Many people look for Christmas dinner at restaurants, whether for the convenience of having a special dinner ready to serve to family and friends at home, or to enjoy a standout dining experience on this date.
That's why opening your restaurant on Christmas can be an excellent way to attract customers and increase profits. If you plan to offer this service, check out a few quick tips below to have everything ready and surprise your guests. Let's dive in!
7 tips to prepare Christmas dinner at your restaurant
Christmas is a special celebration, and if you're expecting to welcome guests on this date, you need to be very well prepared, taking care of every detail so the moment is perfect. Check out our tips below!
1- Menu
Put together a special menu for Christmas dinner, including the classics and making adjustments that fit your restaurant's concept.
A good idea is to offer a complete menu with a starter, main courses, desserts, and drinks to pair with the meal. Another option is to set up a buffet with several choices, where guests can serve themselves as they like.
Some dishes you can't skip for Christmas dinner are:
- Chester or Christmas Turkey
- Glazed Ham (Tender)
- Roast Pork Leg (Pernil)
- Greek-style rice
- Rice with Raisins
- Cod fritters
- Bacalhoada (Codfish Stew)
- Bacon Farofa
- Salpicão (Chicken Salad)
- Rabanada (Brazilian French Toast)
- Pavê (Layered Trifle)
That said, it's worth researching the traditional Christmas foods in your region and offering a variety that pleases everyone. Also, don't forget to think about the kids' menu, with options that appeal to children too.
2 – Pre-Orders
Some people don't know how to, or don't want the hassle of, preparing their own Christmas dinner, so you can put together a menu for pre-orders. Take advantage of this demand to boost your restaurant's profitability on this date.
Include the traditional options on the menu, but also look for something that sets you apart — after all, competition is fierce and customers are looking for something special.
You can also give customers the option to customize the menu according to their preferences and number of guests.
In this case, create a menu with a few options for the customer to choose from. For example: 3 types of starters, a main course with different sides for the customer to pick, two or three types of dessert, and so on.
Finally, you can also offer a drinks menu that pairs well with the dishes. Besides being a differentiator, this helps increase your profitability.
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3 – Christmas Decorations
Go all out with Christmas decorations to create the festive atmosphere the occasion calls for. Here are a few tips that can help:
- Choose a color palette — it can be the traditional red and green or something more modern, like blue and silver.
- Lean on lighting to set a special mood. String lights and light curtains are always charming.
- Set up a Christmas tree, nicely decorated with ornaments, ribbons, and lights.
- Use tablecloths, chair covers, and napkins in the colors of your chosen palette.
- Also decorate the restroom doors with wreaths and add Christmas touches to counters and sinks, such as flower arrangements or figurines of Santa Claus, reindeer, snowmen, and other classic characters.
- Create a nice spot where customers can take photos, like a sofa or bench with a backdrop panel or a curtain of lights behind it.
4 – Entertainment
Including entertainment for Christmas night at your restaurant can also be a way to stand out from the competition.
If you serve a lot of families, it might make sense to hire a Santa Claus to hand out gifts to the kids. If you have a kids' area, you could think about themed activities.
You could also put together a lineup of live shows to liven up the atmosphere.
Leia também: Is Paying a Cover Charge for Live Music Mandatory? Understanding the Law
5 – Reservations
Demand for Christmas dinner can be quite high, especially in cities that draw a lot of tourists during this time of year. You're also likely to get large groups. To be better prepared, organize your reservations:
- Think about how many tables you have available for reservations;
- Announce on your social media and other marketing channels that your restaurant will be open on Christmas;
- Explain the rules for making a reservation.
This way, you already have an estimate of how many guests to expect, avoid surprises, and can deliver excellent service, giving your customers an incredible experience.
Learn more: How to set reservation rules at your restaurant
6 – Service Hours
Also consider extending your hours on Christmas dinner night. That's because this is a special moment of celebration, and your guests may want to stay later than usual.
What matters is that they feel comfortable enjoying the moment without worrying about the time.
7 – Staff
Prepare your team to ensure quick, high-quality service during Christmas dinner. Check work schedules and vacation time to know who will be available that day. If needed, bring in freelance staff to reinforce the team.
Also, run a training session with everyone to go over the processes and review the details so everything runs smoothly. This is essential for making Christmas at your restaurant memorable — so that in years to come, your customers keep coming back and recommend you to others.
Deliver the best service with EPOC
On Christmas dinner and on every other day of the year, delivering excellent service is crucial to your restaurant's success.
EPOC is a platform built to help your restaurant grow, with features designed to give you speed in service and ease in management.
To see how it works in practice, Schedule a free demo and talk with our consultants.
