Easter long weekend (Friday to Monday) in Australia and New Zealand brings challenges and opportunities for cafes and casual restaurants. While the high public holiday wage costs can be daunting, the long weekend also provides two ‘extra Saturdays’, where customers are more likely to dine out. With many venues closed, those that do open can capitalise on increased foot traffic – special easter restaurant marketing can create huge opportunities.
Manage Costs While Maximising Sales
Good Friday can often be quieter than the rest of the Easter weekend, so some businesses adjust their hours or operate with a leaner team. However, the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday trade can be exceptionally busy, making it worthwhile to remain open.
The key to making Easter a success? Smart rostering, efficient menus, and creative promotions that boost the average customer without overloading staff or cutting into profit margins. Here are 10 ways cafes and casual restaurants can thrive over Easter, balancing high wages with strong revenue.
1. Public Holiday Surcharge: Be Transparent
Public holiday wages are unavoidable, but a 15-20% surcharge can help offset the cost. Customers generally understand this, provided it’s clearly communicated: – Add a polite sign at the entrance and on menus: ‘To support our team with fair wages on public holidays, a 15% surcharge applies today. Thank you for your understanding.’ – Update your online menu and booking confirmations so guests aren’t surprised when the bill arrives.
2. Lean Into Brunch: Extended Hours for Late Risers
Easter is about relaxation and long meals, making brunch a prime opportunity. – Open later and close later to capture late risers. – Offer a bottomless brunch package with a set price for food and drinks. – All-day brunch can replace separate lunch and dinner menus, reducing complexity. – Feature Easter-themed specials like hot cross bun French toast or chocolate espresso martinis.
Brunch encourages higher spend per head while being simpler to execute than a full lunch-and-dinner service.
3. Smart Rostering: Keep Labour Costs Tight
With public holiday penalty rates, every extra staff member eats into profit. Smarter rostering helps control costs: – Reduce menu complexity to lower prep time. – Cut down on labour-intensive dishes; a menu that’s 50% smaller can still be highly appealing. – Fill as many shifts as possible with junior staff at lower wage rates.
To guarantee higher per-head spend and reduce kitchen stress, encourage pre-paid or set menus: – Offer a pre-paid Easter brunch package via online bookings. – Sell ‘Easter Weekend Tasting Plates’ with a mix of small dishes. – Introduce family-friendly platters that are quick to serve. – Host an Easter Eve ‘Chef’s Choice’ Night – a set Saturday evening menu with fewer choices and easier to produce and serve. – Create a Kids’ Easter Breakfast Set – a pre-set meal with a drink and a small chocolate surprise.
Set menus simplify ordering, reduce waste, and ensure steady revenue.
5. Takeaway and Picnic Packs for Easter Gatherings
Not everyone wants to eat out over Easter – but they still want great food to enjoy at home or outdoors. For those heading to parks or the beach: – Curate picnic boxes with pastries, coffee, fruit, and light meals. – Partner with a local chocolatier or bakery to add premium Easter treats. – Advertise pre-orders via social media and email newsletters. – Introduce a ‘Bunny Brunch Box’ – a takeaway box with croissants, eggs, ham, and fresh juice. – Create a ‘Build-Your-Own Deluxe Hot Cross Bun Kit’ – sell a DIY pack with buns, butter, jam, and a guide for toasting at home.
Promote these on social media and through email newsletters to drive pre-orders.
6. Easter-Themed Promotions & Giveaways
Drive traffic with engaging but low-cost promotions: – Golden Egg Giveaway – hide small prizes inside Easter eggs (e.g., free coffee, a discount for next visit). – Kids’ Easter Colouring Station – keeps families engaged while increasing dwell time. – ‘Lucky Table Wins’ – a random table wins a free dessert or drink every two hours. – Easter Bunny Visit & Photo Spot – encourage families to take photos and tag the café to win a free coffee voucher. Use a unique #hashtag to promote it.
Fun promotions create buzz and social media engagement without deep discounting.
Drinks are a great way to offset wage costs with minimal extra effort – unique drinks increase customer curiosity and impulse buys. – Feature Easter coffee specials (e.g., mocha with chocolate shavings, spiced hot cross bun latte). – Create a ‘Chocolate Lovers’ Flight’ – a tray with hot chocolate, an espresso shot, and a chocolate treat. – Offer take-home Easter gift bags with your house blend coffee or special sweets. – Introduce an ‘Eggspresso’ – a shot of espresso poured inside a hollow chocolate egg. – Create a Bunnytail Mocktail – a refreshing Easter spritz with fruit juice, soda, and a fun garnish.
8. Boost Staff Productivity: No Overlapping Shifts
Idle staff cost money. Keep operations efficient: – No split shifts – schedule straight shifts with clear start and finish times. – Cross-train staff so fewer people cover more roles. – Self-serve water station to free up waitstaff.
A well-planned roster keeps service smooth and costs under control.
9. Sunday Night Chill: A Low-Effort, High-Profit Idea
After a busy weekend, many customers want a low-key Sunday night meal – these options reduce labour while keeping sales flowing. – Offer a Sunday night sharing board (charcuterie, cheese, dips) for groups of 2-4. – Keep it staff-efficient – minimal cooking, quick plating. – Pair it with a wine or cocktail deal to boost per-head spend. – Introduce an ‘Easter Roast Special’ which features roast meats, veggies, and gravy in a simple, hearty dish. – Run a ‘One Chef, One Pan’ Night – a menu where each dish is cooked using only one pan for fast service and minimal labour.
10. Social Media & Pre-Bookings: Drive Sales in Advance
Get customers locked in before the weekend starts: – Post Easter menu teasers on Instagram & Facebook. – Use a countdown timer for special offers. – Offer a free coffee voucher for customers who pre-book a table.
Bookings mean predictable revenue and smarter staffing decisions.
Review & Improve for Next Year – after the weekend, take time to review: – What worked well? – Which days and promotions had the best response? – Where could costs be better controlled?
A four-day public holiday weekend means people are ready to go out, enjoy themselves and spend! By focusing on high-margin sales, strategic staffing, and engaging promotions, cafes and casual restaurants can turn Easter into one of the most profitable weekends of the year.
Easter long weekend (Friday to Monday) in Australia and New Zealand brings challenges and opportunities for cafes and casual restaurants. While the high public holiday wage costs can be daunting, the long weekend also provides two ‘extra Saturdays’, where customers are more likely to dine out. With many venues closed, those that do open can capitalise on increased foot traffic – special easter restaurant marketing can create huge opportunities.
Manage Costs While Maximising Sales
Good Friday can often be quieter than the rest of the Easter weekend, so some businesses adjust their hours or operate with a leaner team. However, the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday trade can be exceptionally busy, making it worthwhile to remain open.
The key to making Easter a success? Smart rostering, efficient menus, and creative promotions that boost the average customer without overloading staff or cutting into profit margins. Here are 10 ways cafes and casual restaurants can thrive over Easter, balancing high wages with strong revenue.
1. Public Holiday Surcharge: Be Transparent
Public holiday wages are unavoidable, but a 15-20% surcharge can help offset the cost. Customers generally understand this, provided it’s clearly communicated:
– Add a polite sign at the entrance and on menus: ‘To support our team with fair wages on public holidays, a 15% surcharge applies today. Thank you for your understanding.’
– Update your online menu and booking confirmations so guests aren’t surprised when the bill arrives.
2. Lean Into Brunch: Extended Hours for Late Risers
Easter is about relaxation and long meals, making brunch a prime opportunity.
– Open later and close later to capture late risers.
– Offer a bottomless brunch package with a set price for food and drinks.
– All-day brunch can replace separate lunch and dinner menus, reducing complexity.
– Feature Easter-themed specials like hot cross bun French toast or chocolate espresso martinis.
Brunch encourages higher spend per head while being simpler to execute than a full lunch-and-dinner service.
3. Smart Rostering: Keep Labour Costs Tight
With public holiday penalty rates, every extra staff member eats into profit. Smarter rostering helps control costs:
– Reduce menu complexity to lower prep time.
– Cut down on labour-intensive dishes; a menu that’s 50% smaller can still be highly appealing.
– Fill as many shifts as possible with junior staff at lower wage rates.
For more on staffing strategies, see How to Make Restaurant Public Holidays Profitable
4. Set Menus and Pre-Sold Packages
To guarantee higher per-head spend and reduce kitchen stress, encourage pre-paid or set menus:
– Offer a pre-paid Easter brunch package via online bookings.
– Sell ‘Easter Weekend Tasting Plates’ with a mix of small dishes.
– Introduce family-friendly platters that are quick to serve.
– Host an Easter Eve ‘Chef’s Choice’ Night – a set Saturday evening menu with fewer choices and easier to produce and serve.
– Create a Kids’ Easter Breakfast Set – a pre-set meal with a drink and a small chocolate surprise.
Set menus simplify ordering, reduce waste, and ensure steady revenue.
5. Takeaway and Picnic Packs for Easter Gatherings
Not everyone wants to eat out over Easter – but they still want great food to enjoy at home or outdoors.
For those heading to parks or the beach:
– Curate picnic boxes with pastries, coffee, fruit, and light meals.
– Partner with a local chocolatier or bakery to add premium Easter treats.
– Advertise pre-orders via social media and email newsletters.
– Introduce a ‘Bunny Brunch Box’ – a takeaway box with croissants, eggs, ham, and fresh juice.
– Create a ‘Build-Your-Own Deluxe Hot Cross Bun Kit’ – sell a DIY pack with buns, butter, jam, and a guide for toasting at home.
Promote these on social media and through email newsletters to drive pre-orders.
6. Easter-Themed Promotions & Giveaways
Drive traffic with engaging but low-cost promotions:
– Golden Egg Giveaway – hide small prizes inside Easter eggs (e.g., free coffee, a discount for next visit).
– Kids’ Easter Colouring Station – keeps families engaged while increasing dwell time.
– ‘Lucky Table Wins’ – a random table wins a free dessert or drink every two hours.
– Easter Bunny Visit & Photo Spot – encourage families to take photos and tag the café to win a free coffee voucher. Use a unique #hashtag to promote it.
Fun promotions create buzz and social media engagement without deep discounting.
7. Easter-Inspired Drinks: High-Margin Sales Boosters
Drinks are a great way to offset wage costs with minimal extra effort – unique drinks increase customer curiosity and impulse buys.
– Feature Easter coffee specials (e.g., mocha with chocolate shavings, spiced hot cross bun latte).
– Create a ‘Chocolate Lovers’ Flight’ – a tray with hot chocolate, an espresso shot, and a chocolate treat.
– Offer take-home Easter gift bags with your house blend coffee or special sweets.
– Introduce an ‘Eggspresso’ – a shot of espresso poured inside a hollow chocolate egg.
– Create a Bunnytail Mocktail – a refreshing Easter spritz with fruit juice, soda, and a fun garnish.
See: How to Maximise the ‘Extra Saturday’ in a Long Weekend
8. Boost Staff Productivity: No Overlapping Shifts
Idle staff cost money. Keep operations efficient:
– No split shifts – schedule straight shifts with clear start and finish times.
– Cross-train staff so fewer people cover more roles.
– Self-serve water station to free up waitstaff.
A well-planned roster keeps service smooth and costs under control.
9. Sunday Night Chill: A Low-Effort, High-Profit Idea
After a busy weekend, many customers want a low-key Sunday night meal – these options reduce labour while keeping sales flowing.
– Offer a Sunday night sharing board (charcuterie, cheese, dips) for groups of 2-4.
– Keep it staff-efficient – minimal cooking, quick plating.
– Pair it with a wine or cocktail deal to boost per-head spend.
– Introduce an ‘Easter Roast Special’ which features roast meats, veggies, and gravy in a simple, hearty dish.
– Run a ‘One Chef, One Pan’ Night – a menu where each dish is cooked using only one pan for fast service and minimal labour.
10. Social Media & Pre-Bookings: Drive Sales in Advance
Get customers locked in before the weekend starts:
– Post Easter menu teasers on Instagram & Facebook.
– Use a countdown timer for special offers.
– Offer a free coffee voucher for customers who pre-book a table.
Bookings mean predictable revenue and smarter staffing decisions.
Review & Improve for Next Year – after the weekend, take time to review:
– What worked well?
– Which days and promotions had the best response?
– Where could costs be better controlled?
A four-day public holiday weekend means people are ready to go out, enjoy themselves and spend! By focusing on high-margin sales, strategic staffing, and engaging promotions, cafes and casual restaurants can turn Easter into one of the most profitable weekends of the year.
Check the other useful blog posts on the Foodie Coaches website…
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