The holiday prep list
Simple steps for smooth service this season.
Restaurants don’t get “time off” for the holidays, they gear up. The busy season brings packed dining rooms and sky-high guest expectations, but with the right prep, you can turn it into your biggest win of the year.
We’ve rounded up proven ideas—including tips from real restaurants, time-saving technology, and fresh ways to make the holidays shine. Think less chaos, more connection, and a season that’s great for guests and even better for your business.
Explore topics
Holiday Menu
Specialty Ordering
Holiday Website
Marketing
Guest Communications
Loyalty
Lock in your holiday menu
Your menu is the star of the season. Guests crave a taste of tradition and a dash of festive fun, and your holiday spread should bring both to the table. Set your offerings early so your kitchen can plan, your staff can prep, and your guests can start celebrating.
Limited-time, holiday menus are an easy way to tap into the spirit. It doesn’t have to be a full overhaul, even a clever rename of a guest favorite can make an impact.
At ViewHouse , the Halloween cocktail menu, complete with smoky pours and punny names, captures the playful vibe of the season and lets everyone in on the fun.
Pro tip:
Use photos, playful descriptions, or chef’s notes that feel unique to your restaurant and keep guests coming back year after year.
Set up smart ordering options
Great food brings people together. With catering and event ordering, you can meet guests wherever they are and put your food at the center of every celebration.
Streamlined ordering events, standout results.
Simplify big holiday orders with set menus, up-front payment, and fixed pickup times. Your guests get convenience; your team stays in control—keeping revenue steady and stress low.
Last year, HOBNOB took advantage of Ordering Events with their Thanksgiving “Meals to Go” and brought in more than $22,000 in sales with an average check size that is 4x their typical amount.
Try building your own Ordering Events around the moments guests love most:
Thanksgiving sides:
Restaurant-quality staples that save guests time in the kitchen.
Christmas morning brunch:
Pickup-ready family meals for an easy, festive morning.
New Year’s recovery:
Comfort food packages to kick off the year the cozy way.
Cookie & dessert orders:
Sweet, shareable treats for parties and gifting.
High value orders, low holiday stress.
Holiday catering means bigger orders, higher margins, and more ways to get your food in front of new guests—from office parties to family feasts and everything in between. Make it easy to plan ahead and stay organized, so every celebration runs smoothly (and profitably).
”Since October 2024, Henri’s Bakery & Deli has driven over $819,000 in catering sales. This is thanks in part to the fun, holiday themed treats they offer guests every year.”
Joel Keller
Chief Operating Officer of Henri’s Bakery & Deli
Get your website guest-ready
Before guests step through your doors, they stop by your website. Make sure it’s decked out in its holiday best and ready to impress.
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Use pop-up announcements to catch attention and promote your next big event, preorder window, or limited-time menu.
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Feature high-margin items front and center to drive more online orders.
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Invite guests to join your contact list for email or text updates, so you can stay connected long after their first visit.
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Showcase your events calendar to highlight upcoming promotions or celebrations.
Pro tip:
Use photos, playful descriptions, or chef’s notes that feel unique to your restaurant and keep guests coming back year after year.
Shameless plug!
With Popmenu + Yext, website updates automatically sync across Google, Facebook, Yelp, and everywhere else guests are searching—saving you time and keeping your info accurate. Consider it the gift of fewer to-dos this holiday season.
Learn more
Promote your holiday happenings
Once your holiday menu and offers are ready, it’s time to let everyone know. Keep your marketing front and center across every channel so guests never miss a reason to celebrate with you.
Stay top of mind all season
Your guests want to hear from you—especially during the holidays. According to Popmenu data, nearly half of consumers say they’d like updates from their favorite restaurants at least once a week.
Capture holiday demand with Paid Ads
Get discovered as guests are scrolling, searching, and planning where to celebrate. Paid ads help you stay visible when they’re making those decisions, driving traffic straight to your website or online ordering page.
At El Toro , a single month of paid ads generated more than $5,000 in in online ordering sales —that’s 10x returns on their initial ad spend.”
Shameless plug!
Need an extra hand? Popmenu’s Boost team is here to help. Our expert restaurant marketers plan, create, and execute strategies that keep guests coming back for more.
Learn more
Need inspiration for your next promotion?
Start with what guests are already searching for:
Special events, gift cards, and exclusive offers are always a hit. Once you’ve chosen your approach, it’s time to simplify guest communications.
The holidays bring full bellies and full inboxes. Between calls, questions, requests and reviews, communication can quickly pile up. Guests deserve thoughtful, timely responses, but your staff only has so many hours in a day.
Holiday phones are ringing…
Tech-savvy restaurants are leaning more on automated answering services to handle the influx of inquisitive guests to allow staff to focus on in-person diners.
Shameless plug!
Popmenu’s AI Answering automatically answers questions using information from your website, and texts diners a link to make a reservation or place an online order to ensure guests who call receive the best possible service without pulling your staff from in-person guests.
With custom greetings and responses, you can highlight upcoming events, special offers, new dishes, and send links to revenue-driving actions like reservations, online ordering, and waitlisting.
Turn phone calls into marketing opportunities.
“Hello, thank you for calling The Black Cat Bar & Grill. Join us this weekend for a holiday party and enjoy spiked cocoa and honey-baked ham. How may I help you today?”
Keep your online reviews answered, too.
Your online reviews deserve just as much attention as your in-person guests. Our reputation management tools keep reviews in one place so you can easily monitor feedback and respond faster.
With AI Auto Response, you can reply to new reviews instantly while showing guests their feedback matters. A personal touch at the busiest time of year goes a long way in turning first-time visitors into regulars.
Build Guest Loyalty into the New Year
The holidays bring a rush of new faces and your next wave of regulars. Once the celebrations wind down, reconnect with guests who ordered, dined, or discovered your restaurant and give them a reason to come back.
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Plan ahead for the various marketing opportunities on the calendar throughout the year—from holidays and birthdays to Sunday football games.
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Offer a discount on a favorite dish or run a promo that encourages them to dine with you instead of cooking at home (like they’ve been doing all season).
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A simple “Happy new year!” message with a promotion or offer can keep you top of mind.
Final thoughts
We’ve covered a lot in this guide, but just remember these three points to help you run a memorable and profitable holiday season at your restaurant:
