How To Increase Restaurant Sales On Father's Day 2025

Father’s Day (June 15, 2025) presents a major opportunity for restaurants to drive foot traffic, boost average order size and build long-term loyalty. In Canada and the U.S., Father’s Day consistently ranks among the top five highest-grossing days for restaurants, according to the National Restaurant Association. With the right strategy, your restaurant can turn Father’s Day into a powerful revenue event.

Here’s how to make the most of it:

Create Father’s Day Only Menu

Designing a special menu just for Father’s Day taps into the psychology of exclusivity. Consider hearty, indulgent offerings that appeal to the traditional “dad” palate, like:

Steak and ribs platters
Craft beer flights or whiskey pairings
Surf & turf specials
Family-style BBQ platters

Offer a prix-fixe option to simplify ordering and increase average spend per table.

Start Marketing Early

Promote your Father’s Day specials at least 2–3 weeks in advance across all channels:

Email newsletter: Announce special menus and reservation links
Instagram & TikTok: Showcase your dishes with “Dad-approved” messaging
Facebook Events: Set up an event and invite local followers
In-house signage: Use table tents and posters to inform dine-in guests in advance

Use urgency-driven language like: “Limited seats available. Book your Father’s Day table today!”

Offer a “Dads Eat Free” or Gift Promo

A well-structured promotion can drive conversions and bookings. Examples:

“Dad Eats Free” with a minimum table spend (e.g., “Free entrée for dad ”)
Free dessert or drink for dad
Branded gift card or swag giveaway (e.g., free $10 voucher toward next visit)

This creates a reason to dine at your restaurant over competitors.

Make It Instagrammable for Families

Father’s Day is a family celebration and families love capturing the moment.

Set up a photo booth with a “#ThanksDad” backdrop
Create a Father’s Day hashtag for your restaurant
Encourage diners to tag your restaurant in their photos and offer a prize draw for anyone who does

This boosts your reach and can drive more foot traffic from social buzz.

Get Started

Extend Hours or Offer a Father’s Day Brunch

If you typically open for dinner only, consider offering a Father’s Day brunch with hearty, masculine-inspired dishes:

Bacon-wrapped breakfast sliders
Beer-braised hash
Maple bourbon French toast

Offering multiple seating windows (brunch, lunch, dinner) helps capture more business, especially from large families with limited time slots.

Offer Father’s Day Takeout

Not every family wants to dine out, so meet them where they are. Offer:

Takeout meal kits for grilling at home
Family-size bundles with ribs, sliders, or wings
Beer or cocktail pairing add-ons (if allowed in your province/state)

Make the process seamless with pre-ordering online and clearly marked pickup instructions.

Use Technology to Simplify the Rush

Technology can make or break any busy day for a restaurant and Father’s Day is no exception.

Enable online reservations through Google, OpenTable, or Snappy.
Use automated waitlists to manage walk-ins
Leverage text message confirmations and reminders to reduce no-shows

A smoother experience leads to higher reviews and repeat visits.

Highlight Father's Day on Social Media

On Father’s Day itself, go heavy on Stories and Reels:

Show happy families enjoying their meals
Highlight your staff serving tables with care
Film quick “Happy Father’s Day” shoutouts from the team

It creates a FOMO effect for those who didn’t visit and gives you content for next year’s promotion.

Conclusion

Father’s Day is more than just a single-day sales boost, it’s a chance to win new families, earn loyalty, and stand out from the competition. With a mix of great food, smart promotions, and family-focused content, your restaurant can make Father’s Day 2025 your most successful one yet.