How to attract more people to your restaurant this autumn

The transition from summer to autumn can take some getting used to. With the memory of relaxing summer holidays fading fast, the days are already noticeably shorter and darker, and it’s back to the more intense pace of work and school. Nevertheless, autumn also brings the fun and excitement of new professional challenges, reconnecting with co-workers and friends, and Halloween and other fall holidays to look forward to. Want to help your customers embrace the autumn season and cast away the end-of-summer blues?  Give them a compelling reason to take a break in this busy period and dine out. Find out how to attract customers to your restaurant this autumn and start reaping the fruits of the season!  🍂

How to attract customers: With a seasonal autumn menu 

With many customers back to a busy schedule and to-do lists getting longer by the day, October is the ideal time to introduce a new autumn menu to brighten people’s spirits. Spark your customers’ interest with your takes on autumn favourites and give them an opportunity to enjoy the season’s harvest. 

Celebrate nature’s bounty of colourful, flavourful fruit and produce this autumn. There are countless autumn marvels to refresh your menu, such as winter squashes, which actually ripen in early autumn but can be stored over winter. These include butternut squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash and pumpkins in all shapes, sizes and textures. Broccoli, cabbage, kale, Swiss chard and fennel are also beginning to ripen in the autumn. And, of course, how could you resist the glorious choice of autumn apples? From extra tart to super sweet, soft and crisp or crunchy and juicy in a delightful range of reds, yellows, greens and even purple hues. And let’s not forget about the grapes galore, luscious figs, and juicy pears.

Design your fall menu around local, seasonal autumn fruit and vegetables. They’re fresher, more environmentally friendly and a welcome change from summer fare. Don’t forget that many autumn fruits and vegetables are great paired with each other and are equally delicious in both sweet and savoury dishes.

Gradually phase in soups, heartier mains and more filling salads. Don’t forget, with cooler temperatures rendering bathing suits generally out of the picture, most people are more than ready to indulge in autumn desserts, such as lightly spiced pumpkin cheesecake, sinfully sweet potato pie, or a pear and blackberry crumble, to name a few.

Try creating your own autumn speciality jams and chutneys to accompany autumn breakfast, dessert or dinner options. Some delicious combinations made from seasonal fruit include plum and apple chutney, pear and ginger preserve, green tomato and apple chutney or fig walnut jam. Why not put up a few jars of your own creations, and organise a draw for customers? It is a great way to get people excited about your fall menu and to ask them if they would like to be contacted in the future about other special events. 
 

What foods are popular in autumn?

🌰 Butternut Squash is an autumn crowd-pleaser that has gained popularity recently. Delicious blended into a creamy soup and paired with chestnuts, butternut squash is also great oven-roasted or grilled with a bit of olive oil and thyme, stuffed inside ravioli, or makes a delicious pasta sauce.

🍠Pumpkin and Sweet Potato are also autumn favourites simmered in stews, sliced and pan-roasted, and as a sweet/savoury addition to curries. Not to mention the endless possibilities for a tempting autumn breakfast or brunch menu featuring pumpkin or sweet potato bread, muffins, pancakes or waffles.  

🥗Heartier salads combining raw and cooked veggies and fruit with diverse textures are also popular in the fall. Think kale, cabbage or fennel with apples, quinoa and other grains, as well as protein-rich nuts such as walnuts and hazelnuts (be careful to always mention if your recipes contain nut allergens). Don’t forget that quintessential fall fruit, chestnuts, which can be delicious roasted or boiled, served with game or chicken, paired with pumpkin soup, candied, or pureed, to name a few.  

Try spicing up your autumn dishes with yellow, green and red curries containing cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and cardamom. With the cool autumn evenings, it is also a good time to bring on beloved autumn beverages such as hot apple cider, mulled wine, and spiced pumpkin latte to your drink menu…
 

How to attract customers: Enhance your restaurant's atmosphere with autumn decor

Been meaning to revive your restaurant decoration? Doing so may help you to attract people to your restaurant. Turn over a new leaf with decorating ideas for fall.

Firstly, create a bright, cheerful autumn flower centrepiece for your restaurant dining room in traditional fall hues of red, orange and yellow (try vibrant chrysanthemums in a huge variety of colours, dahlias, sedum…).

Decorate the counter or window with a basket of autumn gourds of varying shapes and sizes, or make a bouquet with fall foliage, berries and wheat. Similarly, dress up a table with a bowl of seasonal fruit including apples, pomegranate, and colourful corn husks.

Why not also invest in autumn-themed dinner plates to brighten the tables?  If you have outdoor seating, don’t forget to make your customers feel cosy and warm with soft blankets or throws so people can continue to enjoy eating outside even as the weather gets colder.

How to attract customers: Implement seasonal promotions and themed events

Pack your autumn calendar with seasonal-themed events and special evenings to reap the best of the season, creating memorable dining experiences for diners. Hosting special events can be an effective strategy for restaurants wondering how to get more customers and attract new customers. 

Culinary-themed evenings, wine tastings, or dinners with special autumn-related dishes can give diners something to look forward to, and make a meal at your restaurant seem like an event not to be missed. By making a lasting impression on diners, you will also boost your chances of receiving positive feedback on restaurant review sites like TheFork. Don’t already have a restaurant page set up with us? Get one here. By boosting your reputation with seasonal menus and events, you are more likely to become one of our top-rated restaurants. 

A season of opportunity, autumn is the perfect time to energise your existing customer base and gain new customers. With a revitalised menu and decorating ideas designed to celebrate nature’s harvest this autumn, you can be the go-to place to eat out and reconnect people with friends, family and co-workers before the onset of winter.