SMS and WhatsApp Marketing for Restaurants and Cafes: Ideas and Templates

Most diners who enjoy a meal never come back, simply because they forget. Restaurant SMS and WhatsApp marketing fixes that by staying in touch with people who already like your food, at the moments when they are deciding where to eat.

Here is how restaurants, cafes, cloud kitchens and sweet shops can use messaging, with templates you can copy.

Why messaging works for restaurants

• Your customers are already nearby. A message at 7 PM can fill tables the same evening.
• Direct orders save commission. Bringing a customer to order directly instead of through an aggregator keeps more margin with you.
• It reaches everyone. SMS works on every phone, and WhatsApp lets you share photos of the dish.
• It is cheap. A message to 2,000 regulars costs less than one newspaper insert.

How to build your customer list

You can only message people who shared their number and agreed to hear from you:

• Ask for the number at billing for the bill on SMS or WhatsApp.
• Offer a birthday treat for customers who share their date of birth.
• Put a QR code on tables that opens WhatsApp to join your offers list.
• Collect numbers with consent for table bookings and takeaway orders.

10 messaging ideas for restaurants

1. Thank you after the visit, with a review link.
2. Birthday and anniversary offers, the most-used coupon in most restaurants.
3. Weekday lunch deals sent at 11:30 AM.
4. Weekend specials sent on Friday afternoon.
5. New menu launches with a photo on WhatsApp.
6. Festival menus: Diwali sweets, Navratri thali, Christmas cakes.
7. Match-day offers for big cricket matches.
8. Table booking confirmation and reminders.
9. Order ready / out for delivery updates for takeaway.
10. "We miss you" offers for customers who haven't visited in 60 days.

Live preview

What your customer sees

• DLT-approved sender ID and template
• Submitted to operators in real time
• Live delivery report for every number
• Works on every mobile phone

MessagesInbox

SP

AD-SPICEH-PLunch special at Spice House: thali at Rs 199, 12-3 PM today. Book: 98XXXXXXXX

SH

JD-SHOPIN-SOrder #A1093 is out for delivery today.

HP

VK-HLTHPL-SReminder: appointment tomorrow, 11 AM.

Delivered in real timewith a live delivery report

Restaurant SMS templates

Thank you and review

• Thank you for dining at [Restaurant], [Name]! We hope you loved it. Rate us in 10 seconds: [Link]

  ~97 chars · 1 SMSCopy

• Thanks for ordering from [Restaurant]! Enjoy your meal. Order direct next time and get 10% off: [Link]

  ~100 chars · 1 SMSCopy

Birthday and anniversary

• Happy Birthday, [Name]! Celebrate at [Restaurant] this week and get a free dessert on us. Show this SMS.

  ~102 chars · 1 SMSCopy

• Happy Anniversary, [Name]! Enjoy a complimentary welcome drink for two at [Restaurant] till [Date].

  ~99 chars · 1 SMSCopy

Daily and weekend offers

• Lunch special at [Restaurant]: thali at Rs [Amount], 12-3 PM today. Book: [Number]

  ~78 chars · 1 SMSCopy

• Weekend at [Restaurant]: buy 1 get 1 on all pizzas, Fri-Sun. Order: [Link]

  ~72 chars · 1 SMSCopy

• Big match tonight! Watch it live at [Restaurant] with 20% off on snacks. Book a table: [Number]

  ~91 chars · 1 SMSCopy

New menu and festival

• New on the menu at [Restaurant]: [Dish]. Try it this week and get 15% off. [Link]

  ~81 chars · 1 SMSCopy

• Our Diwali sweet boxes are here! Order before [Date] for home delivery. Call [Number] - [Sweet Shop]

  ~98 chars · 1 SMSCopy

• Navratri special thali now available at [Restaurant], 11 AM to 10 PM. See you soon!

  ~79 chars · 1 SMSCopy

Bookings and orders

• Your table for [X] at [Restaurant] is confirmed for [Date], [Time]. Call [Number] to change.

  ~97 chars · 1 SMSCopy

• Reminder: your table at [Restaurant] is booked for today at [Time]. See you soon!

  ~79 chars · 1 SMSCopy

• Your order #[Order] from [Restaurant] is ready for pickup. - [Restaurant]

  ~66 chars · 1 SMSCopy

• Your order #[Order] is out for delivery and will reach you in [X] minutes. - [Restaurant]

  ~91 chars · 1 SMSCopy

Win back

• We miss you, [Name]! Here's 20% off your next visit to [Restaurant], valid till [Date]. Code: [Code]

  ~102 chars · 1 SMSCopy

WhatsApp: show the food

Food sells with pictures. On the WhatsApp Business API you can send:

• A photo of the new dish with an "Order now" button
• The festival menu as a PDF
• Quick-reply buttons like "Book a table" or "View menu"
• Automatic order updates from your billing or POS software

When to send restaurant messages

Offers are promotional messages, so send them only between 10 AM and 9 PM. Booking and order updates are service messages and can be sent any time. Read festival wishes SMS for customers for more festive messages.

A simple monthly plan

• Every visit: thank you + review link
• Every week: one offer (lunch or weekend), not more
• Every month: birthday and anniversary offers for that month
• Every festival: one festive menu message
• Every quarter: a "we miss you" offer for inactive customers

Frequently asked questions

How can restaurants use SMS marketing?

Restaurants use SMS for thank-you messages, review requests, birthday offers, weekday and weekend deals, festival menus, table booking reminders and order updates.

Is SMS or WhatsApp better for restaurants?

Use both. SMS reaches every phone and is ideal for short offers, while WhatsApp can show photos of dishes and add booking or ordering buttons.

How often should a restaurant send offers?

Once a week is enough for most restaurants. More than that and customers start ignoring or blocking messages.

Can I send restaurant offers to all my customers?

Only to customers who shared their number and agreed to receive offers. Promotional SMS also needs a DLT-registered template and is sent between 10 AM and 9 PM.

What is the best time to send restaurant SMS?

Around 11:30 AM for lunch offers and 5:30 to 7 PM for dinner offers, when people are deciding where to eat.