Restaurant loyalty programs that actually work
Lindsay Rosasco • July 10, 2025
Customer retention is cheaper than constant new customer acquisition. A smart loyalty program keeps diners coming back.
Here are some ideas:
Point-based rewards
Earn points for each dollar spent, redeem for menu items.
Visit milestones
Offer a free dessert or drink every 5th visit.
Birthday perks
Send a personalized birthday offer via email or SMS.
Tiered memberships
Bronze, Silver, Gold levels with escalating perks.
Surprise and delight
Randomly reward regulars with small extras.
Social sharing bonuses – Points or discounts for posting about your restaurant.
Pro tip: Integrate loyalty tracking into your POS system to make rewards seamless and automatic. The best loyalty programs are easy to join, easy to understand, and genuinely rewarding for your guests.
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