Labor Day weekend gives you a chance to boost traffic, increase average check sizes, and stand out from larger competitors. With the right labor day restaurant specials, you can offer value without overwhelming your team or budget.
This guide features practical, low-cost ideas to help you create restaurant labor day specials that work across dine-in, takeout, and delivery, plus tips to market them effectively in the days leading up to the holiday.
The right Labor Day restaurant specials don’t need to be expensive or complex. What matters is delivering value and creating moments guests can share. These ideas provide a range of options to suit your service style and goals.
Families often look for easy group dining options during long weekends. Bundling mains, sides, and drinks into a single-priced package helps remove friction from the ordering process and encourages larger ticket sizes.
Offer deals that serve 3-6 people. For example:
Use simple names that signal value and make ordering easy online or in-store. Promote these bundles across your website, table tents, and social channels with photos that show portions clearly.
Position the bundle as a limited-time deal to drive urgency. If you're short-staffed, stick to menu items that don't slow down the kitchen or require extra prep.
A prix fixe menu helps streamline operations while offering a curated experience. A Labor Day BBQ-style theme ties in well with the holiday and can work for both casual and upscale restaurants.
Here’s a simple format to follow:
Price it at a fixed amount ($25–$35 per person), depending on your cost structure. Keep the choices minimal to help your team stay focused.
Pair it with house drinks or local beers for upsell opportunities. A BBQ prix fixe also works well for patio service, takeout, or RSVP-only events.
Small menu additions like specialty cocktails or desserts can draw extra attention during Labor Day weekend. These are low-risk, high-margin items that guests love to post on social media.
Some examples:
Use festive garnishes or custom glassware to make these items stand out. Feature them on your chalkboard, digital signage, or as inserts in your physical menus.
Offering these for 3–4 days only encourages customers to try them while they can. Promote them in your email campaigns and through Instagram Reels or Stories.
Spotlighting regional produce or products during Labor Day weekend adds freshness to your menu and supports other local businesses. It also gives you great content for storytelling.
Here’s how to do it:
Mention the vendor by name on the menu or signage. If possible, tag them on social media. This can increase reach and strengthen partnerships.
Keep the ingredients simple and use them in items you already serve, just with a fresh twist. Guests like seeing something new, especially when it feels connected to the community.
Offering a discount to veterans, healthcare workers, or other service professionals helps build goodwill and encourage repeat visits. Labor Day is a natural time to show appreciation without needing to discount everything.
How to structure it:
Keep the offer simple, and make sure staff are briefed to avoid confusion. Promote this through local Facebook groups, signage, and your business listings.
You can also ask guests if they’d like to “pay it forward” by adding a donation to cover a meal for a local worker. This adds a community-driven layer without complicating operations.
A "kids eat free" deal remains one of the most effective ways to attract families. It increases group size and improves dwell time without requiring major menu changes.
Some options:
Use clear signage at the entrance and on your homepage. Parents often plan their trips based on deals like this, especially during long weekends.
If you want to limit impact, only offer it during specific hours or on Labor Day itself. Make the kids’ menu fun and quick to serve to keep tables turning.
Extend your regular happy hour by a few hours or run it all day during Labor Day weekend. Guests who typically miss early happy hour times due to work schedules can now take advantage of the extended availability.
Here are some options to try:
Add signage near the entrance and promote on your social stories to let guests know. Use bold table talkers to upsell drink specials and light bites.
Extended happy hours help with pacing and can fill slower times between lunch and dinner.
Labor Day weather is usually still good for outdoor dining. If you have a patio, encourage pet-friendly visits by offering small touches that make pet owners feel welcome.
Ideas include:
Let guests know in advance that pets are welcome. Post a photo of a staff member serving a pup cup. Guests are more likely to stay longer if their pets are treated well, too.
Consider including pets in any photo booth or giveaway campaigns that will be running that weekend.
Many people host or attend parties over the Labor Day weekend and prefer ordering in. Offering free delivery with online orders can make your restaurant their go-to option.
Structure it clearly:
Use app push notifications, email blasts, and simple banner text on your ordering site. Partner with third-party platforms if needed, or promote direct ordering to save fees.
Free delivery works well as a short-term incentive that helps boost check averages and volume.
Pre-packed meal kits help you extend sales without crowding the dining room. These are perfect for group gatherings and family meals at home.
Ideas to offer:
Use packaging that travels well and label everything clearly. Promote on your site, email list, and social platforms.
Offer preorder by a set deadline so your team can prep efficiently. Add upsell items like desserts or local sodas to increase ticket size.
Labor Day weekend provides an opportunity to boost foot traffic before the season shifts. To fill tables, focus on low-lift, high-appeal experiences that encourage people to stay longer and spend more.
Try these dine-in ideas that work across different restaurant types:
1. Themed dining experiences
Create a holiday vibe with a BBQ-inspired menu, Americana-themed plating, or a summer send-off dinner. Keep it simple but festive. Even switching up plating and music can set the tone.
2. Tabletop games or trivia nights
Offer something fun to keep groups engaged while they dine. Trivia tied to Labor Day or summer themes works well. Prizes can be low-cost, like a free dessert or a discount on the next visit.
3. Live entertainment or DJ events
Book a local artist or DJ for the weekend. Even a small acoustic set on the patio can draw in passersby and encourage longer stays.
4. Social media check-in discounts
Reward guests who share their visit experiences. Offer 10% off or a free appetizer when they tag your location or use a branded hashtag. This boosts visibility and encourages engagement without incurring additional expenses.
5. RSVP-only dinner events
Set up a special seating block with a prix fixe menu and require reservations. It adds urgency and helps you manage flow. Pair this with limited-time items for a stronger pull.
Each of these restaurant Labor Day specials focuses on experience, value, and shareability without incurring heavy costs or logistics. Choose one or combine a few to keep your dining room active all weekend.
Off-premise sales provide a quick way to increase volume during the holiday weekend. Whether guests plan to host at home or keep it casual, these Labor Day restaurant special ideas help drive online orders and pickup traffic without stretching your team too thin.
Party trays or grill-at-home bundles
Offer ready-to-serve meals for four to six guests. BBQ platters, taco bars, or slider kits make it easy for customers to entertain without extra prep. Include reheating instructions or pairing suggestions to add value.
Free drink or dessert with takeout orders
A complimentary lemonade, boba, soda, or cookie can nudge someone to complete a takeout order. Use a clear minimum spend to control costs and increase order value.
Time-limited delivery promos
Run a short promotion like $0 delivery from noon to 3 PM on Labor Day weekend. Highlight it through SMS or push notifications to encourage fast decisions and reduce peak-hour pressure.
Early bird pickup discounts
Encourage customers to schedule orders in advance with a small discount. A 10% offer for pickup before 11:30 AM can smooth out kitchen volume and improve speed.
Collabs with local beverage or dessert brands
Partner with a nearby bakery, brewery, or coffee shop to bundle items. It adds variety, supports local businesses, and helps your special stand out in feeds and flyers.
Simple takeout offers can be just as effective as dine-in deals when they’re easy to order and promoted clearly. Focus on convenience, value, and presentation to drive repeat orders.
Once your Labor Day restaurant specials are ready, get them in front of the right people early and often. Keep messaging consistent, highlight urgency, and make it easy for guests to take action.
Map out 7–10 days of posts across platforms. Focus on value, visuals, and timing.
Post consistently across Instagram, Facebook, and Google Business. Pin a post to stay visible.
Reach your regulars directly. Keep messages short and action-driven.
Email subject lines:
SMS examples:
If you’re already running restaurant SMS marketing or restaurant email marketing campaigns, include a short preview of your Labor Day specials with links to order or reserve. MMS is also a great option if you want to include visuals like your menu, dish photos, or flyer graphics. Keep timing tight and messages concise to encourage action.
Design clean, high-contrast flyers using phrases like:
Add QR codes for online orders or a phone number for RSVPs. Drop printed versions at coffee shops, barbershops, gyms, and community boards.
Feature your restaurant's Labor Day specials promo on your homepage or menu page. Include:
If possible, use a homepage pop-up the week of the holiday to grab attention.
Pro Tip:
Boost visibility at the point of sale by updating kiosk ordering splash screens and tablet welcome screens with limited-time Labor Day offers and eye-catching visuals.
Reach more people by cross-promoting.
Focus on high-traffic places where your ideal guests spend time.
Promoting your Labor Day specials restaurant campaign doesn’t require a big budget. Stick to what works, stay consistent, and give people a clear reason to act now.
A strong Labor Day promotion starts with smart timing. Planning ahead keeps things manageable and gives every offer a better shot at reaching the right people.
This gives customers enough time to make plans, especially for group dining or takeout orders. Utilize your in-store signage, email list, website banner, and social media platforms to initiate awareness-building efforts. Make your offer clear, time-bound, and easy to share.
Running behind? Focus on high-impact channels, such as social media and in-store signage. Highlight urgency and keep the message simple. A limited-time offer still grabs attention when promoted clearly.
Stay top of mind without overwhelming your audience. Here’s a quick guide:
Mix in posts with behind-the-scenes prep or staff highlights to keep the content engaging.
If the menu changes or the offer is adjusted, update all promotional channels as soon as possible. Update your signage and key information on your website and social media pages to ensure accuracy and consistency. Keep the message clear and brief. Focus on what’s still available and how to place an order or make a reservation.
Loop in staff on promotions as soon as they’re finalized. Share the promo details, expected rush times, and any scripts for upselling or answering customer questions. If you’re hosting a dine-in event or offering a limited-time promotion, review the flow with your team a few days in advance to avoid any surprises.
Timing doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be consistent and clear. Starting a bit earlier gives you more control and helps customers feel ready to act.
A well-planned Labor Day promotion can drive more orders, fill more seats, and keep your brand top of mind long after the weekend ends. With the right mix of value, creativity, and timing, your Labor Day restaurant specials can do more than boost sales; they can help strengthen customer loyalty and stretch your summer momentum into the fall.
If you’re looking for a smarter way to manage promotions across dine-in, takeout, and delivery, Chowbus POS can help. From BOGO offers and item-specific deals to platform-targeted discounts, our built-in restaurant promotion engine lets you create and schedule offers that fit your goals—without extra effort. Launch promotions by time, day, or guest type, sync them across your ordering channels, and track performance in real time.
Book a Free Demo with Chowbus POS today and see how simple it can be to run effective campaigns for holidays and every day in between.
Planning a strong Labor Day promotion doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. These quick answers clear up common questions and help you shape offers that work.
Restaurants often run limited-time specials, themed menus, or bundle deals to attract holiday traffic. Many also extend hours, offer outdoor seating, or promote takeout packages for group gatherings.
No, not necessarily. Restaurants design specials to achieve different goals.
Some specials offer a cheaper price to attract customers on slower nights or to provide great value. Others highlight premium, seasonal, or unique ingredients, which can sometimes make them more expensive than the regular menu items.
Ultimately, restaurants use specials to either provide a great deal or to showcase their chef's creativity.
A good Labor Day dinner features seasonal favorites like grilled meats, BBQ platters, fresh salads, and summer sides. Many restaurants offer themed prix fixe menus, family-style meals, or takeout bundles that highlight these crowd-pleasers.
Yes, Labor Day is a strong opportunity for sales. Many people dine out or order in over the long weekend, making it a great time to run limited-time offers that boost traffic and revenue.
Restaurants stay open on Labor Day to serve customers who are off work, traveling, or dining out with family and friends. The holiday brings increased foot traffic and a chance to boost sales with seasonal specials.
Where can I find more ideas for restaurant marketing?
Check out the Chowbus blog for seasonal strategies, marketing templates, and promo inspiration tailored to your service model.
