5 Best Restaurant Social Media Examples to Learn From

Social media has transformed marketing across various sectors and the restaurant industry has experienced some of the biggest changes over the last two decades. A dynamic and engaging social media presence can take your eatery from obscurity to a must-try culinary destination.  

Recent surveys reveal that half of all diners could be swayed to try food from a restaurant based on what they see on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Social media platforms do more than just display your delicious dishes. They’re tools for shaping your restaurant's identity, engaging with customers, and handling customer service needs.  

As we explore the elements that create a successful social media presence, let’s highlight five top performers and set benchmarks for others to follow: 

• Best Visual Storytelling: Sweetgreen 
• Best Use of Humor: Wendy’s 
• Best User Engagement: Taco Bell 
• Best Behind-the-Scenes Content: Chipotle 
• Best at Leveraging Trends: Dunkin’ Donuts

This article will explore how these and other restaurants use social media platforms to attract more customers and increase restaurant sales. We’ll also analyze how their social media strategies can be adapted across the industry for improved engagement and visibility.

Showcasing Top Social Media Performers in the Restaurant Industry 

Many restaurants have mastered the art of social media, turning their online presence into a powerful brand asset that boosts visibility and engages customers.  

Here’s a closer look at four top performers and their restaurant social media post examples: 

• Wendy’s: Renowned for its sharp and often humorous interactions on X (formerly Twitter), Wendy's leverages this playful brand persona across all social media channels. Wendy’s cultivates a relatable and approachable image by engaging directly with other brands and users. The strategy has proven effective: Wendy’s has over 3.7 million followers on X, driven by viral tweets and a distinct voice that stands out in a crowded marketplace. 
• Taco Bell: This franchise shines in crafting a captivating community vibe on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where it incorporates user-generated content (UGC). By encouraging customers to share their Taco Bell experiences, the brand amplifies its reach and strengthens its community bonds. This approach boosts customer loyalty, making fans feel seen and integral to the Taco Bell story. 
• Chipotle: This restaurant engages its Instagram followers with enticing images and detailed stories about its ingredients and their origins. This transparent method emphasizes Chipotle’s dedication to quality and openness, keeping the brand at the forefront of the minds of health-conscious diners. The brand’s regular updates about new dishes and their sourcing practices further solidify customer trust and deepen brand loyalty. 
• Starbucks: The global coffee shop harnesses the power of Instagram to blend striking visuals with seasonal promotional campaigns, such as the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte each fall. This strategic use of content aligns with the seasons, keeping the brand continually relevant and maximizing user engagement. Additionally, Starbucks elevates its authenticity by featuring real customers enjoying their beverages, which resonates well with the audience.

Each restaurant's social media strategy helps improve its brand presence and attract social media followers who are eager to engage with its content. Additionally, partnering with restaurant influencers can amplify this impact, reaching broader audiences and driving more engagement. 

Why different Strategies suit different platforms

Top-performing restaurants customize their strategies to fit each social media platform, ensuring their posts are finely tuned for maximum engagement and reach. For example: 

• Instagram: Oxomoco, a Michelin-one-starred eatery in Brooklyn, captivates its audience with a visually stunning feed that showcases its colorful dishes and inviting rustic ambiance. This visual allure perfectly matches Instagram’s focus on aesthetics and helps the restaurant stand out in a crowded food scene. 
• TikTok: Dunkin' Donuts engages TikTok's dynamic and youthful audience with energetic videos featuring new menu items and promotional campaigns. They often use trending sounds and challenges to encourage user interaction and viral content potential. Their approach captures the fast-paced, fun essence of the platform, making their content highly shareable. 
• Facebook: The Cheesecake Factory uses Facebook to share detailed menu updates, promotional events, and customer testimonials. This platform’s broad demographics make it ideal for reaching a diverse customer base with varied content, from photos and videos to customer interactions and reviews. 
• X (Twitter): Nando’s uses X to engage with customers through witty and timely content, mirroring Wendy’s approach but with a unique twist that reflects their brand personality. Their quick responses and playful banter with followers effectively utilize Twitter’s real-time communication strengths. 

Practicing Visual Storytelling Excellence 

High-quality photos and videos are essential for the restaurant’s social media posts, where the appeal of food can be elevated through compelling imagery. Here’s how three restaurants excel in visual storytelling: 

1. Sweetgreen capitalizes on Instagram’s visual format by featuring bright, high-definition images of their fresh salads and seasonal ingredients. They showcase their menu in eye-catching ways and align with the health-conscious lifestyle they promote, turning their offerings into aspirational content for their audience. 
2. Bad Roman utilizes Instagram to portray a rich narrative of its playful twist on Italian cuisine. Their profile is filled with artfully arranged dishes set against the backdrop of their stylish interior, effectively telling a story of modern culinary adventure intertwined with traditional flavors. 
3. Eleven Madison Park uses high-quality photos on Instagram to detail the preparations of its signature dishes and the fine dining experience it offers. Each restaurant post is crafted to showcase a meal and tell the story of the craftsmanship and detail that goes into each dish.

Key Takeaways from 3 Top Restaurant Social Media Accounts 

Social media offers restaurants a dynamic platform to engage directly with customers and influence dining decisions. By analyzing top restaurant social media ideas, we can extract valuable lessons on practical strategies that encourage interaction, build a loyal following, and ultimately convert followers into diners. 

1. Shake Shack's Interactive Offerings

Successful content strategies blend various elements to maintain audience interest and encourage interaction.  

For instance, Shake Shack showcases excellent social media use by combining mouth-watering images of its signature dish with user-focused, engaging content. It often features customers' photos and stories, highlighting moments shared around its food. 

Furthermore, Shake Shack often includes interactive elements like polls or quizzes about menu preferences or new flavor ideas, inviting followers to participate in the brand’s culinary journey. Exploring innovative social media post ideas can increase engagement and keep your content fresh. 

2. First Watch's Giveaway Genius

Campaigns with the potential to reach large audiences without losing engagement, such as social media contests, can transform social media followers into actual customers. First Watch’s “Tropical Sunrise Getaway Giveaway” is a prime example, where promoting a new juice blend was coupled with a unique contest offering a memorable experience.  

Such campaigns do double duty—highlighting products while offering incentives to encourage participation and visits. Another successful strategy is integrating limited-time offers (LTOs) or flash sales, which create urgency and prompt immediate action from followers, eager not to miss out. 

3. Domino's Savvy Use of Augmented Reality

Staying ahead of the trends can help attract social media users to your restaurant’s profile. For example, many restaurants use Instagram Stories to connect with their audience in real time. They use interactive tools like polls, Q&A sessions, and augmented reality (AR) filters to add a fun and creative twist to their digital interactions. 

Domino’s Pizza, for instance, has been using augmented reality (AR) filters on Instagram to introduce new products playfully. This innovative and interactive approach has captured user interest and boosted engagement.

3 Tips on Implementing Winning Social Media Strategies in Your Restaurant 

Adopting effective social media strategies is key for restaurants looking to improve their brand visibility and customer engagement. These three strategies should reflect your restaurant's unique brand identity:

1. Adapting Successful Strategies to Fit Your Brand

Personalization is at the heart of successful social media marketing. While it's helpful to look at what other brands are doing, the effectiveness of your social media strategy will depend on how authentic and personal it is. 

For example, a family-owned pizzeria might want to highlight its deep community ties and rich heritage. A modern vegan cafe could focus on sustainability and health-conscious dining. 

This approach ensures your content resonates with your audience and stays true to your restaurant's core values. Learn more about tailoring your approach with our comprehensive guide on loyalty marketing strategies.

2. Building a Consistent and Authentic Social Media Voice

Establishing a consistent voice across your social media platforms is essential for brand recognition and building loyalty among your followers. This voice should be your restaurant's personality, whether friendly, playful, sophisticated and refined. 

By consistently communicating in a style that resonates with your brand's ethos, you create a reliable and engaging presence that customers will come to know and trust.

3. Engagement and Community Building Techniques

Effective engagement goes beyond occasional posts and responses. It involves proactive interaction with the audience, such as responding to comments, featuring user-generated content, and taking part in trending topics relevant to the brand.  

Additionally, initiatives like hosting local events, supporting local causes, or running contests encouraging user participation can foster a sense of community. These activities drive significant engagement for short periods of time and build a more loyal community around your restaurant. 

The Power of Social Media in Restaurants 

The influence of social media on the restaurant industry transforms these platforms into essential tools for developing effective restaurant social media marketing strategies. The strategies discussed here clearly show how impactful well-crafted social media tactics can be for a restaurant's success. 

The challenge for you and your staff lies in staying creative and open to exploring new approaches that capture and hold your audience’s attention.  

Embracing new social media features, enhancing visual content, and actively building a community can enrich a restaurant's digital presence and business success. To take the first step in revolutionizing your restaurant’s social media effectiveness, implement some or all the actionable strategies discussed here. 

Ready to elevate your restaurant's digital strategy? Dive into our 2024 Loyalty Guide to learn how to integrate your online ordering platform, customer relationship management (CRM) platform, and mobile apps into a comprehensive digital engagement strategy. Don't just participate in the digital age—lead the way with techniques that make a difference.