Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family and friends — usually, around the table. People who aren’t inclined to prepare a big holiday spread at home often head to a restaurant instead. That’s where your establishment comes in; with a fantastic holiday menu, you can bring in customers who want a delicious Thanksgiving dinner without the need to cook.

Why offer a Thanksgiving special?

The fall and winter months can be extremely busy for restaurants, so it’s important to choose holiday marketing ideas carefully. Before you decide to ask kitchen and front-of-house employees to work during Thanksgiving dinner, take the time to determine if the benefits are worthwhile:

• Attract new customers. A holiday menu tends to attract customers who want to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner without the hassle of cooking. Diners who are delighted with their meal are likely to try your restaurant again.
• Increase revenue. Many restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving. A special seasonal menu can fill this gap in the market, increasing in-house, holiday catering, and delivery orders and giving your bottom line a healthy boost.
• Build customer loyalty. Serving Thanksgiving dinner helps customers enjoy a meaningful holiday meal with the people they love. Because your restaurant is part of the fond memories of the event, it can inspire a lasting emotional attachment.
• Differentiate your brand. Holiday meals feel more personal and special than ordinary dinners — they’re a unique opportunity for customers to interact with your brand and employees. This personal connection can give your restaurant a valuable competitive advantage.
• Support employees. Thanksgiving dinner is a chance for employees to pick up extra work and make more tips on a day that might otherwise be slow.

Thanksgiving special menu ideas

As you prepare for Thanksgiving dinner, the menu is the most important consideration. Whether you’re serving a traditional or an innovative Thanksgiving menu, look for ways to align your holiday offerings with your typical cuisine. Remember that Thanksgiving Day is one of the top food delivery holidays; come up with a packaging strategy for the items on your holiday menu to ensure orders arrive intact.

Here are some ideas to inspire your restaurant’s Thanksgiving menu.

Start with apps

Appetizers set the tone for Thanksgiving dinner. Prepare diners’ palates with small bites that feature classic flavors of the season:

• Butternut squash soup. No Thanksgiving menu is complete without a squash dish, and butternut squash soup is the perfect option. Creamy and mild, it makes guests feel warm and comforted. Switch up the spice blend to match your restaurant’s most popular flavor profiles; curry, fresh sage and rosemary, and cayenne pepper all work well in this versatile Thanksgiving recipe.
• Cranberry brie crostini. These tiny treats feature creamy baked brie, crispy slices of bread, and a tangy cranberry topping. Because each serving is small, customers can enjoy it without affecting their appetite.
• Pumpkin risotto balls. Feature pumpkin in a surprising way by mixing it with Arborio rice, stuffing with mozzarella, and frying until crisp. Add mashed sweet potato for an extra hint of flavor, and serve with a roasted garlic and sage aioli for dipping.
• Roasted Brussels sprouts and bacon. Brussels sprouts pack a big punch of flavor and texture on their own — roast them with crispy, salty bacon and they’re impossible to resist.

Dazzle with your main entrée

The entrée is the star of the Thanksgiving menu. Choose items that feel special enough for the holiday, such as:

• Classic oven-roasted turkey. You can’t go wrong with turkey, especially if your restaurant focuses on traditional foods. It’s a surprisingly flexible meat; you can brine it, spice it up with an herb rub, or cover it in cider glaze. For a fun alternative, consider smoking or deep-frying your birds.
• Herb-crusted prime rib. Many customers reserve prime rib for special meals, making it a great option for a Thanksgiving menu. A crust of rosemary, thyme, and garlic adds a burst of flavor.
• Maple-glazed salmon. For the pescatarians in the restaurant, salmon is a hearty alternative to poultry or beef. A maple glaze brings in classic Thanksgiving flavors and adds a hint of sweetness to every bite.
• Vegetarian harvest bowl. It’s always a good idea to have a few non-meat dishes on your restaurant’s Thanksgiving menu, and a harvest bowl is an easy option. Load it with roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes, kale, and quinoa and top with a bright, herb-packed dressing. It’s an entire farmhouse feast in a single dish that will leave customers feeling full and satisfied.
• Pumpkin ravioli. The rich, full flavor of pumpkin lends itself well to a main dish. Stuff house-made ravioli with an herbed pumpkin filling — add sweet potato for extra color and bulk — and top it with a brown butter and sage sauce.

Let your sides take center stage

For many people, Thanksgiving is all about the side dishes. Customers often look forward to the classics, which include:

• Gourmet stuffing. Salty and flavorful, stuffing is a must-have side dish for your Thanksgiving menu. Make it feel extra special by adding fresh herbs, leeks, mushrooms, and plenty of butter.
• Sweet potato casserole. This classic treat is easy to prepare in bulk, making it a great option for a restaurant’s Thanksgiving dinner. The base is made with sweet potato, butter, cinnamon, sugar, eggs, and milk; it tastes more like a pie than a side dish. Top the casserole with a brown sugar and pecan crumble, or add a generous layer of toasted marshmallows.
• Green bean almondine. An elevated version of green bean casserole, this French dish is a breeze to prepare. Blanch fresh green beans and sauté them with butter, garlic, and shallots. Top the beans with toasted almonds and a splash of lemon juice.
• Garlic mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes with turkey gravy are a mainstay of every Thanksgiving menu, and for good reason. Give yours a twist by loading them with roasted garlic; you can also use sweet potato for a pop of color. Garnish with fresh herbs and a generous pat of butter.
• Cranberry-orange relish. Cook fresh cranberries with orange zest and sugar until the berries are soft. The relish can be prepared in advance, leaving more time to cook main dishes on the big day.

Save room for dessert

Thanksgiving is one holiday where most guests say yes to dessert. Tempt their taste buds with options that include:

• Pumpkin cheesecake. Provide an indulgent version of classic pumpkin pie by transforming it into a cheesecake. Serve with a generous drizzle of caramel and a dollop of whipped cream.
• Apple pie à la mode. Capture the sweetness of the fall harvest with a slice of hot apple pie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Pecan pie tartlets. Guests often want a sweet treat after a big meal, but a full slice of pie may be too much. These tiny tartlets, which feature a traditional, buttery pecan pie filling, are the perfect small bite.
• Cranberry-pear crisp. The caramelized sweetness of baked pears blends beautifully with bright cranberries in this dish, which is a deliciously rustic option for a Thanksgiving menu.
• Chocolate pumpkin bread pudding. Keep the warm, hearty dinner experience going with this bread pudding. A drizzle of chocolate sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream takes it to the next level.

Don’t forget the drinks

Delicious cocktails are part of the fun of eating Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant — professionally prepared drinks are always more exciting than beverages mixed at home. Cap off your Thanksgiving menu with drinks that echo seasonal flavors:

• Spiced apple cider. No beverage feels as autumnal as hot apple cider brewed with cinnamon and nutmeg. You can serve it with or without alcohol to allow everyone to indulge. A splash of rum, bourbon, or brandy gives this classic drink an extra kick.
• Pumpkin spice martini. Made with vanilla vodka, pumpkin purée or pumpkin liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, and pumpkin spice, this martini tastes like a slice of pie in a glass.
• Cranberry mule. Bright and tangy, a cranberry Moscow mule is the perfect way to finish a big meal. It’s easy to make; just add cranberry juice to your regular recipe and garnish with fresh berries. Leave out the vodka to satisfy a sober-curious crowd. 
• Pecan pie Old Fashioned. This Thanksgiving version of the Old Fashioned adds pecan liqueur and brown sugar to the standard recipe; you can also swap the sugar for maple syrup and use pecan-infused bourbon. The result is rich, unexpected, and decidedly festive.

Get your menu in tip-top shape with help from Grubhub

Whether you’re creating a new entrée for the Thanksgiving season or reworking your entire menu for Thanksgiving dinner, Grubhub makes it easy to make adjustments to your online menu. That way, you can offer holiday specials to your takeout and delivery customers as well as in-house diners. Our loyalty and promotions tools help you promote your Thanksgiving meal on the Grubhub platform, boosting visibility and increasing orders. With Grubhub, it’s a breeze to get your restaurant ready for the holidays. To find out more, get started with Grubhub today.