Why Social Media Works for Restaurants and How can you utlize that for your Restaurants without paying thousands of money to any agency.
If you own a restaurant in Kolkata and want more business — more customers, more visibility, and a stronger local presence — then you must start using social media rather focusing on SEO and Google Ads.
SEO and Google Ads are helpful, but social media is where most people spend their time. So it’s important to learn how to use social media to grow your restaurant.
In this article I will describe only actionable step that you start by yourself by just giving 10 to 15 minutes time a day.
Let’s be honest—running a restaurant in Kolkata and making it popular like other established brands isn’t easy.
You’ve got amazing food, a cozy space, friendly staff, cool environment and perfect location too … but not enough people know about it.
And that’s where social media comes in.
It’s not just for selfies and memes anymore—it’s a real way to get people through your door.
Let’s talk about how to actually make it work for your restaurant.
Here I will describe all actionable steps that you can do by just giving 15 minutes time from your busy schedule and if you consistently do this for the next 30 days starting from today then by end of 30 days you will 100% see the difference.
1. First, know who you’re talking to
Who is your ideal customer?
Who are the people looking for delicious foods?
Posting random stuff won’t cut it.
You gotta know your crowd. You must know who would be your customers
Are your regulars college students? Office folks? Families looking for weekend dinners?
Just open Instagram or Facebook and peek at your insights.
You’ll find age ranges, where your followers live, even when they’re online.
That info? Gold.
Once you know who’s watching, it gets easier to post what they actually care about.
Let’s say your audience mostly looks at posts about your Special Biryani, Special Mutton items, or any special Veg dishes
then you’ll understand what people are interested in on your Instagram and Facebook
So you need to see your Instagram or Facebook regularly and then you need to make post accordion to you audience , according to what they are looking for.
2. Make your food the hero on Instagram
Instagram loves food.
People scroll just to find one dish that makes them hungry.
So your food photos should look tasty — really tasty.
Take pictures in natural light.
Don’t use too many filters. Keep it real.
Use clean plates, bright colors, and close-up shots.
Also — don’t forget Stories.
Show what’s cooking in your kitchen.
Post a quick 10-second video — like your chef flipping a paratha.
Or steam rising from a sizzler — people love that stuff!
It looks simple, but it works.
You’ll start seeing more likes, comments, and even walk-ins.
3. Use hashtags that make sense locally
#FoodLovers and #Yummy are fine. But they’re global. You want local.
Think: #KolkataEats, #FoodieInKolkata, #BiryaniLoverKolkata
People here are searching for those. You want to show up.
You can even make one for your own brand. Something like #EatAtRotiCorner or #TandooriByTheLake.
Ask your customers to use it when they post. Re-share their posts.
It shows you’re active, and it builds trust without saying a word.
Sound interesting ?
4. Facebook still works—use it for events and updates
Everyone says Facebook is dead. But go check the number of food groups in Kolkata. They’re alive and buzzing.
Post your events there. New year’s menu? Karaoke night? Monsoon thali?
Create a Facebook Event.
People will get reminders. Their friends will see it.
You don’t need to be fancy—just be clear.
Date, time, offer. Maybe a simple poster.
Keep your page active. It shows you’re alive and serving.
5. Team up with local foodies
Influencers? Yep, they work.
Especially the ones who live in your city and actually go out to eat.
Find folks who post about food, even if they have 2,000 or 3,000 followers.
It’s not about numbers. It’s about who’s watching.
Drop them a message. “Hey, love your content. Want to drop by for lunch with us?”
If they have a good experience, chances are they’ll post.
You don’t even need to ask.
It’s just modern word-of-mouth, and it’s worth it.
6. Everyone loves a giveaway—run one
You don’t have to give away a 3-course meal.
Even something simple like “Free dessert for two” can get attention.
Ask people to tag a friend. Or share your post. Or follow your page.
It gets your name out there without spending big bucks.
Just make it easy to enter, and be honest when you announce winners.
Also—post about the winner. People love seeing real rewards.
5. Team up with local foodies
Influencers? Yep, they work.
Especially the ones who live in your city and actually go out to eat.
Find folks who post about food, even if they have 2,000 or 3,000 followers.
It’s not about numbers. It’s about who’s watching.
Drop them a message. “Hey, love your content. Want to drop by for lunch with us?”
If they have a good experience, chances are they’ll post.
You don’t even need to ask.
It’s just modern word-of-mouth, and it’s worth it.
6. Everyone loves a giveaway—run one
You don’t have to give away a 3-course meal.
Even something simple like “Free dessert for two” can get attention.
Ask people to tag a friend. Or share your post. Or follow your page.
It gets your name out there without spending big bucks.
Just make it easy to enter, and be honest when you announce winners.
Also—post about the winner. People love seeing real rewards.
Quick Story: Bawarchi got it right
There’s a small family restaurant in Salt Lake called Bawarchi.
They had great food but no online presence.
They started posting photos—nothing fancy. Just clear shots of their thalis.
Then they invited a local foodie who posted about them. That one post brought them 40 new customers in one weekend.
They didn’t spend on ads. Just effort.
That’s the kind of win you want too.
Alright, Time to Wrap It Up
You don’t need a marketing degree to grow your restaurant online.
You just need your phone, your food, and a bit of consistency.
Start small. Post what’s real.
Celebrate your regulars. Show your kitchen. Run a small giveaway.
Bit by bit, people will notice.
And when they’re hungry and scrolling?
Your name’s the one they’ll remember.
