Gone are the days when people depended solely on word-of-mouth or the phone book to find a local restaurant. Today, the internet, primarily social media and Google, plays a major role in finding dining spots. With over 3 billion people using social media nowadays, your current and potential customers are definitely among them. 

So, having a strong social media presence is paramount for a restaurant. That is why we have created a list of social media content ideas for restaurants. You can study these content ideas and plan your social media posts.

And, don’t forget, if you need any help to boost your social media platforms, our team of expert social media marketers at DigiFix is here to help you. You can book a free consultation with us to discuss your needs and goals. Click here to book your FREE consultation

Importance of Restaurant Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing is essential for restaurants because it helps attract new customers and keep current ones engaged. It allows restaurants to showcase their food, atmosphere, and unique offerings to a broader audience.

A strong social media presence helps restaurants build personal connections with customers. Sharing high-quality photos, engaging videos, and well-written content can create a sense of warmth and excitement, making people want to visit again.

Additionally, social media provides a platform for customer interaction. Restaurants can respond to reviews, answer questions, and share special promotions, strengthening relationships with their audience.

In today’s digital world, people often check a restaurant’s social media before deciding where to eat. A well-managed social media strategy can make a restaurant stand out, drive more bookings, and increase brand loyalty. So, let’s explore some effective social media content ideas for restaurants.

Creative Social Media Content Ideas for Restaurants

Here are some engaging social media content ideas for restaurants to help your restaurant stand out:

1. Collaborate with Popular Food Bloggers & Vloggers

First one on our list of social media content ideas for restaurants is one of the greatest way to boost your restaurant’s sales. Food bloggers and vloggers have a dedicated audience that trusts their recommendations. By inviting them to review your restaurant, you can leverage their influence to attract potential customers. Their followers are food lovers and looking for new dining experiences.

How to Execute It:

Identify the Right Influencers:

• Look for food influencers with a strong local following.
• Check their engagement levels (likes, comments, shares) rather than just their follower count.
• Ensure their content style aligns with your restaurant’s brand.
• Review their past collaborations to see if they promote businesses similar to yours.

Invite Influencers to Your Restaurant:

• Offer them a dining experience in exchange for an honest review.
• Provide signature dishes and new menu items for them to try.
• Encourage them to create engaging content such as Instagram Reels, TikTok videos, or blog posts.

Use Hashtags & Mentions:

• Ask influencers to use your restaurant’s branded hashtags and tag your social media pages in their posts.

Repost Their Content:

• Share their reviews on your social media pages and website.
• Create a “Featured Reviews” highlight on Instagram to showcase their content.

Offer Exclusive Promotions for Their Followers:

• Provide a discount code or free appetizer for customers who mention the influencer’s post when they visit.

Pro Tip:

• Micro-influencers (with 5,000–50,000 followers) often have a more engaged audience than big influencers and may be more affordable.

2. Post Positive Customer Reviews

Many people check online reviews on Google, Facebook, and Instagram before visiting a restaurant. Posting positive customer feedback builds trust and encourages new customers.

How to Execute It:

Collect Reviews from Multiple Platforms:

• Monitor your Google Reviews, Yelp, and social media comments.
• Take screenshots of the best reviews and save them for social media content.

Create an Engaging Post Format:

• Use design tools like Canva to create an eye-catching post with a quote from the review.
• Include a high-quality photo of the dish the customer mentioned.
• Example caption: “Thanks to Sarah for this amazing review! ‘The best wood-fired pizza in Melbourne – the crust was crispy, the toppings fresh, and the service was outstanding!’ Come taste the difference at [Restaurant Name]!”

3. Share Limited-Time Offers

People love exclusivity and don’t want to miss a great deal. Limited-time offers create a sense of urgency, encouraging customers to act quickly before the deal expires. These promotions can drive foot traffic, boost sales, and generate engagement on social media.

How to Execute It:

Announce the Offer Clearly:

• Use attention-grabbing headlines like “Only for this weekend!” or “Limited-Time Special – Ends Soon!”
• Include the exact dates so customers know the deadline.
• Example: “Enjoy our new Spicy Seafood Pasta for ONE WEEK ONLY! Available from March 18–24. Don’t miss out!”

Use High-Quality Visuals:

• Post mouth-watering photos of the dish or drinks included in the promotion.
• Use engaging videos (such as a slow-motion pour of a cocktail or a chef preparing the dish).

Leverage Instagram Stories & Reels:

• Use countdown stickers on Instagram to remind customers when the offer expires.
• Post behind-the-scenes content showing chefs preparing the limited-time dish.

Encourage Engagement:

• Ask followers to tag a friend who would love the deal.
• Example: “Tag your foodie buddy and visit us before this offer ends!”

Offer Exclusive Discounts for Online Followers:

• Provide a secret promo code for social media followers.
• Example: “Mention ‘TASTY20’ at checkout for 20% off this week’s special dish!”

Pro Tip:

• Use phrases like “Last Chance!”, “Selling Out Fast!”, or “Only 5 Left!” to create FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

4. Share Food Pairing Suggestions

Many customers appreciate guidance on pairing food and drinks, especially when it enhances their dining experience. These posts add educational value while subtly promoting your menu items.

How to Execute It:

Pair Drinks with Popular Dishes:

• Example: “Pair our creamy Alfredo pasta with a glass of Chardonnay for the perfect Italian night!”
• Suggest pairings for wine, cocktails, beers, or even non-alcoholic drinks like mocktails or fresh juices.

Use a Carousel Post Format:

• Create a series of slides, with each slide featuring a dish and its recommended drink pairing.
• Example Slide 1: “Pairing Guide: Steak & Red Wine 🍷”
• Example Slide 2: “Best Wine: A bold Cabernet Sauvignon”

Highlight Chef & Bartender Recommendations:

• Have your chef or sommelier share expert tips in short videos.
• Example: A bartender explaining “Why a smoky whiskey pairs perfectly with our BBQ ribs.”

Make It Fun & Interactive:

• Run a poll asking customers about their favorite food and drink combos.
• Example: “Which wine do you prefer with your steak? 🍷 Red 🍷 White”

Pro Tip:

• Include a “Pairing of the Week” as a recurring content theme to keep engagement high.

5. Create Posts for Food-Related Days

People love celebrating food holidays, and these themed days are a great excuse to promote your menu in a fun way. Social media engagement often spikes on these occasions.

How to Execute It:

Find Relevant Food Holidays:

• Use a food holiday calendar to identify the best days to celebrate.
• Examples:
  • February 9 – World Pizza Day 🍕
  • July 7 – World Chocolate Day 🍫
  • October 25 – World Pasta Day 🍝

Create Engaging Content:

• Photo & Video Posts: Share close-up shots or slow-motion videos of the featured dish.
• Fun Facts: Post interesting historical or cultural facts about the dish.
• Limited-Time Specials: Offer discounts or special dishes related to the food holiday.
• User-Generated Content: Ask customers to share their favorite versions of the dish and tag your restaurant.

Offer Exclusive Promotions:

• Example: “Celebrate World Pasta Day with us! Enjoy a free garlic bread with any pasta order today only.”

Pro Tip:

• Plan food holiday posts and promote them through countdown stories.

6.Highlight Your Sustainability Practices

People prefer to deal with businesses that are concerned about the environment. So, it is a good idea to share content related to that area.  

Show how your restaurant reduces waste and sources locally. For example, post about your partnership with local farms and how it benefits both your restaurant and the environment. 

7.Showcase Charitable Activities

Post about your involvement in local charities or community service. For example, share photos from a charity event you participated in and encourage your followers to support the cause.

8.Answer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Address common queries in a fun and engaging way. Create a video series where you answer questions like, “Do you have vegetarian options?” or “Can I make a reservation online?”

9.Celebrate Milestones

Share significant achievements and anniversaries. For example, post about your restaurant’s anniversary with a special offer for customers.

10.Highlight Ingredient Sourcing

Show how you pick and source your ingredients. For example, post a video of a visit to a local farm where you source your fresh produce. It will impress your customers and guarantee that they will always receive quality food from your restaurant.

11. Share Pet-Friendly Posts

If your restaurant is pet-friendly, you can try this social media post. Feature customers’ dogs and have a ‘dog of the month’ post. Encourage customers to bring their pets and post pictures for social media.

12.Repost Tagged Stories

You can share content where your restaurant is mentioned on social media. For example, repost Instagram Stories where customers have tagged your restaurant, showing their positive experiences.

It is a great way to show that you value your customers’ opinions and make them want to visit again.

13. Feature Signature dishes of your restaurant

Highlight what makes your menu unique. Post mouth watering photos and videos of your best menu item, with a story about what makes them special.

14. Participate in Social Media Challenges

Join popular challenges like TikTok dance trends. For instance, get your staff to participate in a trending dance challenge, adding a fun twist related to your restaurant.

15. Share Restaurant Tours

Give virtual tours of your restaurant. Post a video walking through your dining area, kitchen, and any unique features like a rooftop garden.

16. Conduct Social Media Competitions

Run contests, such as tagging friends for a meal. For example, hold a competition where followers tag a friend they’d like to dine with for a chance to win a free meal from your restaurant.

This is a great way to expose your social media accounts to new audiences and increase engagement.

17. Post Photos and Videos of food and beverages available at your restaurant

Share mouth-watering images of your dishes and beverages. High-quality photos and short clips of your meals can inspire viewers to visit.

You can hire a professional photographer to take pictures and it will be a great investment.

18. Highlight Employees

Introduce your staff to your followers. Post photos and short bios of a team member, highlighting his/her roles and fun facts about him/her.

19. Feature Customers

Show appreciation for your regular customers. Post photos of your loyal customers with their favourite dishes and a short story about them.

20. Promote Deals and Promotions

Keep your audience informed about current offers. For example, posts about happy hour specials, discounts on certain days, or loyalty programs.

21. Collaborate with Influencers

Partner with influencers to reach a broader audience. For example, invite a local influencer to try your menu and share their experience with their followers.

22. Share Celebratory Posts

Highlight employee achievements and milestones. For example, post about an employee of the month with a photo and a short description of why they were chosen.

23. Post videos of People Enjoying the Restaurant

Share short videos (Instagram Reels of TikTok videos) of happy customers. Capture candid moments of guests enjoying their meals and post them with their permission. Instagram and TikTok are great platforms for this kind of post.

24. Host Contests with Giveaways

Engage followers with exciting contests. For example, conduct a giveaway where followers can win a free meal by liking, sharing, and tagging friends in your post.

25. Create Day-in-the-Life Videos

Show a typical day at your restaurant. Post a video that follows a day in the life of your chef, highlighting the preparation of dishes and the behind-the-scenes action.

26.Behind-the-Scenes Cooking Processes

Your customers only see the front process of your restaurant and I am sure that they are curious about behind the scenes. You can show how your dishes are made. For example, post a time-lapse video of your chef preparing a popular dish from start to finish.

27. Historical Stories About the Restaurant

If your restaurant has a long existence in the industry, you can share the history of your establishment. Post old photos and stories about how your restaurant started and evolved over the years.

28. Feature Local Suppliers and Farms

Highlight your local partners. For instance, post about the local dairy farm that supplies your fresh milk, including a visit to their farm.

29. Share Seasonal Menu Changes

Inform customers about new seasonal dishes. For example, post about your new summer menu with photos of fresh, seasonal ingredients.

30. Highlight Unique or Rare Ingredients

Showcase special ingredients used in your dishes. For example, post about a rare spice or herb you use, explaining its origin and flavour.

31. Create Interactive Polls and Quizzes

Engage followers with fun polls. For example, ask your followers to vote on their favourite dish or guess the ingredients in a new menu item.

32. Share Event Highlights

Post about events held at your restaurant. For example, share photos and videos from a live music night or a special tasting event.

33. Feature User Generated Content

Share content created by your customers on your business page. Encourage guests to tag your restaurant in their posts and repost their photos and stories.

34. Post About Staff Hobbies and Interests

Show the personal side of your employees. For example, post about your chef’s passion for painting or your manager’s love for hiking.

35. Share Community Events

Inform followers about local events. Create content about community events you’re participating in or supporting, such as local festivals or charity runs.

36. Highlight Nutritional Information

Provide health-conscious content. For example, post about the nutritional benefits of a new salad or the low-calorie options on your menu.

37. Offer Sneak Peeks of New Dishes

Tease upcoming menu items. Share behind-the-scenes photos of your chefs working on new dishes, building anticipation for their release.

38. Feature Themed Nights or Events

Promote special themed events. For example, post about an upcoming Italian Night with a special menu and decorations.

39. Share Cultural or Historical Food Facts

Educate followers with interesting facts. For example, post about the history of a traditional dish you serve, including its cultural significance.

40. Share Holiday Decoration Photos

Show your festive spirit. Post photos of your restaurant decorated for holidays like Christmas, Halloween, or Valentine’s Day.

41. Create Posts Around Customer Stories

Share personal stories from your patrons. For example, post about a couple who got engaged at your restaurant, including their photo and story.

42. Host Live Q&A Sessions

Interact with your audience in real time. Schedule live sessions where followers can ask questions about your menu, restaurant, or anything else they’re curious about.

43. Post About Restaurant Awards and Recognitions

This is one of the best social media content ideas for restaurants because it helps to build credibility around a business. Celebrate your achievements. For example, post about awards your restaurant has won or recognitions from food critics or local publications.

Choosing the Right Social Media Platforms

Finding your voice and defining your unique style takes time, so we recommend starting with one or two social media platforms. Each platform offers different features and caters to different audience demographics, so you’ll need to decide which ones will make the biggest impact on your business.

Here’s a look at some key differences to help you decide.

Instagram for Restaurants

Instagram depends heavily on visual content for engagement, making it a necessary platform for restaurant social media marketing.

In fact, 90% of Instagram users follow business profiles to stay informed of their latest updates, including restaurants. You can post images and videos (reels) on both your grid and Stories.

In 2020, Instagram introduced Reels, which are 15-second video clips. You can use an online video maker to create professional videos with these features.

Facebook for Restaurants

A Facebook page is excellent for sharing essential business information, such as your business hours, location of the restaurant, and menu. It’s also a great platform to promote new menu items, special events, and customer reviews.

Facebook is particularly useful for appealing to an older audience that may not be active on Instagram.

TikTok for Restaurants

TikTok is known as the new Google. Because many people now use TikTok to find information. So, having a presence on TikTok is essential for a restaurant.

To appeal to a younger audience, TikTok is a great platform. TikTok has quickly evolved from a source of entertainment to a marketing platform.

By creating short videos showing various aspects of your restaurant, TikTok can help build brand awareness.

YouTube for Restaurants

Although creating full-length videos can be time-consuming, it’s great for giving potential customers a behind-the-scenes look at your restaurant. You can create cooking tutorials, staff interviews, or showcase unique dishes.

Using YouTube paired with Facebook or Instagram helps promote your videos and gain more attention. For example, a fine dining restaurant might post a series of videos showing the preparation of a multi-course meal, attracting foodies who appreciate the art of cooking.

Social media management is essential for restaurants to build brand awareness, boost customer relationships, and showcase unique features. By creating diverse and engaging content, restaurants can connect with their audience on a personal level and encourage them to return. Start implementing these social media content ideas for restaurants today and watch your social media presence succeed.

This guide provides numerous social media content ideas for restaurants and highlights the importance of social media marketing for restaurants. By following these strategies, your restaurant can effectively engage with its audience and stand out in a competitive market.