in on the celebration by taking some steps to show them they are the sweetest staff. Check out our Top 8 Foodservice Worker Appreciation Ideas for more ideas on showing your staff appreciation throughout the year. 

• Cards or gifts – A simple personalized note or a small gift to staff can go a long way to show you they matter. Leave small gifts or treats for staff with a simple “sweet” note to give them a happy start to the holiday. 


• Holiday party/hangout – What is sweeter than staff coming together to celebrate and hangout? Throw them a sweetest day party after-hours with some food or sweet treats involved. Show them that you care and bring everyone together to brighten everyone’s mood.