Easter Basket Boosters: Restaurant Promotions to Increase Ticket Size

While Easter may come a little later this year, it remains one of the busiest food holidays of the year for restaurants. Despite being a peak day for dining out, many consumers prefer a quiet meal at home, making Easter Sunday a prime opportunity for restaurant delivery services.

Challenges and Opportunities

The long Easter weekend (Good Friday to Easter Monday) presents both challenges and opportunities for cafés and casual restaurants. In 2025, restaurants are facing a range of challenges centered on trade, costs, and supply shortages. Looming financial concerns, a volatile stock market, and high living costs are making consumers more cautious about spending. However, despite these concerns, restaurant sales are still expected to hit $1.5 trillion over the holiday weekend.

Additionally, the religious nature of the holiday can make scheduling difficult, with many restaurants closing to allow staff time with their families. Yet, those who view this as a glass-half-full opportunity can capitalize on reduced competition and increased demand.

Smart scheduling, efficient menus, and creative promotions that boost the average basket size without overwhelming staff or cutting into profit margins are key to making Easter 2025 a success.

Stats to Consider

• Easter is the 5th biggest food holiday for restaurants

• In 2025, approximately 48% of consumers intend to host a meal at their house to celebrate Easter or Passover. 

• Over 16 million Americans plan to go out for brunch on Easter weekend

• 72% of consumers say rising food costs will impact their Easter plans.

• 8 in 10 Americans celebrate Easter.

• 35% of consumers plan to spend $1 to $50 on Easter Sunday

• 37% of consumers intend to spend between $50 and $100 at a restaurant on Easter 

Whether your guests are celebrating for religious reasons, family tradition, or simply for fun, Easter is a time to embrace the spring season, enjoy time with loved ones, and indulge in delicious food. To help restaurants make the most of this festive time, we’ve curated 10 ways to overcome challenges, attract new customers, increase foot traffic, and boost basket size this Easter.

Easter Restaurant Promotions and Marketing Ideas

1. Lean Into Brunch

Easter is all about relaxation and long meals, making brunch the perfect opportunity to boost sales. Brunch encourages higher basket sizes and is easier to execute than a full lunch-and-dinner service.

Key Tips for a Successful Easter Brunch:

• Open later and close later to capture late risers.

• Offer a bottomless brunch package with a set price for food and drinks.

• Consider an all-day brunch menu, eliminating the need for separate lunch and dinner services.

• Feature Easter-themed specials like hot cross bun French toast or chocolate espresso martinis.

2. Prix Fixe Menu

Offer a special prix fixe Easter brunch menu. If you have a restaurant loyalty program, promote it to your members and give them first dibs on reservations. A prix fixe menu will streamline operations, reducing the number of dishes prepared and helping manage the kitchen during peak times. Be sure to include some chocolate for added sweetness!

3. Raise the Roof

Bringing the joy of the holiday to new heights—literally—hosting an unforgettable Rooftop Easter Party provides the perfect setting for a festive celebration, complete with crisp spring air and stunning views.

Along with Easter-themed cocktails, gourmet brunch options, and vibrant décor that channels the spirit of the season, a rooftop party encourages guests to sit and stay a while, thus increasing average basket sizes. 

Invite guests to gather for an afternoon of live music, an Easter egg hunt with a twist, and exclusive drink specials. It’s a fun, fresh way to elevate your Easter promotion and make this year’s holiday one to remember!

Adding a touch of whimsy and fun, the inclusion of a brunch candy bar is a unique and exciting concept. Include mini pastries, gourmet chocolates, fruit tarts, and homemade candies with breakfast-inspired flavors like maple or bacon. It’s a delightful way to satisfy any sweet cravings and adds a playful, celebratory feel to the buffet.

4. Easter Basket Giveaways

Celebrate the spirit of the season by giving away Easter baskets filled with goodies to your guests. Make this a team-building activity by getting staff involved in creating the baskets. You can add homemade condiments, branded meal kits, or even the ingredients for your restaurant's signature dishes. Make it fun and personal!

5. Activities for Kids

Easter is family time, so make your Easter promotions kid-friendly with engaging activities:

• Meet the Easter Bunny: Set up a spot for kids to meet the Easter Bunny and take photos. Sweeten the experience with goodie bags full of chocolate eggs.

• Easter-themed Kids' Menu: Switch up your kids' menu by offering fun shapes like bunny- or egg-shaped items.

• Coloring books: Display the kids' artwork on the walls to create a memorable dining experience.

• Easter Egg Decorating: Provide boiled eggs and food coloring for kids to create their own Easter egg masterpieces.

• Easter Egg Hunt: Host an Easter egg hunt for families to enjoy during their visit.

6. Seasonal Menu Offerings

Celebrate the season with a menu featuring spring ingredients like fresh herbs, lamb, asparagus, and citrus. Here are some fun ideas for Easter-themed menu items:

• Lamb Dishes: Lamb is a traditional Easter favorite, perfect as a roast, stew, or grilled dish.

• Egg-centric Dishes: Celebrate the symbolism of eggs with options like eggs benedict, deviled eggs, or a custom omelet bar.

• Spring Salads: Incorporate seasonal vegetables like asparagus, peas, and baby greens into refreshing salads.

• Desserts: Think carrot cake, hot cross buns, and chocolate eggs for indulgent Easter treats.

  
  

7. Limited-Time Cocktails and Beverages

For customers looking to indulge in festive drinks, create Easter-themed cocktails or mocktails. Light, spring-inspired flavors like elderflower, mint, and lavender are perfect for the occasion. Drinks like "Bunny’s Bliss" or "Eggnog Martinis" will add a celebratory touch to the holiday experience.

8. Showcase Local Suppliers and Ingredients

Highlight locally sourced ingredients on your Easter menu to support small businesses and show your commitment to quality. Promote the use of fresh, seasonal produce and share the story behind the ingredients with your customers. This resonates with guests who value sustainability and local food culture.

9. Spring Cleaning

Don't forget to schedule time for some serious spring cleaning at your restaurant. A fresh, clean environment adds to the festive mood and shows customers that you care about every detail of their experience.

10. Family-Style Portions

Offer family-style portions of your most popular Easter dishes, making it easier for groups and families to order. This could include:

• Large-format roasts (like a whole lamb or ham)

• Generous portions of casseroles or side dishes

• Dessert platters filled with Easter-themed treats

11. Boost Delivery Sales

While Easter is traditionally a busy dining-out holiday, many customers prefer the comfort and convenience of celebrating at home. To make the most of this shift in dining preferences, restaurants can capitalize on delivery and takeout options by offering special Easter-themed meal kits and pre-made meals.

Here are several ways to ensure you tap into this market and increase your sales:

• Easter-Themed Meal Kits

Offer Easter-themed meal kits that customers can take home and easily prepare. These kits can include all the ingredients necessary to create a holiday meal, complete with instructions.

• Pre-Made Easter Meals

For customers who don’t want to cook at all, provide pre-made Easter meals that they can simply heat and serve. Consider offering complete family-style meals, such as:

• Easter ham with roasted vegetables

• Slow-cooked lamb with mint sauce

• Gourmet salads and seasonal sides

• Signature Easter Desserts 

• Special Takeout Boxes

Create Easter-themed takeout boxes that include a variety of traditional dishes or even a curated Easter brunch menu. These could include:

• Assorted pastries like croissants, cinnamon rolls, or muffins.

• Mini quiches or egg salad sandwiches.

• Easter-themed sides such as potato salad or roasted vegetables.

By offering a variety of dishes in a box, customers can easily enjoy a full Easter meal at home without having to order multiple items separately.

• Holiday-Themed Packaging

Add an extra festive touch by customizing your packaging. Use Easter-themed boxes, bags, or containers adorned with seasonal colors and designs like spring flowers, bunnies, or eggs. The presentation adds to the holiday experience and makes customers feel special, even when dining at home.

• Pre-Order Options

Allow customers to pre-order their Easter meals or meal kits. By offering the option to place orders ahead of time, you can forecast demand and ensure you have enough ingredients and staff to handle the rush. Pre-ordering also helps with customer planning, ensuring they don’t miss out on your holiday offerings.

• Marketing Takeout & Delivery Services

To ensure your takeout and delivery options are top of mind, promote these services heavily on social media, your website, and via email. Highlight the convenience, value, and festive nature of your Easter meal options. Consider offering special discounts or free delivery for orders placed in advance or over a certain amount to encourage more customers to opt for delivery.

By embracing delivery and takeout options with creative, festive meal offerings, you can significantly increase sales while meeting the demand for customers who prefer to celebrate Easter at home.

Takeaway

Easter is a prime opportunity for restaurants to welcome guests back for the warm-weather season ahead. By offering a special Easter menu, creating a festive atmosphere, and engaging in creative promotions, restaurants can boost basket sizes, increase revenue, and make the holiday a major success. Whether you’re offering a traditional Easter brunch, hosting a rooftop party, or creating family-friendly experiences, the key to making Easter 2025 a success is blending creativity with a smart strategy.

FAQs

How can I increase sales during Easter without overwhelming staff?

Focus on offering a prix fixe menu or an all-day brunch to streamline kitchen operations and simplify service. You can also consider offering bottomless brunch packages or Easter-themed takeout to cater to guests at home, reducing in-house demand.

What can I do to stand out from the competition during Easter?

Consider hosting unique events like a rooftop Easter party or offering limited-time Easter cocktails and mocktails. Providing a memorable experience with live music or special giveaways like Easter baskets will make your restaurant the go-to spot for Easter dining.

How can I make Easter more profitable if many customers prefer dining at home?

Capitalize on delivery and takeout by offering Easter-themed meal kits or pre-made Easter meals. Special takeout boxes and family-style portions can make it easy for customers to enjoy a festive meal at home, increasing sales while accommodating those who prefer to stay in.

How can I ensure my staff is prepared for the holiday rush?

Implement smart scheduling by anticipating peak hours, and consider cross-training staff to handle both brunch and dinner service. Ensure the kitchen is ready for an increase in volume by prepping as much as possible in advance, and keep communication clear between front and back-of-house staff.

By Eileen Strauss