Having a restaurant special board is important for any dining place, such as a café, coffee shop, fast food outlet, or upscale restaurant. It points out what’s new and special about the menu, which can bring in more customers and help the restaurant sell more. If you place an impressive special board, customers stay aware of what’s new, appreciate the urgency of deals, and experience a better atmosphere.
Why is a restaurant special board important?
Attracts Attention and Encourages Exploration
An attractive restaurant special board catches the attention of everyone who sees it. Offering creative and different dishes every day makes customers want to come back and sample new meals.
Helps to Promote Daily Specials
A chalkboard for specials allows restaurants to avoid wasting money on endless printed menus. Being flexible, restaurants can change their menus to use what they have on hand and serve dishes that everyone wants.
Boosts Upselling and Revenue
Adding the most profitable dishes or premium items to the menu can cause the average ticket size to go up. Using specials is a way to get customers to order appetizers, drinks, or desserts.
Creates a Sense of Urgency with Limited-Time Offers
By putting limited-time offers (LTOs) on the special board, the restaurant can encourage faster decisions, improve table turnover, and boost sales.
Improves the Ambiance of Dining
A good menu board helps enhance the atmosphere and look of the venue. It can be made with chalk or shown on a screen, but it matches the restaurant’s atmosphere and enhances the dining experience for guests.
Types of Restaurant Special Boards
Chalkboard Menu Boards
Because they are affordable and old-fashioned, chalkboards can be customized, but updating them and keeping them in good shape requires effort. Using chalkboards in cafés, coffee shops, and bistros gives a personal feel and a sense that the menu was created with care.
LED Menu Boards
Their brightness and energy make it easy to update LED menu boards. Fast food restaurants and modern cafés often use these boards, but they are more expensive to purchase and need access to power.
Changeable Menu Boards (Letter Boards)
Because they are vintage-looking, reusable boards are flexible, but it can take time to make new changes. They are a good fit for breakfast places and sandwich shops that want to keep a comfortable, familiar atmosphere.
On-screen Menu Boards
Since digital boards are advanced and can be used in many ways, they are perfect for both upscale restaurants and chain locations. It is easy to switch from menus to promotions and to multimedia content.
Printed or Acrylic Menu Boards
They are made to be sleek and businesslike, are long-lasting, and are good for restaurants that don’t change their menus often.
Creative Restaurant Special Board Ideas
Themed Specials Board
Make the design of your special board match the theme of your restaurant to keep everything coordinated. An example of this would be a beach café displaying a surfboard-shaped chalkboard to show their coastal theme.
Seasonal and Holiday Specials
Serve different seasonal specials, such as pumpkin soup in the fall or sweet treats on Valentine’s Day, to encourage customers to return.
Chef’s Recommendations
Showcase dishes chosen by the chef along with pictures or descriptions so diners can find your top picks.
Interactive screens for menus
Place QR codes on your signs that take people to extra information, videos, or reviews, mixing traditional signs with digital features.
“Today’s Offerings” or “Farm Fresh” Sign
Seafood or farm-to-table menus are a good fit, as they highlight freshness and the source of the ingredients for people watching their health.
Happy Hour and Drink Specials
Offer discounted drinks, beer, or appetizers during certain hours to draw more people to the bar and improve sales during slow periods.
Combo Deals and Family Meals
Introduce packages that appeal to families and groups who want to save and have a convenient dining experience.
Budget-Friendly Options
Having an “Under $10” section allows you to reach customers looking for affordable meals.
Social Media Integration
Let people know they can get unique offers by following your restaurant online, helping build an online community for your brand.
Health-Conscious Options
Set aside vegan, gluten-free, and keto-friendly dishes to make sure everyone can eat.
Best Practices for Designing a Restaurant Special Board
Clarity and Readability
Use clearly visible fonts and colors that contrast well and leave enough space between them. Make sure your menu board is not too busy to allow customers to read it quickly.
Frequent Updates
Change your specials and lunch ideas often to keep customers interested and to match what is available at that time.
Catchy Headlines
Use interesting titles instead of “Specials,” like “Today’s Fresh Picks!” or “Chef’s Special Creations,” to attract customers.
Include Prices and Descriptions
Being transparent allows customers to decide what they want and trust you more.
Visual Enhancements
Include icons (🌱 for vegan and 🔥 for spicy) and small illustrations or pictures to help customers know what to expect.
Strategic Placement
Set up the boards at places where visitors are likely to see them regularly, for example, by the entrance, at counters, or at bars.
Lunch Special Ideas for Restaurants
- Business Lunch Combo: Get your entrée, drink, and dessert at a reduced price made for busy business people.
- Soup & Sandwich Deal: This traditional option is ideal for cafés serving meals you can have quickly.
- Build-Your-Own Bowl: Many health-conscious places let customers pick their own ingredients for the bowl.
- Taco Tuesday: Providing discounted tacos and sides to help sales on a slow day.
- Pasta of the Day: Every day, a special pasta dish that highlights the chef’s imagination.
- Burger & Fries Lunch Special: Fast food that is popular with many people.
- Meal Prep Boxes: Easy to grab and take with you for anyone pressed for time.
- Kids’ Lunch Deal: Kids can eat less food at a lower price to make families want to visit.
Bringing Your Special Board to Life
A thoughtfully set up restaurant special board goes beyond being a menu list and helps the restaurant attract customers, boost sales, and improve the dining experience. Your content should always be up-to-date, meaningful, and reflect your business’s brand, no matter which board you use. Creative thoughts, regular updates, and using best practices will turn your special board into something guests love, and that benefits your business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should I include on my restaurant’s special board?
Add daily specials, recommendations from your chef, seasonal dishes, combo deals, and promotions that last only for a short time to make the menu more interesting.
How often should I update my special board?
Every day, update the information for your daily specials. Updating seasonal or themed promotions can be done every week or every month.
Are digital menu boards worth the investment?
Yes, for places that have lots of customers or change their menu often, digital boards give more flexibility and better engagement.
What’s the best material for a café menu board?
Chalkboards and boards with changeable letters are good for those who like a homey, laid-back spot.
How can I make my special board stand out?
Pick vivid colors and interesting fonts and write descriptions that make the food sound delicious, such as “Mouthwatering BBQ Ribs—Fall-off-the-bone tender!”
Should I include prices on the special board?
Yes, customers like having clear information about the cost of products or services.
Can I use a special board for drink promotions?
Definitely! Coffee shops are able to showcase the drinks they offer for the day or for happy hour.
What’s the ideal size for a restaurant menu board?
The board should be large enough so that people can read it from far away, usually at least 24″x36″.
How do I prevent my chalkboard from looking messy?
Make sure the text is neat and professional by using stencils or liquid chalk markers.
Do LED menu boards increase sales?
Dynamic displays are believed to increase sales by up to 20% because they are so eye-catching.
Want to update your restaurant special board and watch your sales grow?
If you need advice on board suppliers or digital design tools, ask in the comments.
