Restaurant Weeks Bring Big Business

Restaurant weeks are becoming more and more popular in both big cities and smaller suburban locations.  They can be much more financially beneficial to a restaurant than participating in a service like Groupon.  In Boston, diners make reservations far in advance and even weekday lunches are busy at participating restaurants.  And, unlike coupon deals, restaurant week events tend to bring in diners who are interested in trying the cuisine, not just looking for the best local deal.  

Aside from the financial benefits of increased business, restaurant weeks can provide you with a way to test out a new menu offering.  Most restaurant weeks are organized by the local tourism groups or Chambers of Commerce and they tend to do most of the advertising, so there is little investment in initial costs, other than perhaps, membership fees for these groups.  Generally, restaurant weeks are held during slow winter and/or summer weeks, so even the smallest boost in business can have huge effects.

Some things to remember when creating a restaurant week menu:

Keep it simple - you'll be busy so you want dishes that are easy to prepare

Stay true to your regular menu - maybe feature one of your most popular dishes

Be unique - if you're one of many participating restaurants, be sure to have unique offerings to set yourself apart

Find our if your local area has a restaurant week, or talk to your local Chamber of Commerce about starting one.