Anyone running a restaurant right now knows there are endless tasks that need to be done yesterday. So, it’s no surprise that brainstorming restaurant marketing strategies falls to the back burner or the very bottom of the prep list.
Enter Tock. As the ultimate sidekick for optimizing your business, we’re with you through every stage of operations. That includes getting reservations up and running seamlessly, helping to keep seats filled, and experimenting with new offerings.
Here, we’ve rounded up five of the hottest restaurant marketing trends for 2025, so you can spend less time brainstorming and more time expediting.
Keep in mind that marketing isn’t just about paid advertisement placements; smart marketing means understanding what your audience wants, and catering directly to their desires.
1. Tap into our collective nostalgia
When it comes to restaurant marketing strategies, what’s old can be new again. Retro throwbacks can be found everywhere, from advertising with vintage-inspired branding to offering menu items that riff on feel-good, throwback favorites.
To take it a step further, some restaurants are harkening back to simpler times by promoting their phone-free policies. For example, at Caterina’s Ristorante, Chef Tim Love’s old-school Italian concept in Fort Worth, Texas, guests in the main dining room are asked to drop their phones into a pouch upon arrival in exchange for a complimentary bottle of wine, amuse-bouche, and a post-meal email with photos of the food ordered.
The no-phone experience hasn’t stopped positive reviews of Caterina’s from spreading around town; last year, it was named an editor’s pick for the best Italian restaurant by Fort Worth Magazine.
Of course, a retro vibe or no-phone policy isn’t for everyone. At the end of the day, what’s most important is to do right by your brand.
2. Give guests a clear view of your mission in your restaurant marketing
In an age of automation and artificial intelligence, guests are craving transparency, authenticity, and connection.
Open kitchens are one way to let guests have an honest look at what’s going on in your restaurant, but transparent dining doesn’t stop there.
In 2025, it’s more important than ever to be loud and proud about how you’re sourcing your ingredients in sustainable ways. Technology is making supply chains increasingly visible, from tracking QR codes that trace bottles of fine wines, to DNA testing that combats fish fraud. As a result, today’s guests are better educated about foodways and come to the table with higher expectations.
With this ethos in mind, Surrell in Seattle, Washington, is sought-after for its multi-course tasting menu experiences held in the garden space, with dishes shaped by what’s available from local farms, ranches, foragers, and wineries in the Pacific Northwest. The menu page on the restaurant’s website offers a look into different offerings for winter, spring, summer, and fall.
3. Be the restaurant marketing anti-hero
While annual holidays like Valentine’s Day are popular dates for booking reservations, they can also leave many people feeling excluded.
That’s why some restaurants are creating alternative spaces for guests who want to dine out but want to avoid the mainstream celebration.
For example, Nashville’s Fait La Force Brewing made national headlines when they announced their plans for Anti-Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14, complete with a punk-rock playlist and a themed cocktail menu fit for the occasion.
4. Serve dinner with a side of piping-hot pop culture
Some trends may be short-lived, but cult-classic fandoms are forever.
Before HBO’s hit television show, The White Lotus, premiered its third season set in Thailand, one of New York’s favorite Thai spots leveraged the cultural phenomenon for its own restaurant marketing.
In collaboration with HBO and C2, Thai Diner offered a week-long, pre-fix meal inspired by the show’s setting. In turn, fans and influencers shared the immersive experience on social media, including an Instagram recap from @NewYorkNibbles that garnered over 10,000 likes.
5. To tap into word-of-mouth restaurant marketing, spoil your regulars with rewards that really count
Reward programs don’t have to be limited to punch cards and airlines.
Just ask Esmé, a MICHELIN-starred restaurant in Chicago that created its own loyalty program dubbed the Elite Dining Pass. With tiered pricing starting at $650 per person, the annual membership comes with exclusive privileges like preferential booking and tickets to special events like cooking classes with the chef, tasting-menu dinners, and art gallery previews.
And when your best guests get the VIP treatment they deserve, they become advocates of your brand, spreading the word and broadening your network.
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Hungry for more restaurant marketing strategies?
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