Valentine’s Day is an ideal opportunity for restaurants to begin dusting off the winter doldrums and start building a fresh presence for the year ahead. With Valentine’s Day 2025 falling on a Friday, 74% of consumers are expected to celebrate by dining in person or ordering online, setting the stage for one of the busiest Restaurant Holidays to date.
Whether it’s sober beverage pairings, more affordable prix fixe menus, or health-conscious desserts, diners in 2025 are looking for unique ways to make the night special.
Stats to Consider
67% of consumers are planning to dine out on Valentine's Day in 2025.
38.8% of adults prefer casual dining on Valentine’s Day.
71.8% of consumers are expected to spend more on Valentine's Day dining this year than in 2024.
42.4% of consumers plan to dine at independent restaurants instead of chain restaurants
60% of consumers are expected to spend between $50-100 per person on Valentine's Day dining
Menu specials are cited by 45.9% as the most important factor in determining whether they will dine out a particular restaurant on Valentine’s Day
41.2% cite ambiance as the deciding factor when choosing where to celebrate Valentine's Day.
34.1% of consumers cite price as the most important factor when choosing a restaurant for Valentine's Day.
Popular Valentine's Day Menu Items
According to industry data, 77.6% of Valentine's Day diners prefer American cuisine, with steak sales expected to see a 135% increase and seafood sales increasing by 100%.
Sushi is expected to jump by 94% with pasta dishes running closely behind, with a 91% increase.
Dessert sales rose by 80% in 2024.
Wine remains the perfect companion for Valentine’s Day celebrations, with red wine sales spiking by 63% in 2024.
Valentine's Day 2025 Spending Habits
Due to shifts in the economy in 2025, more and more consumers are choosing to limit their spending on material excess and turning to experiential gifts. A trend that is forecasted to continue rising, restaurants can seize this huge opportunity by offering memorable experiences on the upcoming February holiday and follow through on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and throughout the rest of the year.
Experiences don’t always have to include going out. Many consumers have shied away from dining out on Valentine’s Day due to the increased costs and crowds, making delivery packages that entices guests to order in on Valentine’s Day more popular than ever.
Promoting your Online Menu for Valentine's Day at Home
Valentine’s Day presents a golden opportunity for restaurants to attract new guests and strengthen ties with existing clientele. Think about creating online delivery promotions and menu specials to entice customers to order a romantic meal from your restaurant's online menu on Valentine's Day. Remind your customers that you'll deliver their favorite dish to their door so they can enjoy their holiday in the comfort of their home.
Here are several ideas to help you get started:
All-inclusive Delivery Menus
Package Deals: Diners are often less price-sensitive on holidays. Offering packages that include dishes, drinks, and desserts is advantageous for both the restaurant and guests.
Alcohol Delivery: For restaurants that deliver alcohol, advertise wine and food pairings or offer alcoholic beverage delivery with a limited wine list available for take-out and delivery.
Looking to dive into alcoholic beverage delivery? See our blog post Alcohol Pick-up and Delivery Tips for the Upcoming Holiday Season.
Leverage Social Media
Tell a Story: Share eye-catching photos of your dishes, team memebrs, or behind-the-scenes prep. Use relevant hashtags like #ValentinesDayEats or #ValentineAtHome.
IG Stories: Share quick recipes, tips for a perfect home date night, or a countdown to the big day.
Collaborate with influencers or local bloggers: Showcase your food in a romantic setting using videos and photos of actual customers.
Make a Game of It: Promote a social media giveaway where followers can win a free dinner or discount.
Limited-Time Deals or Discounts
Early Bird Offers: Encourage diners to book orders in advance by offering early-bird discounts.
Loyalty Perks: Offer returning customers special perks, like a discount or a free dessert for Valentine's Day orders.
DIY Kits
Unique Twists: Offer DIY meal kits that allow customers to recreate the meal themselves at home, making it an experience rather than just a meal.
All-Inclusive: Include everything they need to make the dish, plus detailed instructions.
Partner with Local Businesses
Collaborate: Get together with local florists, wine shops, or bakeries to create gift bundles, like "Dinner and Dessert Packages" or "Wine and Dine for Two."
Cross Promote: Offer joint promotions or discounts when customers order from both businesses.
Personalized Services
Customized Meals: Allow customers to customize their meal by choosing sides, adding wine pairings, or personalizing messages on desserts.
Added Touches: Provide an option for romantic touches like candles, flowers, or a note for their loved ones with their order.
Interactive Experiences
Create a Valentine's Day Quiz: Invite users to design their perfect meal pairing.
Host a live cooking demo: Show guests how to prepare your special dishes to create a romantic atmosphere at home.
Embrace the Puns
Over-the-Top: Valentine’s Day is one time in the year where you can go a little tongue-and-cheek, embrace cute puns, and even go a little OTT by renaming your appetizers, dinner items, desserts, and drinks.
Set the Mood: Changing the food and drink names on your menu is a small touch, but it helps get customers in the mood. Promote your cutesy menu on social media to get customers to start thinking about where they’ll eat on Valentine’s.
Here are a Few Examples:
Espresso My Love for You
Cupid Crunchwrap
Apple-of-My-Eye Martini
French Kiss French Dip
First Kiss Fries
Have-a- Heart Hamburgers
Don’t Go Bacon My Heart Burger
Lovers Lemonade
Love Potion No. 9 Lattes
Whisky Off My Feet Wings
Soulmate Sushi
Lovebird Lemon Chicken
Honey Pie Hamburgers
Get Gifty
In the Details: Making your restaurant experience stand out is all in the little details. Go beyond offering food and beverages and create a landing page that allows customers to add a gift that will accompany the order.
Promote Convenience: For busy consumers, anything that makes life easier is appealing. Include the classics, like chocolates, balloons, and teddy bears, or level up by offering something from your online store (sauces, dressings, branded wine).
Bonus Gifts: Entice guests to order from your restaurant by offering a free gift such as small boxes of chocolates or a single rose with every meal.
Valentine’s Brunch Menu
Daylight Dining: In a market saturated with traditional Valentine’s Day dinners, meals during the daylight hours can be an original alternative to help you stand out from the crowd.
Level Down: Create smaller, less-expensive packages to appeal to customers on a budget.
Non-Valentine’s Day Menu
Target GenZ: Anti-Valentine’s Day parties are on the increase among younger diners. Responding to this growing trend will enable you to reach a target that may be more niche, such as younger GenZers who will gather together for an Anti-Valentines Day party.
Entice Singles: Create anti-Valentine party packages and get creative with cute names like a Cupid-is-Stupid Party, Singles Only Sushi Night, or Purely Platonic Pizza Party.
Galentine’s Day Menu
Celebrate Friendship: Valentine's Day can be a bummer for many singles, but in 2025, the day isn't just about celebrating romantic love. It's also about cherishing relationships with friends and family. Create a special menu that celebrates Galentine's Day by getting creative with menu items names.
Be My Galentine Burritos
Ladies Night Lattes
All the Single Ladies Sushi
Ringless Ribs
Girls-Night In Grub
Besties Burgers
Friends Forever Fries
Cupid-is-Stupid Cocktails
Extend Specials Through the Weekend
Spread the Love: Though Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, traditionally a big date night, there’s no need to limit your efforts to only February 14th. Instead, extend your special meals and Valentine’s experiences throughout the weekend.
Valentine’s Day as a “Spring-board”
Thank You Notes: Once the fun is over and Valentine’s Day is in the bag, you can still get some juice out of the holiday by creating an email campaign thanking everyone who ordered from your online menu letting them know how much you appreciate their business.
Think Ahead: Use email and social media to remind customers about upcoming events like Mother’s Day, Easter, and Father’s Day.
Download and print our handy 2025 Food Holiday Calendar to remind yourself and your staff about more of the approaching holidays.
Take Away
Valentine's Day provides an opportunity for businesses to dig their way out of the post-holiday slowdown and launch fresh spring offerings. By offering special menus, discounted packages, or themed experiences, restaurants can enhance guest engagement and increase customer satisfaction. Valentine's Day promotions not only boost sales but also strengthen brand loyalty as guests associate your restaurant with warmth, celebration, and connections.
By Eileen Strauss
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