If you’ve ever wondered what separates a forgettable food ad from the kind that goes viral and fills tables overnight, you’re in the right place. As the Erahaus Creative team, we’ve helped restaurants from Ottawa to Dubai run campaigns that actually get results—and we’ve studied the ones that made history. In this blog, we’re diving into the best restaurant marketing campaigns of the past two decades, what made them stick, and what your restaurant can learn from each one.
Why Restaurant Marketing Campaigns Matter
A good campaign doesn’t just promote food—it builds community, tells a story, or even pokes fun at social norms. Unlike broad strategies (which we’ve broken down in our separate guide on restaurant marketing strategies), campaigns are focused, time-sensitive, and designed to make a statement. When done right, they create long-term brand memories.
According to a 2023 Statista report, 89% of consumers said a brand’s personality influences their loyalty. Restaurant marketing campaigns are a key way to show that personality. Restaurant marketing campaigns are a key way to show that personality and demonstrate how branding affects consumer behavior.
10 Best Restaurant Marketing Campaigns + Lessons
From fast food giants to fine-dining icons—and even our own clients—these ten campaigns have set benchmarks in creativity, relevance, and ROI. Each one has a unique story, and within each are sharp insights restaurant owners and marketers can apply. Whether you’re a new café or a legacy brand, the following examples will serve as a masterclass in turning campaigns into conversations, clicks, and customers.
1. The Burger King “Whopper Sacrifice” Campaign
What happened: In 2009, Burger King rolled out a Facebook-based campaign that rewarded users with a free Whopper if they deleted 10 friends from their friend list. Each sacrificed friend even received a notification that they had been “exchanged for a Whopper.” Bold? Absolutely.
Results: In 10 days, over 234,000 friends were dropped, and the campaign made global headlines before Facebook intervened and forced its shutdown.
Why it worked:
- It played into real-time behavior: digital burnout and the absurdity of social media vanity metrics.
- It was shareable and controversial, making it irresistible to media outlets.
- The cost of the campaign was low compared to its reach.
Lesson for restaurant marketers: Be brave. If your brand voice allows it, breaking social conventions can lead to immense visibility. Humor and boldness, when calculated, can translate into real engagement and earned media.
2. Chipotle’s “Extra Fork Collection” – National Fork Day 2025
What happened: On April 8, 2025, to celebrate National Fork Day, Chipotle launched the “Extra Fork Collection,” a limited-edition set featuring 53 of its signature black plastic forks, presented in a sleek display box. Priced at $30, each box also included two free entrée cards.
Why it worked:
- Fan engagement: The campaign tapped into a quirky fan obsession with Chipotle’s black forks, which some customers humorously claim enhance the flavor of their meals.
- Limited availability: The collectible sold out quickly, creating buzz and a sense of exclusivity.
- Multi-channel promotion: Chipotle promoted the campaign through social media, influencer partnerships, and its Chipotle Goods online store, reaching a wide audience.
Results:
- Sold out swiftly: The $30 fork collection sold out within minutes of release.
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- Viral attention: Influencers, such as Brigette Pheloung, shared their surprise and delight upon receiving the fork package, garnering over a million views on TikTok. Read more here.
- Increased engagement: The campaign spurred discussions across social media platforms, highlighting Chipotle’s ability to connect with its audience through humor and relatability.
Lesson: Chipotle’s campaign demonstrates the power of embracing and amplifying unique aspects of brand culture. By turning a simple utensil into a coveted collectible, the brand created a memorable experience that resonated with its community, showcasing the effectiveness of tapping into niche fan enthusiasm.
3. Olive Garden’s “Never Ending Pasta Pass”
What happened: Originally launched in 1995, Olive Garden offered a pass that allowed holders to enjoy unlimited pasta, breadsticks, and salad for 8 weeks. The passes were limited and only available for a short time. Even until now, this campaign is super popular and many people love it and many influencers and micro influencers and even non-influencers create content about it all over TikTok and Instagram!
Results: 24,000 passes sold out in under a second in 2017! It created enormous buzz, UGC (user-generated content), and repeat visits.
Why it worked:
- It created urgency with scarcity and time limits.
- It built customer habits—people visited multiple times a week.
- Social content was built-in: people documented their pasta journeys.
Lesson: Turn dining into a commitment. Limited offers that tie into customer lifestyle habits work incredibly well. Make it fun, trackable, and worth sharing.
4. Wendy’s Twitter Roasts
What happened: Wendy’s turned their Twitter account into a snarky persona that roasted competitors and fans alike.
Results: They saw record-breaking engagement levels and brand growth among younger demographics. It also influenced how other brands started interacting online.
Why it worked:
- It turned the brand into a character people wanted to follow.
- They didn’t force virality—they created consistent humor and relevance.
- They were fast with responses and used trending formats.
Lesson: Humor can be a strategic asset. If your tone allows, being opinionated on social media makes your brand stand out. But consistency and understanding your voice are key. If the brand voice mentioned in your brand book is classy and chic, using this strategy might not go well… This is where the difference between UGC and eWOM becomes essential in tracking the impact of organic fan engagement vs. intentional word-of-mouth marketing.
5. Starbucks “Red Cup Controversy”
What happened: In 2015, Starbucks released a minimalist red cup for the holidays—no snowflakes, no reindeer. Some conservative groups claimed the company was attacking Christmas, but the goal of the campaign was supporting HIV/AIDS research.
Results: Massive online debates, global news coverage, and a reported 9% increase in foot traffic during Q4.
Why it worked:
- It unintentionally became viral by sparking cultural debate.
- The simplicity of the design created endless user commentary.
Lesson: You can’t always predict what will spark controversy, but when it happens—respond lightly and let the public talk. Controversy isn’t always a crisis—it can be a catalyst. Anyway, it was a win for Starbucks!
6. Domino’s “Paving for Pizza”
What happened: Domino’s paid to fill potholes in over 50 U.S. towns to ensure customers’ pizzas arrived safely. This one is our favorite so far!
Results: 50+ cities joined. Domino’s received over 200,000 mentions across digital channels. Positive brand sentiment rose by 21%.
Why it worked:
- It solved a real-world problem.
- It directly linked to their product’s value proposition (pizza that arrives in one piece).
- It created community goodwill.
Lesson: Think beyond the restaurant. Solve problems that matter to your customers’ experience—not just their appetite.
7. Taco Bell’s “Taco Moon”
What happened: Taco Bell declared the first quarter moon night as “Taco Moon” and gave away free tacos worldwide. It’s basically free tacos on a specific night that the moon looked like a taco (May 4, 2021). Cool, right?
Results:
- Achieved 2 billion impressions
- Recorded the highest traffic day ever on the Taco Bell app
- Secured 1,131 earned media pieces
- Attracted approximately 100 million new taco lovers
Why it worked:
- It created a global campaign around a simple, universally understood image.
- It was bold, low-cost, and photogenic.
Lesson: The best ideas can come from visual metaphors. Look at nature, culture, or symbols and connect them creatively with your product.
8. IHOP’s “IHOb” Stunt
What happened: In 2018, IHOP announced they were changing their name to IHOb—the International House of Burgers, to promote their new line of burgers.
Results: Beside 400% increase in burger sales, over 20,000 articles were published, and 36 billion social media impressions were reached.
Why it worked:
- It was absurd and unexpected, which invited conversation.
- The campaign was revealed to be a stunt, keeping goodwill intact.
Lesson: Controlled misdirection (when followed by clarity) can win attention without alienating your base.
9. McDonald’s “Famous Orders”
What happened: McDonald’s started offering meals named after celebrities like Travis Scott and BTS, using existing menu items.
Results: Massive sales increases, long lines, social media buzz, and limited-edition merchandise sold out instantly.
Why it worked:
- It was relatable—“this is what they really order.”
- It created cultural alignment with music, fandom, and identity.
- It triggered nostalgia and collectivity.
Lesson: Collaborations work best when they feel authentic and simple. No new products—just repackaging with storytelling. This strategy aligns with the core of account-based marketing in the restaurant world: customizing offers based on specific customer preferences, turning familiarity into loyalty.
10. Erahaus x Lavender Grill – Jazz Nights That Hit the Right Note
What happened: Lavender Grill in Ottawa wanted to elevate their dining experience beyond just food—and that’s when we worked with them to introduce Live Jazz Nights. These weren’t background tunes. They became the heart of the restaurant’s identity on special occasions.
Why it worked: We didn’t push a trend to win the restaurant marketing in Canada. We understood Lavender’s values, their clientele, and the vibe they naturally radiated—elegant, soulful, and community-driven. Their audience wasn’t just looking for dinner; they were looking for a full experience. Jazz was the perfect expression of that.
Results:
- 90%+ table occupancy during jazz nights within the first month.
- 25% increase in reservations during weekends.
- Consistent user-generated content, with patrons sharing videos and stories online.
- Influencer visits and organic mentions across local lifestyle pages.
- Repeat bookings and growing waitlists, turning jazz nights into a staple, not a seasonal trend.
Lesson: Don’t add noise—amplify identity. When your campaign speaks the same language as your brand, it doesn’t just bring customers. It creates loyalty.
What Makes the Best Restaurant Marketing Campaigns Actually Work?
| Feature | Why It Works | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Humor & Absurdity | Builds emotional recall | Chipotle Fork, IHOb |
| Scarcity & Exclusivity | Drives urgency and FOMO | Olive Garden Pasta Pass |
| Community Engagement | Encourages user-generated content | Wendy’s Roasts, Famous Orders |
| Offline Problem-Solving | Turns PR into action | Domino’s Potholes |
| Cultural Commentary | Sparks debate and media buzz | Starbucks Red Cup, Whopper Sacrifice |
| Local Experience | Aligns with audience behavior & values | Lavender Grill Jazz Nights |
Lessons We’ve Learned at Erahaus
After working on marketing campaigns for multiple restaurant brands, we’ve seen that gimmicks alone don’t cut it. The campaign needs:
- Timing that matches the cultural pulse.
- Humor or controversy that feels natural to the brand.
- Content formats that fit the platform (Instagram Reels, TikTok trends, etc.).
- A clear, desirable outcome for the customer.
- Alignment with the restaurant’s DNA: menu, mood, and audience.
We also always measure results in terms of cost per acquisition, engagement rate, and customer retention metrics. Because at the end of the day, likes don’t pay bills.
Want help building your own unforgettable campaign?
Let’s talk. Erahaus builds campaigns that don’t just make noise—they make reservations.
