The Rise of Protein Across Fast Casual and Fast Food For years, carbs and indulgence ruled restaurant menus. Extra cheese, loaded fries, and oversized portions were the selling points. But something has shifted. Protein is now one of the most prominent nutrients shaping the fast-casual and fast-food industries. Across the country, restaurants are reworking menus, rolling out protein-focused drinks, bowls, and entrees. What once felt niche is now mainstream, driven by social media and a growing emphasis on health, fitness, and wellness. Why Protein Is Everywhere Right Now Gen Z, millennials, and Gen Alpha are immersed in wellness culture, fitness influencers, and nutrition content. Social media constantly reinforces the message: protein builds muscle, keeps you fuller longer, and supports overall health. The result? Consumers are actively seeking out high-protein meals, not just for post-workout, but for everyday eating. Some Americans are also prioritizing satiety and energy over indulgence. People want meals that feel filling without feeling too heavy. Protein delivers exactly that. It helps regulate appetite, supports muscle maintenance, and offers longer-lasting fullness compared to carb-heavy meals. The rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Zepbound is another major driver. These drugs suppress appetite and slow digestion, pushing people toward smaller, nutrient-dense meals. As they become more common, restaurants are adapting with protein-forward options that still feel satisfying. What Protein Trends Look Like on Menus Menu boards, online ordering platforms, and promotions increasingly spotlight grams of protein just as prominently as calories or price. Chipotle : Introduced a high-protein menu featuring bowls and entrees that range from 15 to 81 grams of protein. The brand leans heavily into customization, allowing customers to build meals that meet specific fitness or health goals. Subway : Reintroduced its Fresh Fit menu and launched Protein Pockets, offering sandwiches with 20-35 grams of protein in a six-inch to foot-long portion, all under 1000 calories. Dunkin ’: Introduced protein-infused drinks made with fortified milk, with 15 grams of protein per medium beverage. This taps into the growing demand for drinkable nutrition, especially for busy consumers looking for quick breakfasts or post/pre-workout options. Sweetgreen : Added a macro tracking tool on their app that allows customers to view protein, carb, and fat breakdowns for every menu item. Nine of its entrees now feature over 30 grams of protein, introducing a world of wellness and convenience into the brand. Papa John’s : Experimented with a protein-infused pizza crust that was offered for a limited time at an Atlanta location. Their menu consisted of The Veggie pizza, with 49 grams of protein, and The Meats pizza, with 55 grams of protein. Shake Shack : Introduced their Good Fit menu, offering high-protein, gluten-free, vegetarian, and GLP-1-friendly options. Why Restaurants Are Leaning In Protein-focused dishes often carry higher price points, boosting ticket sizes. Customers willingly pay more for items they perceive as healthier, more filling, and higher quality. These menu additions also help brands stand out in a crowded market. Consumers tend to show higher brand loyalty when they find restaurants that align with their wellness goals. Offering enhanced protein options gives brands a way to build deeper relationships with customers who prioritize nutrition. Protein also serves as a powerful marketing tool. Highlighting grams of protein instantly communicates value, functionality, and health benefits, especially to newer businesses that closely track their intake. The Future of Protein in Restaurants As wellness culture continues to shape consumer behavior, restaurants will likely expand protein-focused offerings across all categories, from beverages and breakfast to desserts and snacks. High-protein items will increasingly blend with convenience, personalization, and digital ordering tools, letting customers build meals around their specific goals. How Restaurants Can Incorporate Protein More Effectively Fast casual restaurants can jump into the protein movement in creative, approachable ways: adding protein boosts to existing menu items, offering customizable bowls and plates, developing high-protein snacks and drinks, and clearly labeling protein content across menus and digital platforms. Smaller portion sizes paired with higher protein density appeal to wellness-focused diners without alienating those who still crave indulgence. Limited-time protein launches, such as specialty crusts or seasonal bowls also create buzz while testing customer interest. At its core, the rise of protein reflects a deeper cultural shift: People want food that supports their lifestyle, not works against it. As restaurants continue to adapt, protein is reshaping not only what we eat, but how we think about fast food altogether. Looking for ways to leverage creative protein options for your restaurant's menu? Goliath Consulting Group has decades of experience evaluating menus and developing current, innovative LTOs and Menu Items. Email GetResults@GoliathConsulting.com to get started today.

From rolled ice cream and unicorn drinks to galaxy-inspired baked goods, restaurants can invite guests to take a bite out of the past. At the beginning of the year, TikTok saw the rise of a phrase that quickly took over feeds: “2026 is the new 2016.” Across the platform-- and now beyond-- users are beginning to revive and reminisce on old dances, sounds, outfits, and aesthetics that instantly transport them back to a more carefree time online. However, the trends in 2016 did not stop at fashion or music. Food culture played a huge role in defining 2016, with viral menu items creating real buzz and community, such as Starbucks’ Unicorn Drink and Burger King’s Whopperito. Some fast-casual brands on Instagram have also already started tapping into this trend, sharing posts with 2016-inspired filters and visuals that evoke the era’s playful, colorful vibe. So why is 2016 coming back now? After years of increasing burnout and fear, people are craving something that feels normal again. 2016 felt lighter, more playful, and less heavy. Revisiting that era offers comfort and a sense of escapism from today’s society. For restaurants, it presents a chance to tap into a shared cultural memory that still holds emotional weight. Now that we are officially teleporting back to 2016 in 2026, how can restaurants incorporate this trend in a way that feels intentional and current? Many of the most recognizable food trends from 2016 can be reintroduced with a more health-conscious approach that aligns with today’s consumer priorities. Galaxy and space-themed foods Galaxy-inspired items can return through naturally colored glazes, butterfly pea flower drinks, or layered smoothies made with plant-based pigments. These visuals still deliver the wow factor that made them viral, while aligning with cleaner ingredient expectations. Edible glitter Once everywhere, edible glitter can now be sourced from plant-based or mineral alternatives and used sparingly on desserts or beverages. A subtle shimmer keeps the nostalgic look without overwhelming the product or the guest experience. Activated charcoal Activated charcoal was a big trend in 2016, appearing in ice cream, buns, and drinks. If you bring it back, use it sparingly to add visual interest without overwhelming the dish. Overloaded milkshakes Even overloaded milkshakes can make a comeback in a more refined form. Smaller portions, higher-quality toppings, and optional plant-based or lower-sugar bases allow indulgence without excess. Beyond the visuals, these foods mattered in 2016 because they brought people together. Viral menu items gave guests a reason to gather, share photos, talk about what they tried, and feel part of something happening in real time. That sense of shared excitement is what many people are missing today, and something restaurants are uniquely positioned to recreate. At a time where the United States feels increasingly divided, food remains one of the few ways for people to connect back together. Sharing a nostalgic menu item or offering a limited-time experience and items gives people something to bond over. It creates space for conversation, shared memories, and moments of connection that wipe out politics. In that way, revisiting familiar food trends is not just about nostalgia, but about bringing people back to the same table, even if it’s only for a moment. Introducing these items as limited-time offerings keeps them exciting and prevents the trend from feeling overdone. Limited runs also mirror how these foods originally went viral, creating urgency, shareability, and organic social buzz. Restaurants can also lean into nostalgia by reviving discontinued menu items that guests still talk about. Bringing back a fan favorite instantly sparks conversation and media interest. These returns feel personal to customers and reinforce brand history rather than chasing something new for the sake of it. Beyond the menu, the 2016 revival can extend into restaurant operations and marketing. Hosting a 2016-themed night with a DJ, throwback playlist, or special dish lineup turns nostalgia into an experience. Social media can reflect the era as well, whether that means sharing photos of past dishes, leaning into grainy filters, or recreating the bright, slightly chaotic visual style that defined Instagram in 2016. The return of 2016 is not about recreating the past exactly as it was. It is about capturing the feeling. When restaurants balance nostalgia with modern expectations around health, quality, and intention, they give guests something familiar that still feels fresh. And in a crowded food landscape, that emotional connection can be just as powerful as the food itself.

2026 restaurant menu trends

using social media in restaurants

You’ve seen it on every retail tag from grocery stores to car dealerships: the ubiquitous ".99." In the world of retail, "charm pricing"—ending a price in 9 or 99—is the undisputed king. It’s based on the "left-digit effect," where our brains process $19.99 as being significantly cheaper than $20 because we anchor on the first number we see. But here is the secret that many restaurant marketing experts won’t tell you: on a restaurant menu, that extra penny might be costing you more than just change. It could be eroding your brand equity. At Goliath Restaurant Consulting, we frequently see owners who apply retail logic to a hospitality environment. While both industries sell products, the psychology of a "buying" experience versus a "dining" experience is fundamentally different. If you want to increase restaurant revenue, you have to stop thinking like a shopkeeper and start thinking like a behavioral economist. The "Round Number" Paradox: When $20 Beats $19.99 Why would a customer prefer to pay $20 instead of $19.99? It comes down to cognitive friction. Research in the field of consumer psychology suggests that rounded prices ($20, $45, $100) are processed more fluently by the brain. When a price is rounded, it feels "right" for luxury or hedonic purchases—things we buy for pleasure rather than necessity. Fine Dining vs. Fast Casual In a fine-dining or upscale-casual environment, your guests are paying for an experience, an emotion, and a sense of status. A price like $34.95 introduces a "bargain" mental state that clashes with the elegance of the room. It reminds the guest that they are spending money, rather than enjoying a meal. Conversely, fast-casual or quick-service restaurants thrive on charm pricing. If you’re selling a $9.99 burrito bowl, the guest is looking for value and efficiency. In that context, the .99 works. But the moment you cross into the territory of white tablecloths or craft cocktails, those decimals start to look "cheap." The Power of Anchoring: Strategic Placement for Profitability One of the most effective tools in our restaurant marketing consulting toolkit is the "anchor." Human beings are terrible at determining the absolute value of something. Is a Ribeye worth $58? We don't know. But we do know that $58 is less than $85. By placing a high-priced "anchor" item at the top of a menu section—perhaps a $110 Seafood Tower—you subconsciously make everything else on the menu look like a relative bargain. Even if you only sell two Seafood Towers a week, its presence makes the $42 Chilean Sea Bass look reasonable. Expert Tip: Place your highest-margin items immediately following the anchor. The guest’s eye will naturally travel from the expensive outlier to the next item, which now carries a high "perceived value" because of the price contrast. The "Less is More" Rule: Formatting Tactics If you want to increase restaurant revenue, you need to reduce the "pain of paying." Behavioral economists have found that the more prominent a price is, the more it triggers the area of the brain associated with physical pain. Remove the Dollar Signs A famous study by Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration found that guests spent significantly more when dollar signs were removed from the menu. Why? Because the "$" symbol is a powerful visual cue that reminds the guest they are parting with their hard-earned cash. Avoid: $24.00 Better: 24.00 Best: 24 Ditch the Decimals Similarly, decimals extend the visual length of the price. The more horizontal space a price occupies, the "larger" it feels to the subconscious mind. By switching from "24.00" to a simple "24," you streamline the aesthetic and make the cost feel like a minor detail rather than the main event. The Decoy Effect: Steering the Guest’s Choice Decoy pricing is a masterclass in customer psychology. Imagine you offer two tiers of wine by the glass: House Cabernet: $9 Reserve Cabernet: $15 Most guests will gravitate toward the $9 option to save money. However, if you introduce a third "decoy" option: House Cabernet: $9 Reserve Cabernet: $15 Premium Vineyard Select: $22 Suddenly, the $15 Reserve Cabernet becomes the "middle ground" choice. It’s no longer the expensive option; it’s the sensible, mid-tier choice. This strategy is a staple of menu optimization because it allows you to nudge guests toward your highest-margin items without them feeling pressured. Case Study: The "Bistro 44" Transformation (Hypothetical) Let’s look at a hypothetical example based on common trends we see at Goliath Restaurant Consulting. The Client: A mid-to-upscale Italian bistro called "Bistro 44." Their menu was cluttered with prices like $18.95 and $22.95, and their average check size had plateaued. The Intervention: As part of a broader restaurant marketing strategy, we implemented three psychological shifts: Rounded Pricing: All prices were rounded to the nearest whole dollar. Formatting: We removed dollar signs and decimals. The Nested Price: Instead of a right-hand column of prices (which encourages guests to scan for the cheapest item), we "nested" the price at the end of the dish description in the same font size. The Result: Within three months, Bistro 44 saw a 7.2% increase in average check size. Guests weren't complaining about the price increases (which were minimal); they were simply ordering based on what they wanted to eat rather than what cost the least. Perception and Brand Identity Your menu pricing strategy is a direct reflection of your brand. If you are a high-end steakhouse using $49.99, you are sending a mixed signal. You are telling the guest, "We are premium," but your pricing is shouting, "We are a discount warehouse." Consistency is key to a positive dining experience. Every touchpoint—from the lighting and the music to the weight of the paper the menu is printed on—tells a story. Whole-number pricing tells a story of confidence, quality, and transparency. 4 Actionable Takeaways for Your Menu If you're ready to improve your restaurant profitability, start with these four steps today: Audit Your Decimals: If your average entrée price is over $20, experiment with removing the .95 or .99 and moving to whole numbers. De-emphasize the Currency: Remove dollar signs from your menu entirely. Let the numbers stand alone. Reorganize for Anchoring: Look at your "Star" items (high popularity, high margin) and place them near a higher-priced "Anchor" to make them more attractive. Hide the Price Column: Don't list your prices in a vertical column on the right side of the page. This invites price-shopping. Tuck the price two spaces after the end of the item description. Elevate Your Strategy with Goliath Restaurant Consulting Menu engineering is both an art and a science. While these psychological tactics are powerful, they work best when integrated into a holistic restaurant marketing consulting plan that considers your food costs, labor, and local competition. At Goliath Restaurant Consulting, we specialize in helping owners navigate the complexities of the modern hospitality landscape. Whether you need to overhaul your brand or simply fine-tune your menu pricing strategy, we are here to ensure your restaurant isn't just surviving, but thriving.

If you are like most restaurant owners I work with, you probably set up your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) years ago, verified your address, uploaded a logo, and haven't looked back since. But while you’ve been busy running your kitchen, Google has been busy changing the rules. Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is no longer just a digital phone book listing; it is your restaurant's single most important marketing asset. It is often the only thing a potential customer sees before deciding to walk through your door—or head to your competitor. With winter bringing shorter days and often slower foot traffic, maximizing your online visibility for restaurants isn't just a "nice-to-have"—it’s a survival strategy. The good news? Google has rolled out powerful new features specifically for the hospitality industry. These tools are free, but most of your competitors aren't using them yet. By spending just a few hours optimizing your profile this week, you can drive real covers during the winter slump. Here are five ways to leverage the latest Google Business Profile updates to fill your tables. 1. Train the Algorithm: Influencing AI-Generated Review Summaries Have you noticed the short paragraph at the top of some restaurant listings that says something like, "Cozy spot known for spicy ramen and quick lunch service"? You didn't write that. A human didn't write that. That is Google’s AI scanning hundreds of your reviews and summarizing what your restaurant is "known for." Why It Matters This summary is often the first thing a customer reads. If the AI decides your restaurant is "known for loud music and slow service" because of a few old reviews, that becomes your brand identity. You cannot edit this summary directly, but you can influence it. How to Use It You need to feed the AI new data. The algorithm looks for recurring keywords in recent reviews. Identify Your Wins: Decide what you want to be known for this winter (e.g., "Best French Onion Soup" or "Cozy Fireplace"). The "Prompt" Strategy: Don't just ask customers for a review; give them a prompt. When a server drops the check, have them say, "If you loved the French Onion Soup today, mentioning it in a Google review helps us a ton!" Reply with Keywords: When you reply to reviews (which you must do!), reinforce these keywords. "Thank you, Sarah! We’re so glad you found our dining room cozy and enjoyed the winter cocktail menu." Expert Tip: The AI heavily weights "recency." A coordinated push for reviews mentioning "Holiday Parties" in November can successfully shift your AI summary just in time for December bookings. 2. Treat Your "Menu" Tab Like a Social Feed Gone are the days of uploading a grainy PDF of your menu and forgetting about it. Google now uses optical character recognition (OCR) to read your menu photos and match them to search queries. If someone searches "gluten-free pasta near me," and your menu is a static PDF that Google can't parse, you are invisible. Why It Matters Google's new "Menu Highlights" feature visually showcases your most popular dishes right on your main profile. If you don't curate this, Google will grab random user photos—which might be a half-eaten burger with a napkin on it. How to Use It Digitize the Data: Use the "Edit Menu" feature in your dashboard to manually enter your top 10 winter dishes. Add descriptions! Don't just write "Beef Stew"; write "Slow-braised beef stew with root vegetables and red wine reduction." The "Select Preferred" Photo: When you upload a photo of a specific dish, you can now tag it to the menu item. This tells Google, "Show THIS beautiful professional photo when someone clicks on the Beef Stew item." Post "Specials" as Updates: Use the "Update" feature (formerly Google Posts) to post your daily chalkboard special. These updates expire, which creates a sense of urgency and shows Google your business is active. 3. Pre-Empt Objections with the Q&A Section The Q&A section is the Wild West of restaurant marketing. Anyone can ask a question, and anyone (including "Local Guides" who may have never eaten at your restaurant) can answer it. This often leads to misinformation. Why It Matters Customers use this section to validate their decision. Questions like "Is this place good for kids?" or "Do they have heated outdoor seating?" are conversion blockers. If the answer is "I don't know" or "No," you lose the table. How to Use It You don't have to wait for customers to ask questions. You can seed your own Q&A. Log in to your personal Google account (not your business manager account) and ask the questions you want to answer. Question: "Is the patio open in the winter?" Switch to your Business Profile and answer the question officially as the "Owner." Answer: "Yes! Our patio is fully enclosed and heated to 72 degrees all winter long. It's perfect for cozy dinners." Upvote Your Answer: Click the "thumbs up" on your own answer. This ensures it stays at the top of the list so it’s the first thing people see. 🚀 Quick Win: The 10-Minute "Holiday Hours" Audit Nothing kills customer trust faster than driving to a restaurant that Google says is "Open" only to find a locked door. Do this right now: Log in to your Google Business Profile. Go to "Edit Profile" > "Business Information" > "Hours". Scroll down to "Holiday hours." Input your specific hours for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, NYE, and New Year's Day now. Even if you are open regular hours, enter them specifically for those dates. This gives your profile a green "Hours confirmed by business" tag, which builds massive trust with diners. 4. Reduce Friction with "Reserve with Google." If a customer finds you on Google Maps, they are "high intent"—they are hungry and ready to book. If they have to click your website, find the "Reservations" tab, and load a slow widget, you might lose them. Why It Matters "Reserve with Google" allows customers to book a table directly inside the Google Maps app without ever leaving the page. It removes friction. In 2025, convenience wins. How to Use It Check Your Integration: Most major reservation platforms (OpenTable, Resy, Tock, Toast) integrate automatically, but it often requires you to "flip a switch" in your POS or reservation software settings to authorize the connection. Waitlist Management: If you don't take reservations, use the "Join Waitlist" feature. This is huge for casual dining. Allowing a customer to get in line while they are driving over prevents them from seeing a "45 min wait" arrival and turning around. Note: Some restaurant owners worry about owning the customer data. While direct bookings are great, a Google booking is better than no booking. You can always capture their email for your newsletter when they dine with you. 5. Visual SEO: Managing the "Vibe Check." Younger diners (Gen Z and Millennials) are using Google Maps and Instagram almost interchangeably. They are looking for a "vibe check." They want to know what the lighting feels like and what the crowd looks like right now. Why It Matters Google is increasingly prioritizing "visuals first" in mobile search results. A text description of your dining room is no longer enough. If your "Owner Uploaded" photos are from 2019, your restaurant looks dated and neglected to the algorithm. How to Use It The Winter Refresh: Upload 5-10 new high-quality photos specifically showcasing your winter atmosphere. Think: candlelight, cozy corners, seasonal decor, and steaming hot dishes. Nudge Customers: Create a small table tent with a QR code that says, "Snap a pic of your meal? Upload it to Google to help locals find us!" User-Generated Content (UGC) is trusted 12x more than brand content. Video is King: You can now upload 30-second videos to your profile. A quick pan of the dining room during a busy Friday night creates "social proof"—it shows people that your restaurant is the place to be. Conclusion: Consistency is Key Optimizing your Google Business Profile isn't a "set it and forget it" task. It is an ongoing conversation with your customers and the algorithm. These free tools are powerful levelers; a small independent bistro with a fully optimized profile can easily outrank a major chain that is sleeping on these updates. However, I know that for a busy owner, keeping up with local restaurant marketing tech can feel like a second job. If you are struggling to implement these changes or want a comprehensive audit of your digital footprint, it might be time to look into professional restaurant marketing consulting. We can help you build a system that keeps your digital doors as welcoming as your physical ones.

5 Ways to Win Back Lunch Traffic in 2025: Adapting to Hybrid Work Realities If you’ve been in this industry for more than five years, you remember the "Old Faithful" lunch rush. Like clockwork, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Monday through Friday, the suits, the creatives, and the construction crews would flood through your doors. You could practically set your watch by the flow of traffic. But let’s be honest: that predictable rhythm is gone. It is 2025, and the dust has settled on the "new normal." The reality is that the 9-to-5, five-days-a-week office culture hasn't returned, and it likely never will. Instead, we are living in a hybrid world. Your regulars are still employed, but they are likely only in their downtown or business-district offices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays and Fridays? Those are "work from home" days, turning your dining room into a ghost town. I know how frustrating this is. You are staffing a kitchen, prepping ingredients, and unlocking the doors, only to see inconsistent covers. It feels like you are fighting a losing battle against empty office buildings. However, the demand for lunch hasn't disappeared—it has just shifted. The most successful restaurant owners I work with aren’t waiting for 2019 to come back. They are pivoting. Effective restaurant marketing today isn't about shouting louder; it's about being smarter and meeting the customer where they are. By adapting to these hybrid behaviors, you can stop bleeding revenue and start capturing a new kind of lunch crowd. Here are five practical strategies to revitalize your lunch service in the hybrid era. 1. Create High-Quality "Grab-and-Go" for the Hybrid Worker One of the biggest misconceptions about hybrid workers is that when they do come into the office, they have endless time for a leisurely sit-down meal. The opposite is often true. Because they are only in the office two or three days a week, those days are packed back-to-back with in-person meetings. They have less time for lunch than ever before. Why It Works Speed is the new currency. When an office worker has a 30-minute window between strategy sessions, they aren't going to risk a sit-down table service experience that might run long. They need fuel, they need it fast, and they need it to taste better than a sad vending machine sandwich. By offering premium grab-and-go options, you remove the "friction" of time. You become the reliable, safe choice for a busy professional. How to Implement It This requires a slight operational pivot. You don't need to change your whole menu, but you do need to package it differently. Designate a "Fast Lane": If space permits, create a specific area near the entrance for grab-and-go items so customers don't have to wait behind people ordering complex custom meals. The "Desk-Friendly" Audit: Review your menu. Which items travel well? Which items can be eaten without making a mess at a desk? A soup that requires a precarious balancing act is a no-go; a dense, high-protein grain bowl is perfect. Packaging Matters: Invest in clear, high-quality packaging. The visual appeal of a fresh salad in a crystal-clear container sells itself much better than a closed cardboard box. The Consultant’s Tip Create a "Zoom-Proof" marketing angle. Promote a specific combo (like a wrap, an apple, and a bottle of water) that is silent to eat and non-messy. Market it specifically as the perfect fuel for their 1:00 PM video call. 2. Launch Lunch Subscription or "Punch Card" Programs In the past, habit drove lunch traffic. People went to the same deli every day because it was part of their routine. Hybrid work broke those habits. Now, every time a worker steps out for lunch, they are making a new decision. You need to lock them in again, and the best way to do that is through gamification and financial commitment. Why It Works This strategy leverages the psychological concept of "sunk cost." If a customer buys a subscription or a pass, they have already paid for the meal (or a portion of it). They are financially motivated to visit you rather than your competitor. Furthermore, effective marketing strategies for restaurants in 2025 focus on retention over acquisition. It is far cheaper to get your Tuesday customer to come back on Thursday than it is to find a brand new customer. How to Implement It You can go high-tech or low-tech here, depending on your POS system. The "Lunch Club" Subscription: Offer a monthly pass (e.g., $20/month) that grants the holder free delivery, a free drink with every meal, or a flat 10% discount on all lunch items. The Digital Punch Card: Most modern loyalty apps handle this easily. "Buy 5 lunches, get the 6th free." The "Anchor Day" Pass: Create a promotion specifically for the Tuesday-Thursday crowd. "Visit us Tuesday and Wednesday, and get 50% off your Thursday lunch." This encourages them to spend their entire in-office week with you. The Consultant’s Tip Don't just offer a discount; offer status. Call it the "VIP Lunch Club." Give members a dedicated pickup line or a complimentary cookie. Make them feel like an insider, and they will bring their colleagues along with them. Pro Tip: Not sure which days are your slowest? Check your POS data for the last 3 months. If Mondays are dead, don't waste money promoting Monday specials. Focus your restaurant marketing budget on maximizing revenue on the days people are actually near your building (Tue-Thu). Fish where the fish are. 3. Target Tuesday-Thursday with Strategic Promotions We need to stop treating the work week as a uniform block of five days. The "Anchor Days" (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) are where the volume is. Many restaurant owners make the mistake of trying desperately to fill the room on Mondays and Fridays with deep discounts. While well-intentioned, this is often throwing good money after bad. If the office building is empty, a 20% coupon won't magically fill it. Why It Works Yield management is key. Instead of fighting the tide, ride the wave. By focusing your strongest lunch promotion ideas on the days when foot traffic is naturally higher, you maximize your capture rate. You want to be the top choice for the people who are physically present, increasing your average check size when the volume is there to support it. How to Implement It Structure your weekly specials to peak mid-week. Team Tuesday: Offer a discount for groups of 4 or more. Since teams are gathering in the office on these days, incentivize them to eat together. Hump Day Treat: Wednesday is often the busiest in-office day. Offer a premium add-on for a low price (e.g., "Add a specialty coffee for $1 with any lunch entrée"). Thirsty Thursday: If your liquor license permits, offer non-alcoholic "mocktails" or specialty sodas at a discount to pair with lunch. The Consultant’s Tip Use your email list to send a "Week Ahead" menu on Monday morning. Remind the hybrid workers who are planning their office days exactly what you are serving on Tuesday and Wednesday. Make your food part of their schedule before they even leave their house. 4. Develop Small-Team Catering Packages (The "Micro-Catering" Pivot) Pre-2020, catering usually meant giant trays for 50-person all-hands meetings. Those happen much less frequently now. However, "micro-meetings" are exploding. Department heads bring their immediate teams (5 to 10 people) into the office for collaboration sessions, and they need to feed them to keep morale high. Why It Works This is the sweet spot of restaurant marketing consulting advice right now: shift from B2C (business to consumer) to B2B (business to business). A single order for a team of 8 is worth significantly more than 8 individual transactions. It allows you to control food costs better because you know exactly what to prep, and it guarantees revenue before the lunch rush even starts. How to Implement It Do not force these customers to order off the regular menu or the giant catering menu. Create a middle ground. The "Boardroom Bundle": A set price package for 5, 8, or 10 people. It should include an assortment of sandwiches/wraps, a large salad to share, chips, and cookies. Ease of Ordering: This is critical. If they have to call and leave a voicemail, you’ve lost them. Put these bundles on your website with a simple checkout process. Individual Packaging Options: Even within a team, people are more hygiene-conscious. Offer "Boxed Lunch" versions of your catering where everyone gets their own labeled box. The Consultant’s Tip Print a specific flyer for this service and physically drop it off at the reception desks of local office buildings. Bring a free sample box for the receptionist. Receptionists are often the gatekeepers who decide where the team lunch is ordered from. Win them over, and you win the building. 5. Use Real-Time Social Media for Spontaneous Decisions In a hybrid world, lunch decisions are more spontaneous. Without the routine of "going where we always go," workers are often sitting at their desks at 11:15 AM, wondering, What am I going to eat? This is the "Zero Moment of Truth," and you need to win it. Why It Works Visuals trigger hunger. It is biological. A well-timed photo of a steaming hot special or a fresh, crisp salad can interrupt the workflow of a hungry office worker and drive an immediate decision. Static posts on a website aren't enough; you need the urgency of "Right Now." How to Implement It This is where agility in restaurant marketing comes into play. The 10:45 AM Golden Window: Post your daily special to Instagram Stories and Facebook Stories between 10:30 AM and 11:00 AM. This is when the hunger pangs start kicking in. Behind the Scenes: Don't just post a polished stock photo. Post a video of the chef actually plating the dish. The steam, the sauce drizzle, the crunch—these sensory details sell food. Scarcity Tactics: "We only have 15 orders of the Short Rib Sandwich today. Get here before they’re gone!" Scarcity drives action. The Consultant’s Tip Use geotags and location stickers on Instagram. Tag the specific district or even the large office building across the street. This ensures your content shows up when people in that specific area are browsing. Conclusion: Adapt or Fade Away The lunch landscape has changed, but it hasn't died. The restaurants that are struggling in 2025 are the ones waiting for 2019 to return. The restaurants that are thriving are the ones that have accepted the hybrid reality and retooled their operations to meet it. Whether it’s streamlining for speed, targeting the "Anchor Days," or pivoting to micro-catering, the opportunities are there. It just requires a shift in perspective. If you read through this and felt overwhelmed, or if you aren't sure which of these strategies fits your specific concept and location, it might be time to bring in outside help. Professional restaurant marketing consulting can help you dig into your specific data, analyze your local competition, and build a roadmap tailored to your kitchen's capabilities. Here is my challenge to you: Pick just one of the five strategies above. Just one. Commit to trying it for the next two weeks. Print the flyers for the office next door, or launch that Tuesday special. Action is the antidote to anxiety. Go win back your lunch crowd.

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