As the winter holidays draw closer, it’s time to start thinking about ways for your restaurant to celebrate. A holiday menu is the perfect option—a fresh lineup of festive meals and drinks can bring in new customers and loyal diners alike. Planning the menu early gives you a head start on ordering and marketing, which lightens your workload during the end-of-year rush.

Creating your holiday menu from scratch

A holiday menu gives you the freedom to get creative with meals and ingredients; it’s a great opportunity to showcase your chef’s culinary skills. As you come up with options, make sure to consider winter numbers from past years—you’ll want to choose a menu that’s manageable for your forecasted crowd levels.

Understand your audience

Consider your interactions with customers over the years. Is there a specific ingredient that always sells out? Do they request a certain dish or beverage? Take this information into consideration as you plan a holiday menu.

If you’re not sure, don’t be afraid to ask. Chat with diners in person, request input on social media, or send out a survey by email. Putting customers at the center of your planning process is a surefire way to develop a menu that keeps people coming back throughout the holiday season.

Choose a theme

Pick a theme to attract customers and tie together the dishes on your holiday menu. Seasonal themes include:

• Traditional holiday fare
• Rustic comfort foods
• Upscale holiday fusion
• Vintage holiday favorites
• Festive cocktail treats

Your theme should suit your restaurant’s brand and ambiance. At a family restaurant, you might stick to holiday family favorites. If you run an elegant bistro, you can get more creative with fusion or elevated comfort foods.

Plan your menu items

The best seasonal menu options offer a balance between classic holiday dishes and creative meals that reflect your restaurant’s typical cuisine. There are no rules—you can come up with brand-new dishes or swap out a few ingredients in your best-selling entrée to make it more festive.

Set up pricing and portion sizes

For each item on your holiday menu, determine a serving size. Based on that information, set a price and calculate the profit margin. If the margins are too low, consider increasing the price, reducing portion size, or switching to less-expensive ingredients. You might also think about adding different price tiers or including à la carte options and fixed-price multi-course menus to accommodate multiple budgets.

Incorporate beverage pairings

Festive drinks are a must for a holiday menu—they make every meal feel extra-special. Offer a selection of classic winter drinks, such as mulled wine or spiked hot chocolate. Alternatively, create your own cocktails that feature seasonal ingredients such as peppermint and cranberry. Don’t forget to add a few mocktails into the mix to satisfy the sober-curious crowd.

Popular menu items to include

Holiday menus bring the nostalgia of a traditional meal and the rich, bold flavors of the season. By capturing both factors, you can build a menu that turns a simple meal into a memorable experience.

A seasonal menu can also be an integral part of your restaurant’s holiday marketing strategy—especially when it coincides with December food holidays. Adding a delicious beef Wellington to the menu? Use National Pastry Day (December 9) to showcase the dish’s delicious puff pastry shell. It’s a fun way to capitalize on trending topics and expand your reach.

Use these winter menu items as inspiration for your restaurant’s holiday feast.

Appetizers

Appetizers are one of the most important parts of a holiday menu—they set the tone for the entire experience. You may even find that customers order one or two appetizers instead of an entrée, particularly during happy hour.

Bring a seasonal flair to your menu with these wintry small plates:

• Butternut squash soup. A cup or bowl of this warm, hearty soup is the perfect way for customers to take the edge off their hunger before the main meal arrives. Prepare in advance, and serve with a drizzle of coconut milk and a sprinkle of chopped herbs.
• Baked brie with cranberry sauce. Bright, tangy cranberries are the perfect complement to rich, creamy baked brie. Serve this dish with crackers or crostini.
• Stuffed mushrooms. If your chef is longing to get creative, this is the ideal holiday appetizer; mushrooms work well with a range of stuffings, from cheese and garlic to sausage and herb.
• Shrimp cocktail. With its dramatic presentation, shrimp cocktail turns any meal into a celebration. It’s easy to prepare—all you need is a cocktail sauce and an herb garnish.
• Holiday charcuterie board. Hoping customers will post food photos to social media? Few appetizers are as Instagram-worthy as charcuterie boards. Packed with cheese, cured meats, crackers, and fresh and dried fruits, they’re photogenic and delicious.

Mains

If you’re hoping to attract families, couples, and groups to your restaurant this holiday season, an impressive selection of main dishes can do the trick. Whet customers’ appetites with these classic dishes:

• Roast turkey or chicken. Perfectly roasted chicken and turkey feel exceptionally homey and traditional. Serve either meal with roasted potatoes and root vegetables for a satisfying and comforting meal.
• Prime rib or beef Wellington. Give your holiday menu a luxurious, indulgent twist with these delicious beef dishes.
• Honey-glazed ham. Salty with just a hint of sweetness, this classic holiday dish will transport customers back to their childhoods. Pair it with sweet potato casserole for a balanced flavor profile.
• Lamb chops with rosemary. Beautifully roasted lamb chops make a festive addition to your winter menu, especially when they’re made with fragrant rosemary and a hint of garlic.
• Stuffed acorn squash. For customers who want a plant-based Christmas dinner, acorn squash is a filling choice. The squash’s natural sugars caramelize as it roasts, creating the perfect counterpoint for the savory stuffing of your choice.

Sides

Whether they’re paired with a main dish or ordered as an extra treat, these side dishes bring the comforting textures of the season:

• Garlic mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes are delicious year-round, but they feel extra-special when made with rich, creamy roasted garlic. Add in a few handfuls of chopped herbs for a pop of color, or serve with turkey gravy.
• Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon. Toss halved Brussels sprouts with a balsamic glaze and pieces of bacon, and roast them until the edges are crispy.
• Green bean almondine. For customers who want a lighter, healthier holiday meal, this side dish delivers. Made with fresh beans, garlic, lemon, and slivered almonds, it’s packed with flavor and crunch.
• Sweet potato casserole. Turn simple sweet potatoes into a showstopper with this dish, which can be topped with sugared pecans, toasted marshmallows, or a classic crumble topping.
• Chestnut stuffing. Buttery, herby, and satisfying, chestnut stuffing is an elevated take on the holiday classic. 

Dessert

A delicious dessert selection is a must for your holiday menu. Customers love to enjoy a sweet treat after family dinner or paired with a cocktail during an evening out with friends:

• Pumpkin pie. Simple and traditional, pumpkin pie is a sweet way to end a meal.
• Yule log. Step back in time with this Christmas recipe, which features chocolate cake rolled around a creamy filling and sliced into delicious spirals.
• Gingerbread cheesecake. Give your restaurant’s beloved cheesecake recipe a festive twist with warm spices, a touch of ginger, and a crunchy gingerbread crust.
• Apple cranberry crisp. Evoke memories of holidays past with this rustic dessert, which features cranberries for a tasty, tangy flavor. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent finish.
• Eggnog panna cotta. The comforting flavor of eggnog pairs beautifully with panna cotta, a custardy Italian dessert. Top with cranberries for a pop of color.

Promoting your holiday menu

Once your holiday menu is finalized, it’s time to focus on marketing. Whether you’re serving a Christmas Eve dinner or a Christmas Day brunch, get the word out about your limited-time offerings by:

• Leveraging social media to showcase each dish and promotion
• Updating your website and online listings to reflect the new menu
• Sending out email newsletters to build excitement among customers
• Partnering with food bloggers and local influencers to create a buzz
• Creating special offers and packages to attract budget-conscious customers
• Hosting a holiday-themed event to capitalize on the festive feelings of the season
• Using SMS marketing to reach customers when they’re making restaurant decisions
• Offering special delivery options to accommodate people who prefer to dine at home

Get your holiday menu in front of a bigger audience by working with Grubhub for delivery and takeout. Our customer base is more than 33 million strong, and our built-in promotions tools make it easy to reach diners who are searching for their next meal.

To see how it works, try Grubhub free—and while you’re at it, use our National Food Holiday Calendar to take advantage of different celebrations throughout the entire year. Ready to get started? Partner with Grubhub today.