What is Restaurant Week? Four Reasons You Should Participate

Restaurant Week is an event that has been gaining popularity across the U.S. Started in 1992 by Tim Zagat and Joe Baum, the week-long event celebrates all things culinary and brings in food and drink lovers from all over. Restaurants get to show off their restaurant by highlighting specialty menus at discounted prices. It’s a great way for food lovers to sample various cuisines without exceeding their dining budget while still eating out every night!

4 Benefits of Restaurant Week for Your Establishment

There are many reasons for your business to open its doors to Restaurant Week. It’s a fantastic way to introduce new customers to your dining room, let chefs get creative with exciting menus, and give your regulars another reason to love your joint. It can also do a lot for your operations and brand.

1. Increased Sales: The reduced plate cost of Restaurant Week is a plus for guests. Lowering your costs seems like taking a financial hit with the rise of food costs, but the amount of traffic you receive often offsets the lower dollar amount. 
2. Enhanced Reputation: Participating in Restaurant Week can help establish your business as a heavy-hitter in your culinary community. 
3. New Consumer Base: Restaurant Week is a time when many food lovers try new restaurants. It’s a great time to attract a new crowd with your menu. This means you have an opportunity to wow them with your stellar service and incredible food, converting them to regulars!
4. Boosts Tourism: Being part of a robust Restaurant Week campaign helps solidify your area as a foodie destination, meaning more dollars in your community economies'  pocket.

How to Make Restaurant Week Work For You

As a restaurant owner, you know that creating new menus, planning a special event, and strategically marketing take a lot of work. The same is true for being part of Restaurant Week. Participating in this event requires some planning to reap the most benefits.

Get Ready for Restaurant Week

Here are some simple tips to make sure your business is ready when Restaurant Week opening day arrives:

• Design your menu to maximize your guest goals. There are many ways to approach your specialty menu for Restaurant Week. Think about your long-term sales goals. Do you want to focus on showing off your most-loved dishes to bring in newcomers? Are you more focused on trying out new creations to create buzz? No matter what your overall goals are, design your menu with those in mind.
• Simplify your menu to account for the added number of guests. To accommodate the increased number of guests, consider streamlining your menu where you can by offering a curated selection of signature dishes or a pre-set menu to expedite service.
• Price your items to boost traffic. Developing a menu pricing strategy is critical to preserving food costs while giving your customers a deal. If your average entree price hovers around $40, offering that same entree at $30 could increase your consumer traffic without a food cost loss.
• Add Upsell Options: Enhance your Restaurant Week menu with add-ons like specialty appetizers or a wine pairing. Upselling options can increase your ticket price and further showcase your offerings outside of the event.
• Put the Word Out: To attract the largest consumer base, market your participation in Restaurant Week. Post to social media and your website, distribute flyers in your restaurant and send a newsletter to your client database.

Plan the Perfect Menu with Wholesale Food and Beverages from CHEF’STORE

Take your Restaurant Week menu to new heights with high-end flavors at competitive prices from CHEF’STORE. Our incredible products will help you meet food costs while wowing your customers. 

Visit one of our many local locations for exceptional ingredients and don’t forget to check out our business resources to help your business succeed.