How to fill tables fast in a new city

First off, congrats! Whether it’s your very first restaurant or you’re adding another location to your growing portfolio, opening in a new city is no small feat. You’ve poured time, energy, and resources into making sure the food, the vibe, and the team are ready.

Now comes the big question: how do you let people know?

Of course, there are traditional routes. A press feature in the local paper, an agency-led launch campaign, or paid ads across Instagram and Google, all of these can work. But they can also be expensive, time-consuming, and don’t always guarantee that you’re reaching the right audience.

That’s where influencers, specifically micro-influencers, come in.

The secret sauce

Micro-influencers (think 5k–50k followers) often have something far more valuable than just numbers: trust. Their audiences tend to be local, highly engaged, and genuinely interested in their recommendations.

That means when they show off your restaurant, the tasting menus, that sticky toffee pudding that will have everyone's mouth watering, even the atmosphere, it feels authentic. It’s not an ad, it’s a trusted recommendation from someone their followers already listen to.

Influencer marketing made simple

With Gifted, you don’t need to spend weeks cold-DMing creators or taking chances on random requests. Instead, you:

• Set your offer → e.g. a comped meal for two.

• Review influencer applications → all pre-vetted, with real engagement.

• Approve and wait → influencers create authentic content that brings your new spot to life.

Best part? That content isn’t just a one-time post. You can repurpose it for your own social channels, website, or even ads,  saving you content production costs while keeping things real and relatable.

Tips to maximise your launch

Here are a few extra ways to make influencer collaborations really work for your restaurant launch:

1. Think local first
   Focus on creators whose followers live nearby. A gorgeous brunch post won’t help if the audience is across the country.

2. Encourage storytelling
   Don’t just ask for a pretty photo of your plates, ask them to share the experience. The warm welcome, the small bites and drinks, the energy of the room. That’s what sticks.

3. Plan consistency
   A one-off post is great, but a steady drumbeat of content is better. Line up a few collaborations across your first weeks to keep momentum going.

4. Track what matters
   Likes are nice, but bookings are better. Use a simple code, link, or even just ask “How did you hear about us?” to see which influencers drive real footfall.

Bringing a launch to life

When Super Club Roma, the Roman-style pizza concept from the team behind Franco Manca and The Real Greek, opened at Westfield Stratford, they didn’t sit back and hope word would spread.

Instead, they invited local food creators in from day one. The content captured more than just pizza (though the crispy Roman-style slices stole the show) it showcased the bold interiors, the vibe, and the energy of the launch.

The result wasn’t one viral hit, but consistent, authentic posts that built real buzz and, most importantly, drove bookings from the right crowd.

From first night to every night

Launching in a new city is exciting, (and a little daunting!) But with the right influencers on your side, you don’t just create buzz, you build community. The locals who see your restaurant through the eyes of someone they trust are far more likely to walk through your doors.

With Gifted, you don’t need to start from scratch. We’ve already got:

• Collab brief templates that save you hours of back-and-forth.

• A network of vetted micro foodie influencers with real local audiences.

• A simple platform that makes gifting meals and approving collabs effortless.

  
  

👉 Get Gifted today and put your launch in front of the people who matter most.
Because at the end of the day, you don’t just want a busy opening night, you want packed tables week after week.