How to Prep Your Restaurant for Thanksgiving

November signals the start to a busy time of year filled with holidays, shopping sprees and parties. With all the festivities, your restaurant can attract people looking for a place to have a relaxing meal or host an event. From marketing tips to menu ideas, here are some easy ways to prep your restaurant for Thanksgiving this year.

Strategy, Supplies & Staffing Details

Having certain details nailed down before the season starts can help ensure you have everything you need for a successful holiday at your restaurant. Some things to think about when planning a Thanksgiving celebration include:

• Changing up the menu – Include turkey as a main dish and jazz up the sides or create a contemporary option that incorporates turkey without making it the star of the dish.


• Stock up on the necessities – Make a list and place your orders for packaging, staple ingredients, backup stock and more.


• Ensure proper staffing – Things will surely get busy and move fast-paced. Consider hiring for the season to get some extra hands on deck for the excitement.


• Create a marketing calendar – It’s important to get the word out about your business and your efforts. Make sure to advertise your new menu, open online reservations or ordering and post about new details like holiday hours.


• Get the kitchen ready – Take note of the things that need attention in the kitchen. Clean all equipment, inspect gaskets and create a critical spare parts list so you can place an order for the parts you need, avoiding long periods of downtime.

Infuse Fall Flavors & Dishes

We’ll get to the menu for the big day in a bit. Earlier in the month, you should start to sprinkle in some autumn-inspired dishes. In our guide to fall menu ideas and flavors, we suggest using maple or apple glazes on everything from sweet potatoes to pork chops. Hearty food is always a must for the season, so why not concoct some fall-themed soups and entrees such as:

• Sweet potato and kale stew


• Pot roast and garlic mashed potatoes


• Creamy chicken and veggie soup


• Savory turkey wraps

For those looking to add turkey alternatives, there are many plant-based options on the market to satisfy vegans and vegetarians. For instance, seitan or tofu-based roasts allow you to keep delicious protein at the heart of a Thanksgiving entrée.

Make Your Place “Friendsgiving” Friendly

Since Thanksgiving typically is a family holiday, Friendsgiving allows friends and acquaintances to have their own feast earlier or later in the month. Throughout November, promote your restaurant as a place to host Friendsgiving parties or have a special catering deal. The menu can feature items off the Thanksgiving menu and some signature dishes from your traditional selection.

Whatever you do, be sure any marketing materials on signs or via social media clearly state that reservations must be made for parties at a certain size. This will save your staff the headache of dealing with unexpected groups.

Here are some other tips to keep in mind this Thanksgiving:

• If your establishment has a big dining room, offer up the space for large gatherings.


• You can charge a flat usage fee or offer packages to use the room.


• Allow guests to bring their own food with the purchase of a package that includes appetizers and an open bar with Fall specialty drinks.

Create a Special Menu for Dine-In or Takeout

If you plan on staying open for Thanksgiving Day, make a special menu for the occasion. Also, consider if you want to offer just takeout or a combination of takeout or dine-in. With staffing being an issue, you have to ensure that you can handle a high volume of orders online and over the phone as well as accommodate patrons choosing to dine at your establishment. Whichever route you select, make sure you have a mix of menus. A few different options include:

• Take out specials


• Drink menus


• Holiday themed meals

To accommodate large families and parties, consider offering family-style packages that feature everything from turkey and sides to traditional fixings and dessert. For couples or small families dining out, offer special dishes or an easy a la carte menu. This allows each person to pick the food they want to enjoy.

Decorate Accordingly

Aesthetics are everything in a high-tech world. One big aspect of any get-together is the atmosphere. While you don’t have to replace all of your linens or upgrade to fancy silverware, there are a few small decorating tips you can incorporate to really give off the feel of a proper Thanksgiving feast:

• Add small centerpieces to the tables with pumpkins, acorns and more.


• Fold the napkins in a Fall design.


• Hang up some festive artwork or create “Thankful” signs.


• Use window paint to create leaves and fun Thanksgiving images.

Get Your Equipment Up to Speed

Before the rush begins, make sure all your commercial kitchen equipment is ready to go. Routine cleaning and maintenance on everything from ovens to refrigerators is highly recommended. Here are some things to add to the list:

• Start by checking all the gaskets and filters on your refrigerators.


• Clean the condenser coils to keep your units operating at optimal capability.


• On your fryers, ranges and grills, clean any filters and fans so the excess grease doesn’t slow things down.

Thanksgiving Marketing Tips

As with everything else, you want to get the jump on marketing your business’ Thanksgiving endeavors. Here are just a few Thanksgiving marketing ideas that can help you get the word out about your restaurant and set you apart from the rest this season:

• Update your Google profile – Make sure to add holiday hours, online ordering details and even a few menu updates.


• Use AI assistants – The holidays can be really busy so be sure to get some extra help where needed. Using an AI assistant to auto-generate emails, manage after-hours calls and even promote your business on social media will take a few things off of your plate so you can focus on the food and atmosphere.


• Set up for success – Make sure to promote for “no-cook” bundles as well as extended delivery times so people can still have the option of a Thanksgiving dinner from your business last minute.

Looking for menu ideas when it comes to drinks, appetizers and more? We have a few guides on what to serve this holiday season. Check out our articles to find the perfect Thanksgiving foods to add to your menu.