How Cafés & Restaurants Can Win on Social Media This Pancake Tuesday

Pancake Tuesday is one of those rare days when your product is already the star.

You do not need to invent demand.
You just need to show up in the right way.

People are already thinking about pancakes. They are already planning where to go. They are already scrolling their phones looking for ideas.

Your job is simple:
Be the place they picture when they think “pancakes today.”

Here is how to do that without overcomplicating things.

1. Pick One Hero Pancake (And Make It Famous)

Do not promote everything.

Choose one pancake that represents your café or restaurant.
This becomes your “hero” for the day.

• The biggest stack

• The most indulgent topping

• The one that looks ridiculous in the best way

Post it everywhere:

• Instagram feed

• Facebook page

• Stories

• Your Google Business profile

Consistency beats variety on days like this. One recognisable pancake is easier to remember than five average ones.

2. Show the Making, Not Just the Final Plate

People love seeing how food is made.
It feels human. It feels real.

Quick ideas:

• Flipping pancakes on the griddle

• Drizzling sauce in slow motion

• Stacking pancakes until they wobble

• The moment the first order goes out

These do not need to be perfect.
They need to be honest.

Rough, behind-the-scenes content often performs better than polished photos.

3. Create a Simple Reason to Come Today (Not “Someday”)

Pancake Tuesday is about urgency.

Give people a reason to come today, not “at some point.”

Examples:

• Limited edition pancake for one day only

• Free topping with any pancake before 11am

• Kids eat free pancakes with any adult meal

• First 50 customers get a free syrup upgrade

Scarcity drives action.
Make it clear that this is not available tomorrow.

4. Tell People Exactly What to Do

Do not assume people know what to do next.

Clear calls to action work:

• “Pop in today and try it”

• “Tag who you are bringing”

• “Share this with your pancake partner”

• “Walk-ins welcome all day”

If you want comments, say so.
If you want visits, say so.
If you want shares, say so.

People respond better when the next step is obvious.

5. Let Your Customers Do the Marketing for You

You do not need influencers.

You need customers with phones.

Encourage people to:

• Tag your café

• Use your hashtag

• Share their pancake stack

Then reshare their content to your Stories.

This does two things:

1. It gives you content without extra work

2. It shows real people choosing your place

That is social proof.
And social proof sells.

6. Pin Your Pancake Post for the Day

This one small move gets overlooked.

Pin your Pancake Tuesday post to:

• The top of your Facebook page

• The top of your Instagram grid (if available)

Anyone visiting your page that day should immediately see:
“This is where pancakes are happening today.”

Make the decision easy for them.

7. Do Not Overthink It

The cafés and restaurants that win days like Pancake Tuesday are not the ones with the best cameras.

They are the ones who:

• Post early

• Post clearly

• Post more than once

• Make it obvious they are serving pancakes today

Momentum beats perfection.

If you wait until everything looks perfect, the day will pass you by.

The Real Win

Pancake Tuesday is not just about one day of sales.

It is about:

• Being remembered

• Being talked about

• Being the place people think of next time they want brunch

Show up well today, and you stay top of mind tomorrow.

That is how small, simple moments turn into long-term growth.