Lunch is an important time for restaurateurs. From major chains to small operations, these 7 restaurants present interesting ideas and ways to market this mid-day meal. Check out these 7 creative examples of lunch marketing.
Creative Examples of Lunch Marketing
1. 10 Minute Lunch
In New York City, Robert “Toshi” Chan is challenging his staff to produce a speedy 10 minute lunch, or it’s free for the guest. Toshi knows that in his neighborhood, the Flatiron District in Manhattan, there are many working professionals that are looking for a good sit down lunch, but simply don’t have the time. The promotion runs from noon until 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and includes Toshi Schnitzel breaded in panko crumbs and Ninja Calamari served with wasabi and togarashi.
2. All-You-Can-Eat
Lunch is often a time when guests come in all at once, and they are looking to eat something quickly and get back to work. Darden’s Olive Garden, recognizing these conditions, adopted the all-you-can-eat soup, salad, and breadsticks lunch promotion. Soups are made in advance and kept warm in a soup warmer, salads are made in the morning, and breadsticks are made in bulk, so the items can come out fast.
3. Pasta Lunch and Promotion for Late Arrivals
Carlucci restaurant and bar in the Downers Grove section of Chicago offers what many diners are finding hard to say no to, a $5 dollar pasta lunch. Carlucci serves this special Monday and Tuesday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They don’t stop there, however. If guests are a little too late to get the $5 lunch special, don’t worry. Carlucci offers $3 or $5 appetizers with the purchase of cocktails at 4 p.m.
4. Variety is the Spice of Life
Taqueria Mercado in downtown Cincinnati goes a different route when offering lunch specials. The taqueria offers 15 different lunch combinations for the same price, all including rice and beans. Taqueria Mercado offers these specials Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
5. Daily Doubler
Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant offers what they call a “daily doubler” as a special for lunch. When a guest orders the daily doubler, they get their normal lunch entrée at regular price, and the second for only $1. This is aimed at couples meeting for lunch, or coworkers looking to treat each other when they have lunch together.
6. Guest Feedback
Miami’s Ideas restaurant is making lunch a little more interesting. It’s using guest feedback to shape its lunch menu. Chef Filipe Perez often leaves the kitchen in order to gauge the reactions of the guests and entertain any feedback they may have. He appreciates their opinions, and creates a menu based on their feedback which leads him to change the menu often, sometimes on a daily basis.
7. Saint Arnold Brewing Company
On the weekdays, Executive Chef Ryan Savoie serves a fixed lunch menu, which includes their signature beer. It highlights their product and creates a sense of added value with the fixed menu.
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