How to Create a Free Item Promotion for Your Restaurant

"Get a free dessert with your order" is one of the most effective offers a restaurant can run. Customers feel they're getting something extra rather than just a lower price, and you can pick items with a healthy margin so the offer costs you very little. This guide walks through creating a Free Item promotion in the Ressto dashboard, with tips on making it profitable.

Why choose a Free Item offer

Unlike percentage or flat discounts, a free item doesn't reduce the bill. It adds value on top of it. That makes it a good fit when you want to:

• Push customers to reach a higher order value
• Introduce a new dish or move slow-selling items
• Offer something with a low cost to you but high perceived value, such as a drink, dessert, or side
• Stand out from competitors who only offer standard discounts.

Step 1: Details

This section covers what customers see.

Name. Give the offer a clear, appealing name. The placeholder suggests something like "Family Feast." Good names tell customers what they get, such as "Free Dessert on Orders Above ₹500" or "Complimentary Drink with Any Meal."

Description. Briefly explain the offer. Mention what the free item is, what the customer needs to spend, and any conditions. Keep it short and friendly.

Extra Charges. This dropdown defaults to No extra charges. The helper note explains how it works: the free item itself costs nothing, but a bigger size or paid add-ons are charged according to this setting. For example, if the free item is a drink, a customer who upgrades to a large size can be charged the difference. Leave it at the default for a fully free item.

Minimum Order Value (₹). This required field (marked with an asterisk) is the order subtotal a customer must reach to unlock the free item. Set it slightly above your average order value so customers are encouraged to add one more dish. For instance, if the typical order is ₹400, a ₹500 minimum is a gentle nudge. Make sure the minimum is high enough that the free item's cost is comfortably covered by the extra spend.

Step 2: Free Item

This is where you choose what customers actually get. The form uses groups. Each group lets the customer pick a set number of items, either from specific items you choose or from a whole category.

By default, you'll see Group 1 – Your free item. Click to expand it and set up the choices. The arrows on the right let you reorder groups, and the cross removes one.

Here are some ways to use groups:

• One specific item. Offer a single dish, such as a brownie, so there's no decision to make.
• Pick one from a few. Let customers choose a free dessert from three options, which makes the offer feel more personal.
• Pick from a whole category. Offer any beverage or any starter, which is flexible but make sure every item in the category is one you're happy to give away.
• Multiple groups. Offer, say, one free starter and one free drink as separate choices.

Tip: choose items with a low food cost and a high perceived value, like desserts, drinks, and sides. Avoid your most expensive dishes unless the minimum order is high enough to justify it.

Step 3: Service Types

Choose where the offer is available. You'll see a checkbox for each option:

• Delivery
• Pickup
• Dining (shown with your restaurant's name, for example "Jade & Ember Dining")

Tick every channel where you want the offer to apply. All three boxes start unticked, so make sure to select at least one, or the offer won't be available anywhere. A dine-in free item is a good way to lift table spend, while a delivery-only offer can help compete with larger delivery apps.

More options (optional)

The defaults work for most restaurants, but you can fine-tune the offer by expanding these panels:

• Mark promo as. Controls how this promo interacts with others. The default is Exclusive.
• Schedule Availability. Every day, all day by default. Limit it to certain days or hours, such as weekday lunch or slow evenings.
• Availability window. Set when the offer is live. The default is Always, with no minimum, so use this for festival or seasonal campaigns.
• Payment methods. All payment methods by default. Restrict it if you want to encourage, for example, online payments.
• Image. No image by default. Upload a photo of the free item. A good picture makes the offer far more tempting, and it appears in the customer preview.

Review and publish

Check the Customer Preview and Included panel on the right. Make sure the name, image, and free item look right. When you're happy, click Create. Click Cancel to discard your changes.

Updated on: 07/10/2026