As well as the promise of more sunlight, (hopefully) warmer temperatures, and blooming flowers, the start of spring also signals the arrival of Easter, one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world.
While it doesn’t have a fixed date, Easter is always celebrated on a Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. As a four-day Bank Holiday weekend in the UK, it’s also a popular occasion for dining out. But don’t worry if you’ve not yet planned a special Easter weekend promotion — there is still time to spring into action with the creative tips below.
Why people celebrate Easter
Observed this year on April 20th, Easter means different things to different people. For some, Easter is a secular holiday celebrating the beginning of springtime, the regeneration and rebirth of nature, and the arrival of the Easter bunny (or the “flying bells” in France) who brings chocolate eggs to children. And while many countries have their own unique Easter traditions — from water fights in Poland to the Easter witch in Sweden, and flower carpets in Guatemala — the holiday is nearly always celebrated with family gatherings and festive meals.
Like Valentine's Day or Christmas, Easter is a great opportunity to connect with and delight loyal customers and new guests with special promotions, a fresh Easter menu, and fun events for the whole family. So here are a few egg-citing ideas to keep your restaurant’s Easter celebration hopping!
Offer irresistible Easter specials and deals
Why not reach out to your loyal customers by sending them an Easter special offer or deal such as 20% off for early reservations for Easter brunch, lunch or dinner? Don’t forget to advertise your Easter promotions and opening hours on your website and social media pages well in advance, as not all restaurants are open on Easter Sunday. You could also instruct staff to mention your Easter specials and deals to customers a month before the holiday.
Unique ideas for your restaurant’s Easter menu
Make your Easter menu festive and significantly different from your regular menu options. Consider delving into local traditional Easter specialties, or draw inspiration from the many delicious Easter dishes from across the world. In France and Italy for example, oven-roasted lamb stuffed with garlic and served with rosemary potatoes is an Easter staple. Note that lamb traditionally symbolises the coming of spring, while Christians refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God. In the US and Austria, ham is more commonly served at Easter, usually baked and honey-glazed or mustard-coated and baked in bread. In Poland, Zurek, a creamy, tangy fermented soup made with a rye starter, sausages and hard-boiled eggs is an Easter favourite, while Bacalhau or codfish with rice and potatoes is a must in Brazil. Be sure to offer equally enticing vegetarian options, featuring locally produced spring vegetables and fruit wherever possible. Bear in mind that Easter is an important holiday for families, so many of your guests will come with children. You may want to offer a special kids menú or at least kid-sized portions at a reduced price.
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Crafting delectable Easter desserts
There are many typical Easter desserts you can offer, such as a hot cross bun pudding or a lemon cheesecake. You could also look for further inspiration from other countries, such as the Italian Colomba di Pasqua or dove cake made with candied lemon peel, almonds and powdered sugar, or the Russian Paskha, a pyramid-shaped dessert made from sweet cheese curds covered with flowers or nuts, to name just two. We’d recommend offering a selection of several indulgent desserts, along with at least one lighter option such as a fruit soufflé or mousse.
Easter decorating ideas
Don’t forget to decorate for Easter. You may or may not want to go with baskets of decorative eggs, bunnies, or chicks, depending on your restaurant's vibe. However, nothing says Easter like a few tastefully arranged bouquets of spring flowers such as tulips, bright yellow daffodils or forsythia, and cherry branches. When choosing dishes or tablecloths, keep in mind that Easter is traditionally associated with pastel shades of green, pink, purple, yellow, and white. And why not set miniature baskets of complimentary Easter chocolates or pastel-coloured almonds on the table at the end of the meal?
Throw an Easter brunch
The four-day Easter Bank Holiday weekend is the perfect time to feature a special fixed-price brunch menu if you don’t already have one. This may be especially appealing to customers who plan on hosting their own elaborate Easter dinner and would like a break from cooking for guests. Include a mixture of sweet and savoury Easter baked goods such as the classic English hot cross bun, Spanish Torrijas (similar to French toast, but fried in olive oil and flavoured with lemon), or an Eastern European egg twist bread stuffed with raisins. Above all, now is the time to get creative with eggs — the ultimate symbol of new life and rebirth. Think eggs benedict, frittatas, quiches, soufflés, omelettes and more. For a luxurious twist, you could even offer champagne or your own unique Easter cocktails.
Easter activities for the kids (and adults)
While the adults are enjoying their cocktails or after-dinner drinks, keep the kids smiling and busy with these creative fun Easter activities:
🖍️Provide paper, washable markers or crayons and hold a contest for the best picture of the Easter Bunny. Or offer paper egg cut-outs to decorate.
🥚Host a chocolate Easter egg hunt (but only if your premises are large enough to handle it).
📖Hold an Easter story or poem contest for older children.
🐣Print out a fun Easter quiz or activity sheet.
🍫Host a raffle, offering customers the chance to win a chocolate-filled Easter basket, an invitation to a wine tasting or a free meal voucher, in exchange for filling out their name and email address.
Now that you've got these Easter ideas in your back pocket, you're ready to welcome everyone in the best way to celebrate this time of the year! To find out how TheFork can help you attract even more diners during seasonal events, get in touch.
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