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December is prime time for restaurants across the United States. Holiday office parties, family reunions, and end-of-year celebrations typically crowd dining rooms with enthusiastic patrons. While this period can feel hectic—especially with large tables and high-value bills—it also offers an opportunity to finish the year strong. If you fine-tune your strategy, December’s hustle can become a powerful revenue driver that sets a positive tone for the coming year.
But volume alone doesn’t guarantee profitability. Large parties often mean split payments, custom menu requests, and a flurry of demands. Oversights can be costly, from incorrect checks to slow service. By proactively preparing for these high-value tabs, you can reduce stress for your staff, deliver memorable experiences to your guests, and secure healthy holiday profits.
When a table of eight or ten people dines out during the holidays, the atmosphere is usually festive—and that excitement can translate into more substantial spending. These groups might indulge in special bottles of wine, premium cocktails, or deluxe entrées. They may linger longer, racking up higher tabs.
This scenario poses challenges and opportunities. On one hand, large groups can bring in significant revenue in a single seating. On the other hand, bigger checks mean more room for human error: miscalculations, confusion about who ordered what, or delays in finalizing the bill. With the correct approach, you can mitigate those risks, encourage higher spending, and ensure your operation runs smoothly.
Your staff plays the most visible role in delighting guests throughout the December rush. Each server, bartender, and host needs to feel confident about handling sizeable and often complex bills. A well-prepared team can detect warning signs—like a group needing separate checks—and leap into action before the confusion sets in.
Here are some best practices to get your team in top shape for the holiday wave:
Investing in staff preparation not only improves the guest experience but also highlights your restaurant as a place where meticulous care meets a warm atmosphere—key ingredients for December festivities.
Think of your holiday menu like a beautifully arranged gift basket—each item handpicked to delight. This season, consider curating offerings to entice groups who are inclined to spend more on the overall experience. Whether you serve modern American comfort food, upscale Italian, or gourmet burgers, a few modifications can encourage larger checks and streamline service.
Bundle Menus. Large parties often appreciate fixed-price courses, family-style portions, or celebratory tasting menus. Bundling can make it simpler for both your guests and your kitchen staff. By setting a clear price per person, you reduce guesswork and keep the check tidy.
Highlight Premium Items. Showcase your high-margin dishes in a visually appealing menu section or with mouthwatering descriptions. Featuring a “Holiday Special” with lobster, truffles, or signature craft cocktails can spark interest. When a guest sees these premium options, they’re more inclined to treat themselves or a loved one—particularly during December celebrations.
Lean into Festive Drinks. Cocktail menus are a prime spot for boosting your per-table revenue. Seasonal beverages with winter spices or themed garnishes often sell well. Using descriptive, enticing language—like “cinnamon-infused whiskey” or “cranberry sparkling delight”—can be the subtle nudge that guests need to upgrade their drink orders.
Above all, clarity is key. If a dish requires a longer prep time or has a higher price, label it transparently. Guests might be splurging, but no one likes an unexpected surprise on the final bill—especially when it’s a large group paying together.
When December’s rush pairs with a high-value tab, the last thing you want is to fumble at the finish line. Payment is the final touchpoint. If it’s complicated or slow, that cheerful holiday mood can fizzle. Embracing simple solutions can keep your restaurant’s hustle positive.
A modern point-of-sale (POS) system and payment terminal setup are essential. It’s best when your POS can split checks effortlessly, accept multiple forms of payment seamlessly, and integrate tips in a straightforward way. Consider these tips:
Solutions like sunday help streamline this process with QR code-based table checks. Guests no longer have to wield multiple credit cards or wait for a server to finalize the bill. Everyone can pay (and leave a tip) at their leisure—freeing your staff to welcome the next wave of guests.
Big tabs can mean big gratuities for your team, but that boost isn’t automatic. Gratuities often reflect guests’ overall experience, from how quickly they were greeted to how smoothly their payment was processed. A few guiding principles can raise tip averages in December:
Set the Right Tone. Train servers to introduce themselves enthusiastically and highlight holiday specials early. If guests feel a personal connection, they’re more likely to acknowledge the server’s effort in the tip.
Offer Thoughtful Upsells. Suggest side dishes or beverage pairings that are actually relevant to the order, rather than just pushing any add-on. The better the match, the more it seems like helpful advice and not a sales tactic.
Split-Check Courtesy. Large groups often have different budgets or preferences. Some guests may feel pressure to split everything evenly; others want separate checks from the start. By gracefully accommodating requests, you reduce frustration—and that usually boosts server rewards.
Remember that while tipping is customary in the US, the overall experience still determines the size of the tip. Lucky for you, small gestures can pay off big-time, so encourage your staff to add those little touches that show genuine hospitality.
When ten guests each order multiple rounds of drinks and share several appetizers, it’s easy for confusion to set in—especially on busy holiday nights. Accuracy is the linchpin for high-value checks. One slip could mean lost revenue, disappointed guests, or both.
Here’s how to get it right:
If a mistake does happen, address it with transparency. Apologize and correct the issue promptly. People are more forgiving of errors when staff respond honestly and make things right as soon as possible.
When guests walk into your restaurant, their first impression sets the tone. A holiday decor that feels warm and inviting can encourage festive spirits—and festive spirits often lead to more ordering. Consider how lighting, music, and little seasonal accents can shape the evening’s vibe.
Additionally, provide ample table space so large parties don’t feel cramped. Make sure chairs are comfortable, especially if you expect guests to linger. Perhaps even add small placeholders or name cards so everyone knows where they’re sitting—this tiny personal touch can heighten the sense of eventfulness.
If you choose to decorate, keep it tasteful and consistent with your brand. A flurry of holiday items might be visually distracting or clutter your layout, restricting server access. Moderate your design so it doesn’t interfere with guests’ comfort or slow down service.
While it’s tempting to raise prices across the board during a high-demand period, proceed with caution. Guests will be on the lookout for value—and if they feel overcharged, they may be less inclined to return. That said, there are ways to optimize pricing that align with December’s seasonal spikes:
Pricing transparency goes hand-in-hand with trust. Communicate any extra fees upfront, list all standard charges clearly, and give customers no reason to doubt what they see on the bill.
For more insights on pricing in the restaurant industry, you could explore resources from the National Restaurant Association, which regularly releases helpful industry updates and data.
The holiday season often sees unusual or last-minute requests. Businesses might ask for a custom cocktail for their company colors, or guests might want a surprise presentation for someone’s birthday. Embracing these requests—within reason—enhances your reputation for hospitality and sets you apart.
Prep your staff with standard responses for various scenarios, like dietary restrictions or quick adjustments to a fixed menu. If an unexpected request arises, train them to consult with a manager calmly and quickly. Confidence and willingness to accommodate can transform a tricky demand into a memorable moment that guests rave about online.
During December, your restaurant is in the spotlight. High-value bills often come from large groups, which means a bigger chunk of your customer base in a short period. This is prime time to capture positive reviews—especially Google reviews—and amplify your reach long after the last holiday decoration is stowed away.
If a table had a fantastic experience, invite them to share it. It can be as simple as your server saying, “We’d love your feedback—if you enjoyed your evening, a quick Google review would really help us.” Digital payment tools like sunday even offer one-click opportunities for guests to leave comments without needing to download anything additional or fumble around for where to post.
Reviews matter because they’re often the first thing potential guests see when they’re deciding where to dine. A strong collection of five-star reviews builds credibility and can keep your tables booked, even after the holiday rush subsides.
Kitchens and servers can feel the heat during peak times, and high-value tabs can magnify the pressure if something goes wrong. Here’s how to help your team maintain composure and deliver stellar service:
A supportive restaurant culture can be just as crucial as any advanced payment method in ensuring that customers receive a premium experience. Empower your staff to solve problems on the spot, and they’ll exude the confidence diners appreciate.
The restaurant tech scene abounds with gadgets and apps promising to revolutionize how you run your business. While many of these tools genuinely help, discerning which solutions fit your unique workflow is vital. For high-value tabs, the main focuses are:
At the same time, keep the human touch. Tech can expedite tasks and reduce errors, but guests still value warm greetings and personal recommendations. Balancing efficiency with genuine hospitality remains a hallmark of successful dining experiences.
Once the holiday craze subsides, you’ll have a window to reflect on what worked—and what didn’t. Don’t overlook this chance. Gather feedback from your staff about the biggest challenges they faced. Did they have trouble splitting checks for large groups? Did confusion arise over the final amounts on big tabs? Use these insights to tweak your processes.
In January, many restaurants slow down. This is an excellent time to analyze your data, from average check sizes to tip percentages. Identify patterns that can help guide your menu decisions or staff training for the year ahead. Improving how you handle big spenders isn’t only for the holidays; it’s a practice that can enrich your business year-round.
Encourage bigger orders by creating holiday-themed specials and set menus. Offer premium items or bundle deals that feel festive and unique. Train your servers to give tasteful suggestions without being pushy. A warm, celebratory ambiance can also inspire guests to indulge a bit more than usual.
It depends on your restaurant’s culture and location. Automatic gratuity can simplify large-picture billing and ensure fair compensation for servers. However, some guests may prefer the freedom to tip individually. If you choose to include an automatic charge, be explicit on your menu and at the time of reservation.
Generally not—some digital services, including QR code-based payments, make tipping even easier, prompting guests to choose a gratuity amount right after they scan. Because these reminders are integrated into the payment flow, guests often tip at higher rates than when they must total a tip manually.
Yes, pre-fixed menus can streamline kitchen operations, control costs, and make billing straightforward. Guests often appreciate not having to scour an extensive menu, and you can highlight special dishes that reflect the season. Just be sure to communicate any limitations clearly, so guests aren’t caught off guard if certain substitutions aren’t possible.
Modern POS systems and payment apps typically allow for easy check-splitting. Train staff to handle this on the spot or empower diners to manage it themselves via mobile solutions. The simpler you make it to divvy up the total, the more satisfied your guests will be—especially if they’re in a rush or want to avoid back-and-forth over who paid what.
