Last Minute Ways to Prep Your Restaurant and Bar for a Busy Thanksgiving Eve

The night before Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and you know what that means—a perfect revenue opportunity for your restaurant! If you’re an owner or manager, there are huge business opportunities on Thanksgiving Eve. Be prepared to serve friends and families who wish to gather and share some yummy fall food and drinks. Whether your guests want to meet up at your bar for Thanksgiving Eve beers, sit down in your dining area for a full pre-Thanksgiving dinner, or take-out catering options to spend time at home with loved ones, think about how to prep your restaurant for a bountiful pre-holiday evening.

What is Thanksgiving Eve?

Thanksgiving Eve, often referred to as “Drinksgiving” or “Blackout Wednesday,” is a significant revenue opportunity for restaurants and bars It has become one of the busiest nights of the year for bars and restaurants. This pre-holiday tradition sees friends and family reuniting in their hometowns, often heading out for drinks, casual dining, and celebrations. Liquor sales, particularly for rum, vodka, and tequila, skyrocket, making it comparable to other major drinking holidays like St. Patrick’s Day.

Restaurants can capitalize on the evening by offering special events, large group reservations, takeout promotions, and themed menus to cater to those seeking convenience and fun before the big cooking day. Thanksgiving Eve also provides an excellent opportunity for establishments to attract new customers through creative marketing campaigns, live entertainment, and community engagement​.

Why Should Restaurants Prepare for Thanksgiving Eve?

Prepping for Thanksgiving Eve is crucial for restaurants because it’s one of the busiest and most profitable nights of the year. According to some industry reports, there is a doubling of business for restaurants and bars compared to the previous week. Restaurants that are well-prepared can maximize this opportunity by ensuring they have enough staff, ingredients, and drink stock to handle the rush. The high volume of group reservations, private dining events, and catering orders further emphasizes the need for pre-event planning to avoid bottlenecks and service delays​

Preparing for Thanksgiving Eve, in addition to staffing and inventory, enables restaurants to optimize their menu and pricing strategies. Pre-batched cocktails, limited menus with shareable plates, and themed specials help streamline operations and meet customer demand efficiently. Using event management platforms like Tripleseat, restaurants can also gain valuable insights into customer trends, making it easier to plan future promotions and service offerings​.

Steps to Get Ready Now for Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving is a holiday for gratitude, and your guests will be grateful for a well-organized, seamless experience when visiting your restaurant or bar on Wednesday. Here are some proven ways to think ahead and reap the most revenue from this lucrative night:

1. Open Up Reservations and Pre-Orders Early

Secure your group reservations and catering packages for Thanksgiving Eve as early as possible to maximize revenue and streamline operations. Promote your event spaces for gatherings like reunions or pre-holiday parties, and showcase catering options tailored for busy customers who prefer not to cook. Early bookings help you forecast demand, manage inventory, and create an efficient staffing plan. Offer exclusive menu packages to encourage early commitments. Implementing a clear system for handling catering and take-out orders is essential for maintaining speed and accuracy during peak hours.

Assign dedicated staff to manage takeout and delivery orders, ensuring these services don’t disrupt dine-in operations. For larger groups, offer pre-order options to further streamline the kitchen workload. By locking in these details well in advance, your team can focus on providing exceptional service on one of the year’s busiest nights. Technology like TripleseatDirect helps you increase revenue on Thanksgiving Eve and beyond by providing easy self-service online booking for large parties and catering.

2. Prepare Your Thanksgiving Eve Space for a Crowd

To prepare for Thanksgiving Eve, arranging seating and bar layouts to optimize flow and reduce bottlenecks is critical for both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Evaluate your floor plan to create clear pathways for movement between tables, the bar, and entry/exit points. Designate specific areas for waiting guests, drink pickups, and takeout orders to minimize congestion. At the bar, organize workstations to streamline drink preparation, ensuring bartenders have easy access to frequently used items like ice, glasses, and garnishes.

If you’re hosting in-house events, ensure your restaurant, bar, private dining room, and event space are ready. Cleanliness is key, but also think about the layout of tables in spaces and adding Thanksgiving and fall décor. Place clear signage to guide guests to restrooms, exits, or specific event spaces, reducing confusion. Together, these measures ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for both customers and staff on this high-energy night.

3. Create a Simplified and Shareable Thanksgiving Eve Menu

Even if a bit last-minute, a Thanksgiving Eve menu for restaurants and bars can be a strategic way to attract crowds while keeping service efficient. Focus on easy-to-prepare, crowd-pleasing dishes and drinks. Feature comfort foods like sliders, flatbreads, or hearty soups, which align with the pre-holiday vibe. Pair them with themed cocktails, such as cranberry margaritas or spiced old fashioneds, that require minimal prep but offer a festive touch. Highlight sharable appetizers or sampler platters for groups, catering to the social nature of the evening. If possible, include quick grab-and-go options for customers picking up takeout. Promote this menu on social media and through email to attract last-minute planners looking for a place to celebrate.

4. Stock Up on F&B

Thanksgiving Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year for bars and restaurants, with liquor sales alone increasing by as much as 156% compared to a typical Wednesday​. To meet demand, stocking up on food and beverage essentials is crucial. Focus on high-demand alcohols like vodka, rum, and tequila, which experience significant spikes, as well as popular mixers, garnishes, and ice. Ensure an ample supply of beer, wine, and pre-batched cocktail ingredients to streamline service.

For food, prioritize crowd favorites like shareable appetizers, comfort foods, and late-night snacks, as customers often opt for casual, social dining options. Review inventory levels carefully and coordinate with suppliers for early deliveries to avoid shortages. Adequate preparation will not only keep operations running smoothly but also maximize revenue opportunities on this high-traffic night.

5. Prepare Restaurant Staff for High Volume

Known for its high-volume crowds, the Wednesday before Turkey Day requires strategic preparation to ensure bartenders and staff deliver exceptional service. Begin by scheduling an all-hands meeting to outline the night’s flow, key responsibilities, and crowd control measures. Pre-batching popular cocktails and stocking up on essentials like spirits, mixers, and garnishes can save crucial time during the rush. Equip bartenders with tools to work efficiently, such as backup ice bins and additional glassware. Train all staff on upselling techniques and protocols for handling large crowds, including recognizing signs of over-serving. Reinforce the importance of teamwork and communication, ensuring barbacks, servers, and hosts collaborate seamlessly. Finally, boost morale by providing breaks, snacks, and post-shift perks to keep energy and focus high throughout this demanding night​.

6. Monitor Thanksgiving Eve Data

Post-Thanksgiving Eve is the perfect time for restaurants to review performance data to identify trends and refine strategies for future high-volume nights. Using platforms like Tripleseat and TripleseatDirect, restaurants can gain valuable insights into private dining, large group reservations, and catering performance. This data helps pinpoint which promotions were most effective, the types of groups or events that drove revenue, and peak times for reservations. Restaurants can also analyze beverage sales, identifying high-demand drinks and adjusting inventory plans accordingly. Catering order trends reveal popular menu items and lead times for customer bookings, allowing for better preparation next year. These insights not only optimize operational efficiency but also help restaurants tailor offerings and marketing efforts to maximize profitability in future holiday seasons.

Tripleseat Will Make You Thankful All Year Long

Scheduling large group reservations, private bookings, and catering orders for the night before Turkey Day doesn’t have to be stressful, and you don’t necessarily need to add staff if you prepare. Having the right planning and tools, you can turn Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day into wonderful experiences at your restaurant – that leave both your guests and your team thankful! Say goodbye to the stress and hello to a successful, profitable Thanksgiving eve with Tripleseat. Learn more and book a demo today.