Let’s cut to the chase: print ads can work for restaurants—but only if you do them right. Otherwise, you’re just lighting money on fire. Dallas is packed with places to eat, so if you’re spending cash on print, you better make it count.

Here’s how to make sure your ads don’t just take up space but actually bring hungry people through your doors.

Hit the Right Crowd (Not Just Any Random Reader)

Not every Dallas diner is your customer. If you’re serving craft cocktails and filet mignon, don’t waste ad space trying to lure in folks looking for a drive-thru burger. Target the right people in the right places.

Physical media activates more areas of the brain for readers so it is important to note that utilizing print advertising is emotionally engaging.

Where Your Ads Should Be:

• Local magazines people actually read. (Hint: House to Home puts your ad in front of homeowners with disposable income.)
• Community newspapers. Great for family-friendly spots or neighborhood favorites.
• Hotel guides and visitor handouts. Tourists need to eat, and they’ll take recommendations from what’s in front of them.
• Mailed inserts. A killer deal in the mailbox = an easy win when sent to the right zip codes

(According to a USPS study, 60% of direct mail recipients are influenced to visit a business after receiving a mail piece.).

Your Headline: Stop Them in Their Tracks

Readers skim. If your headline doesn’t grab them instantly, your ad is wasted. “Best Italian Food in Dallas” is dull. Try something with attitude and personality.

Attention-Grabbing Headline Ideas:

• “We Make the Best BBQ. Fight Us.”
• “This Burger Will Ruin All Other Burgers for You.”
• “Half-Price Wine? Say Less.”
• “Dallas’ Best Brunch—And We’ve Got the Mimosas to Prove It.”

The Offer: Give Them a Reason to Show Up Now

A print ad that just lists your restaurant name and address? Useless. Give people a reason to act instead of just glance and move on.

Offers That Drive Traffic:

• Limited-time deals (“Free appetizer this week only!”) 
• Exclusive discounts (“Bring this ad in for 10% off your bill.”) 
• Off-menu perks (“Show this ad for a secret dish only insiders get!”) 
• Seasonal specials (“Pumpkin spice everything—here for fall and gone before you blink.”)

Design That Demands Attention

Your ad needs to look good. If it’s ugly, cluttered, or boring, people will skip right over it.

Make Your Ad Work:

✅ Use mouthwatering images. (No one’s interested in your logo. Show the food.) 

✅ Keep text short. (If it looks like homework, no one’s reading it.) 

✅ Use clean fonts. (Fancy script is cute—until no one can read it.) 

✅ Make it pop. (Strong contrast and bold colors grab eyeballs.)

Print Works Best When It’s Part of a Bigger Plan

No one sees an ad once and rushes in. They need reminders. Your print ad should be part of a larger strategy.

Maximize Your Ad’s Impact By:

• Running the same promo on social media.
• Sending direct mail to the same audience.
• Using a unique promo code to track response.
• Training staff to ask, “Where’d you hear about us?”

Track What Works (Or You’re Just Guessing)

Most restaurants throw money at print and hope for the best. Don’t do that. Test, track, and tweak.

Simple Ways to Measure Success:

📌 Use a unique discount code (*”Show this ad for 15% off””) 

📌 Track redemptions on print-exclusive deals 

📌 Set up a special phone number or landing page 

📌 Just ask customers how they found you

The Bottom Line

Print ads aren’t dead, but boring, generic ads are. If you’re going to invest in print, make sure it’s bold, targeted, and impossible to ignore. Do it right, and your tables will be full. Do it wrong, and—well, let’s not go there.

Need to get your restaurant in front of the right people? House to Home Magazine puts your ad where it actually gets noticed. Just saying. 😉