With Cupid’s big night landing on a Saturday, load your quiver with ideas and inspo and shoot for a blockbuster weekend! From valentines and galentines to solo singles, there’s something for everyone to love.
In the Name of Love
Turn Valentine’s Day into a multi-day (and daypart!) love fest with dinner both nights, lovers’ lunch specials, and a sweetheart Sunday brunch. Create space to celebrate couples, besties, singles, and more all weekend long.
All the Single Ladies (and More!)
Think beyond Lady & The Tramp moments:
- Gen Z singles seek companionship and conversation through communal dining. Spread the word you’ll be setting up a friend zone with meal deals. Put out Uno and Exploding Kittens, and let the games begin!
- Galentines — or friendtines — just wanna have fun! Get into the groove with from-the-bar flights, group-friendly shareables, and IG-worthy experiences like fondue, gourmet s’mores, and paint-your-own desserts — start with Sweet Encore® New York–Style Cheesecake or other fine desserts like Better Than Your Momma’s Chocolate Cake crafted with HERSHEY’S® products, even individual servings like cream-cheese packed Lil’ Red Velvet cakes, and let your guests go to town with a smorgasbord of sweet toppings, sprinkles, and sauces.
- Tell parents they don’t have to pay a babysitter! A kid-friendly lunch-and-brunch with on-theme specials like pink pancakes and heart-shaped mini pizzas — plus LTO dishes the grown-ups can enjoy — make Valentine’s Day a family affair.
- Dog-friendly dining is trending. Promote bringing furry valentines for Fido-safe snacks on a covered patio or wherever you’re able to host. After all, those cute canine companions are often their human’s one true love (iykyk).
The Power of Love
On Valentine’s Day, love and luxury are a match made in heaven, so go glam for big-time woo factor. From simple upgrades to elevated options, special touches (yes, even edible glitter!) can take the total experience all the way up.
Dress tables with candles and floral, or go extra with confetti, linens, and printed love notes. And don’t forget the social share factor: create a dreamy love nest for selfies with balloons, a sparkly fringe curtain, or an elegant floral wall.
Make guests swoon with LTO dishes that cross dayparts, from duck fat potatoes to deluxe crêpe creations featuring always-in-demand seafood superstars. And chocolate, always chocolate! Customize for couples with interactive options to be enjoyed together, like dips, boards, drinks, and desserts built for two. Invite flavor-fluent pairs to explore new experiences with a tasting menu highlighting international ingredients on small, shareable plates.
Finally, think outside the guacs with memory-making, totally TikTok-able tableside service, from a drink-special cocktail cart, to MTO Caesar salads, to flambéed apps and desserts that really heat things up (P.S. a flambée wows at brunch, too).
Keep it real with prix fixe menus or meal-for-two specials and sweeten the deal for loyalty members or advance reservations with a complimentary amuse-bouche, glass of bubbles, customized donut, dessert, or flowers — even big spenders like to save. Preparing to lean into takeout? Promoting perks like complimentary swag or a long-stemmed rose can help you get ahead.
Love Bites
Not everyone always feels the love on Valentine’s Day.
Get in the counter-Valentine spirit with creative F&B focused on bitter and sour flavors for takeout or dine-in. For puckery pop topped with bitters, a classic Pisco Sour is oh-so-apropos. Try dark leafy greens, pickled or fermented foods, and flavors from dark chocolate to coffee to yuzu.
Or take it to the dark side with black foods and drinks featuring squid ink, black beans, forbidden rice, black cocoa, and even a black burger bun. Get inspo from Black Vinegar Braised Osso Bucco or Empire’s Treasure® Grilled Scallops and Squid Ink Linguine Puttanesca featuring Piancone® Epicureo Premium Squid Ink Linguine.
Here’s to being lucky in love all weekend long!