Running a restaurant isn’t just about taste or food quality—it’s about creating happy memories. And building relationships is one of the most important parts of ‘memorability’.
Many restaurant owners in 2025 are using email marketing to engage diners and increase brand recall. But not every email campaign clicks with your audience. Over the years, we’ve seen what works and what falls flat.
In this guide, we’ll break down 12 mouthwatering restaurant email campaigns that not only grab attention but also drive reservations, orders, and customer loyalty.
Take a seat!
Why is Email Marketing for Restaurants Important?
A great ad or viral reel can bring customers in once, but consistent engagement keeps them coming back.
Email marketing will help you stay top of mind, drive repeat visits, and turn casual diners into loyal patrons. It’s a cost-effective way to build relationships and boost recurring customer footfalls for your restaurant business.
Here’s why email marketing is important and how it helps:
- Boosts recall value. Regular emails remind customers about your restaurant, increasing the chances of repeat visits;
- Drives recurring footfalls. Special promotions, loyalty rewards, and seasonal menus encourage diners to return;
- Fills tables during slow hours. Happy hours, limited-time offers, and weekday deals help balance foot traffic;
- Builds long-term relationships. Personalized messages make diners feel valued, improving loyalty;
- Promotes events and new offerings. Announces live music, special tasting menus, or new dishes directly in their inbox;
- Encourages reservation. A well-timed email can nudge customers to book a table or order takeaway in advance.
12 Restaurant Email Marketing Examples to Inspire
Great restaurant email marketing campaigns do more than promote—they engage, excite, and bring customers back. Want to know how?
Use these real-life examples and email marketing ideas for restaurants as inspiration for your own campaigns to boost reservations and make your restaurant unforgettable.
Cart Abandonment Emails
Cart abandonment emails encourage diners to complete their reservation or food orders.
Many customers get distracted while ordering and leave their carts behind, but a gentle reminder can bring them back.
Here’s a great example by McDonald’s of how to bring their attention back to abandoned order:
This minimal, direct, and action-driven email works amazingly well. With a bold headline like this, it’s hard to miss. A clear call-to-action makes a foodie want to order immediately. The visual of the McDonald’s bag and drink reinforces the product appeal.
Why we love it?
- Clear headline and CTA;
- Invokes FOMO by giving them a nudge;
- Iconic imagery that instantly reminds them of McDonald’s.
Welcome Email
Welcome emails are your first impression—a chance to greet new customers, set expectations, and build excitement about your brand.
Here’s an example from Chipotle, welcoming subscribers in a fun way:
This email is simple yet effective. It immediately thanks the subscriber and sets the tone for what to expect—promotions, local events, and news about new locations.
The playful headline, ‘Finally. Some One-on-One Time’ adds personality without losing focus on the goal — attracting clicks for the action-oriented CTA.
Why we love it?
- Witty headline that grabs attention instantly;
- Simple layout with a clear focus on the CTA button;
- Supplemental buttons at the bottom to encourage further action.
Create stunning emails in minutes with Sender’s drag-and-drop builder & responsive email templates.
First-time Customer Campaign
First-time customer emails can welcome new diners, introduce your restaurant’s unique vibe, and encourage a second visit.
It’s a great way to turn curious customers into regulars. Here are some ideas:
- Greet customers warmly and thank them for visiting or ordering;
- Highlight your specialties, like signature dishes or unique experiences;
- Include an exclusive offer, like a discount on their next meal;
- Use enticing visuals of your restaurant or popular menu items.
Repeat Order Emails
Repeat order campaigns can keep your restaurant at the top of your mind and bring customers back. These emails remind diners of their favorite dishes or experiences while offering subtle nudges to reorder.
Utilize customer data, such as past orders, to create personalized emails. You can include a reorder suggestion, a time-sensitive deal, or a seasonal update, like the one below:
This email has a playful headline that grabs instant attention and reminds customers of the dishes they enjoyed the last time. Adding the protein content to every dish appeals to its target audience.
Why do we love it?
- High-quality images of steak dishes make the email irresistible;
- Catchy and witty headline;
- Highlighting customer favorites makes choosing from an endless menu easier.
Win-back Emails
These emails aim to re-engage customers who haven’t visited in a while. Win-back emails remind diners of what they’re missing and pull them towards your restaurant with enticing offers.
Build anticipation or FOMO with a limited-time discount, a free appetizer, or news about a new menu. Check out this email from Giordano:
They’ve used a bold and vibrant layout to grab instant attention. The 20% discount tag is unmissable at the top of the header. Real images, along with a limited-time offer, create FOMO in the minds of the reader.
Highlighting a variety with customizable packs gives customers more reasons to order.
Why we love it?
- Nostalgic design aesthetic to highlight the iconic product;
- Clear, time-sensitive offer to drive instant action;
- Customization options to appeal to a larger audience set.
Here are some tips for creating your own win-back email campaign:
- Personalize it by addressing customers directly and acknowledging their absence;
- Use phrases like ‘We Miss You!’ to create warmth and connection;
- Offer a limited-time deal, like a free dessert or discount;
- Highlight updates such as new menu items or upcoming events.
New Menu Announcement
Announcement emails are a great way to tempt specific customers back to your restaurant. Use these emails to showcase your creativity or when you launch seasonal or exclusive dishes.
Here’s an example from Travelodge, promoting their limited-time seasonal menu. Have a look:
This email creates excitement for the new menu while offering a clear incentive for customers to visit. It introduces the menu with a bold headline and image of their star dish. There’s even a sweet offer for anyone ordering a main course, further enticing the reader.
Why we love it?
- Tempting images of the dishes to appeal to foodies;
- Spotlight on an exclusive offer;
- Unmissable CTA button.
Reservation Confirmation Email
Reservation confirmations offer customers peace of mind. They’re essential transactional emails that show you value professionalism.
Here’s an example from Publican Anker, confirming a reservation for two guests.
This email delivers all the key details in a clean and elegant design. It’s personalized, featuring the customer’s name and reservation specifics, and includes helpful options to easily change or cancel.
The high-quality image of the restaurant builds excitement for the dining experience.
Why we love it?
- Addressing the reader by name in the headline;
- Prominent CTA button in case they change their mind;
- Neat layout with all information mentioned clearly.
Customer Loyalty Program Invitations
Customer loyalty email programs reward regular diners, creating an incentive for repeat visits and increased spending.
Your loyalty program email should highlight exclusive perks, like discounts, free meals, or priority reservations. This encourages diners to feel special and boosts long-term loyalty.
Here’s a good example of how to use emails for inviting customers to your loyalty program:
An engaging design with an enticing “FREE DRINK” offer is a great way to open such an email. Top it with a time-sensitive reward, a clear call-to-action and you’re already on the way to encourage immediate sign-ups.
The feedback option at the end shows that they care about the customer’s opinion.
Why we love it?
- Free drink reward for instant gratification;
- Clear and eye-catchy design;
- Limited-period offer to encourage faster action.
Upcoming Events Announcement
Event announcement emails are a great way to build excitement and appeal to FOMO. When you’re planning something special, use such emails to generate buzz and boost footfalls.
Here’s an example of how Platform uses email as an exclusive invite for its patrons:
This email offers a sense of exclusivity while maintaining an inviting tone. Visuals of fancy dinner immediately set the mood.
Clear event titles with dates give recipients a reason to click on each one and find out more about it.
Why we love it?
- Phrases like ‘tantalize your taste buds’ make it exclusive;
- Clear lineup of events;
- Aesthetic visual appeal to make it more inviting.
Special Holiday Promotions
Holiday promotions can tie your restaurant’s marketing efforts into seasonal themes or fun food-related holidays. Give customers an extra reason to visit by pairing these with exclusive offers.
Here’s an example from Olive Garden, celebrating National Meatball Day with a free meatball offer.
This email is a great example of how holiday-themed restaurant promotion emails can drive footfall. It grabs attention instantly with a scroll-worthy and mouthwatering image of spaghetti and meatballs.
The offer is simple and enticing—free meatballs with any dinner entrée—encouraging diners to make a visit.
Why we love it?
- Interesting visual complimenting the occasion;
- Clear offer without any distractions;
- No-brainer offer with limited conditions.
Seasonal Promotions Email
Seasonal email offers are a fantastic way to highlight fresh, limited-time menu offerings that align with the flavors and mood of the season.
Here’s an example from Sweetgreen, showcasing their seasonal salads for summer.
This email shows how you can make a menu feel fresh and exciting, driving customers to explore new dishes. It uses vibrant images and playful descriptions to appeal to health-conscious customers.
The call-to-action “Taste the Summer” is catchy and perfectly aligns with the theme.
Why we love it?
- Relevant product placement aligning with the seasonal theme;
- Engaging description that adds personality to the email;
- Irresesistable visuals followed by a punchy CTA.
Feedback Request Email
As a restaurateur, knowing what customers think is invaluable. Sending a review request email to collect feedback is a good idea. This not only helps improve service but also makes people feel valued.
Here’s an example from Food52, asking customers to leave a review after their visit.
This email strikes the perfect balance between being friendly and professional. A warm and inviting tone with a clear call-to-action (CTA) makes it a great customer feedback email.
Why we love it?
- Using the owner’s photo to build a personal connection;
- Prominent CTA button;
- Simple message thanking and requesting the reader for a visit.
Email Marketing Tips for Restaurants
Restaurant email strategies aren’t just about sending promotions—it’s about delivering the right message to the right people at the right time.
Here’s how to make your restaurant email marketing strategy work:
- Set clear goals. Define what you want to achieve, whether it’s more reservations, higher engagement, or increased online ordering;
- Build an email list. Collect emails through in-store sign-ups, online ordering or reservation platforms, and loyalty programs to grow your audience;
- Write engaging content. Keep emails short, visually appealing, and packed with value—think exclusive deals, behind-the-scenes stories, or chef’s specials;
- Segment your target audience. Personalize emails based on customer behavior, such as frequent diners, first-time visitors, or special occasion guests;
- Optimize subject lines. Make your emails stand out with enticing restaurant email subject lines that spark curiosity or urgency;
- Track and adjust. Monitor open rates, click-throughs, and conversions to fine-tune your existing email campaigns for better results.
By following these key tips, you can create engaging emails that increase recall value and bring customers back.
Email Marketing for Restaurants FAQs
How frequently should a restaurant send marketing emails?
Aim for 1-4 emails per month, depending on the season, audience preferences, and restaurant promotions via email. Weekly updates work well for special deals or events, while monthly emails can highlight seasonal menus and loyalty rewards. The key is consistency—stay top of mind without overwhelming customers, and always provide value in every email marketing campaign.
Is permission required to send marketing emails?
Yes, permission is essential to comply with anti-spam laws like GDPR and CAN-SPAM. Collect emails through an email signup form and reservation requests. Sending emails without consent can damage your reputation and result in legal issues. Always allow customers to opt in and provide an easy unsubscribe option.
How does email marketing help attract customers?
Email marketing keeps your restaurant at top of mind by promoting offers, events, and new menu items. Personalized recommendations, exclusive discounts, and reservation reminders encourage repeat visits. Plus, engaging restaurant email content—like chef’s specials or behind-the-scenes stories—builds a stronger connection with diners, increasing loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing.
Can I send marketing emails to prospective customers?
Yes, but only if they’ve opted in through an email marketing solution. Buying email lists or sending cold emails can harm your brand and lead to spam complaints. Instead, grow your list through marketing channels like social media, offline referral programs, and in-store sign-ups to attract engaged customers who genuinely want to hear from you.
