10 Father's Day Restaurant Promotion Ideas to Increase Sales

According to FSR Magazine, Father’s Day is the third-busiest day of the year for restaurants, so it’s a great opportunity to promote your business. If you’re not sure how to take advantage of the holiday, this list of 10 Father’s Day restaurant promotion ideas will help you attract new and returning customers so you can improve your bottom line.

Father’s Day Promotion Timeline for Restaurants

4–6 weeks before

• Plan your promotion strategy


• Finalize menu specials


• Prepare landing pages and content

2–3 weeks before

• Launch email marketing campaigns


• Promote on social media


• Update Google Business Profile

Week of Father’s Day

• Push urgency messaging (“Limited reservations left”)


• Promote last-minute offers


• Highlight takeout/delivery options

How to Prepare Your Restaurant for Father’s Day Rush

Get the most out of your promotions by:

• Ensuring the kitchen equipment is fully operational


• Scheduling additional staff for peak hours


• Preparing inventory for high-demand menu items


• Streamlining workflows to reduce wait times

10 Father’s Day Restaurant Promotion Ideas

1. Offer a “Dad Eats Discounted” Promotion

Lowering prices is a good way to pull people into your restaurant on any holiday, including Father’s Day. While discounts on in-demand items such as beer and burgers will please everyone, think about sending special offers to those on your email list, too: if they take advantage of the offer, they’re likely to order something else as well, offsetting the discount.

2. Create a Special Father’s Day Menu

Build a new menu to offer limited-time options featuring popular “dad favorites” like steak, burgers, BBQ or craft beer pairings.

3. Expand the Beer Menu

According to a survey regarding Father’s Day plans, 75% of those who planned to buy alcohol wanted to buy beer. So, it’s a good idea to get ahead of the demand and make sure you have a variety of ales, stouts and lagers on tap. Be sure to promote your expanded Father’s Day beer menu on your website and social media posts leading up to the holiday weekend.

4. Host a Father’s Day Event or Experience

Besides food and giveaways, try hosting a special event. Set up lawn games like cornhole or table games like Jenga, or maybe host a classic car show. These games and events will bring people into your restaurant and entertain them once they get there. If your restaurant is busy, these events can help customers pass the time while they wait for a table or their food, too.

5. Debut the Patio

Summer is in full swing by mid-June, so Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to showcase your restaurant’s outdoor dining options. All you have to do is take photos and videos of the patio seating and upload the content to social media, as well as your restaurant’s website. If potential customers know that al fresco dining is an option, they’ll be much more likely to come.

6. Offer Discounts or Limited-Time Deals

In addition to discounts, consider raffling off gift cards or coupons to people who dine in on Father’s Day. Be sure to stipulate that the offer must be redeemed in the near future, maybe by the end of the summer. If customers feel a sense of urgency, they’re more likely to come back soon and make going to your restaurant a habit.

7. Partner with Local Businesses

Your restaurant isn’t the only business where your customers spend money, so raffling off coupons for barber shops, sporting goods stores and other dad-themed local businesses is sure to draw people to your establishment. Additionally, it’s also a good opportunity to network with other business owners in the area: you never know when you’ll be able to work together.

8. Promote Gift Cards for Father’s Day

In addition to discounts, consider raffling off gift cards or coupons to people who dine in on Father’s Day. Be sure to stipulate that the offer must be redeemed in the near future, maybe by the end of the summer. If customers feel a sense of urgency, they’re more likely to come back soon and make going to your restaurant a habit.

9. Highlight Takeout and Delivery Options

Having takeout or delivery options available makes it easy for customers to celebrate from home without having to cook themselves. Offer meal kits or ready-to-eat bundles for the family. With easy promotions for online ordering and plenty of discounts for Dad, you can ensure there’s something for everyone.

10. Add a Personal Touch

Selling merchandise can help restaurants increase profits, and giving it away to promote your brand on Father’s Day is a great way to build long-term relationships. Customers will remember your establishment whenever they use your cup, mug or other item, keeping your restaurant top of mind and increasing the likelihood they’ll want to return.