Eat, Play, Win at These 5 Restaurants Making Dinners Fun

L: Daisy's Donuts R: Creeks Cuppa

Eat, Play, Win at These 5 Restaurants Making Dinners Fun

In the age of short attention spans and Instagram buzz, restaurants and cafes are upping their marketing game — literally. These clever establishments have dreamt up interactive offers that get customers laughing, cheering, and coming back for more. Here are five delightfully quirky marketing strategies being used by restaurants around the world, each proving that a little creativity can turn a meal into an unforgettable experience.

Dishoom, London
At Dishoom, a popular Indian eatery in London, the spirit of Mumbai’s old gambling dens comes alive at the dinner table. Their motto ‘Sixer Dalo, Free Khao!’ (Hindi for ‘roll a six, eat for free’) invites diners to try their luck. Here’s how it works: ask your server for the special Matka token and, when your bill arrives, you’ll get to roll a single die. If it lands on six, your entire table’s meal is on the house. Yes, starters, mains, drinks – the whole lot – free. The catch? This magical offer only works on weekdays before 6 PM, cleverly encouraging off-peak visits. The excitement of a possible free feast turns an ordinary weeknight dinner into a mini-adventure; tables erupt in cheers when someone hits the lucky number.

Eat, Play, Win at These 5 Restaurants Making Dinners Fun

Rico's Preston
At Rico’s Wood Fired Pizza in Preston (UK), customers don’t just wait for their pizza – they play for it. Rico’s has a simple but nerve-wracking challenge: stop a digital timer at exactly 10.00 seconds and your whole meal is free. Sounds easy, right? Not quite – most people slam the button a hair too early or late, landing on 9.98 or 10.03 and erupting into laughter. But on those rare, triumphant attempts when a customer nails the perfect 10.00, the restaurant comp their bill amid cheers from staff and onlookers. This lighthearted game, turns a normal dinner into an adrenaline-fueled contest. It’s a clever win-win: diners get a thrill (and bragging rights if they succeed), while Rico’s builds buzz and keeps guests coming through the door, phones in hand ready to record their feat for social media.

Middle Ground Cafe
Down in Melbourne, Australia, Middle Ground Café has coffee-lovers balancing between caffeine and carnival-style antics. The cafe’s quirky promotion challenges customers to balance a coin on an orange that’s bobbing in a water-filled jar. If you can manage this precarious feat, you earn a special reward of getting your coffee for free. It’s a simple idea that’s surprisingly hard, the floating fruit keeps bobbing as you concentrate, coin in hand, like a contestant in a minute-to-win-it game. Patrons often gather to watch each attempt, turning a routine coffee run into a spectator sport.

Eat, Play, Win at These 5 Restaurants Making Dinners Fun L: Rico's Preston R: Middle Ground Cafe

L: Rico's Preston R: Middle Ground Cafe

Daisy's Donuts 
Who says you can’t have your donut and dance too? At Daisy’s Donuts, a visit for pastries doubles as a mini dance party. The shop has a standing offer: walk in doing a little dance and you’ll earn a sweet discount on your treats. That’s right, bust a move at the door and save some dough on your doughnuts. The staff at Daisy’s lean into the fun, often clapping or playing a tune as shy customers turn into smiling dancers. It’s a marketing ploy that creates an upbeat vibe from the moment people step in. Shoppers might feel a tad silly at first, but the promise of cheaper (and tastier) donuts is a great confidence booster. More importantly, this playful policy all but begs to be shared online; who wouldn’t record their friend doing the cha-cha for a chocolate frosted? By encouraging customers to let loose, Daisy’s not only brightens everyone’s day but also drums up free publicity as the dancing discount trend makes the rounds on social media.

Creeks Cuppa, Exeter
Coffee and riddles might sound like an odd blend, but Creeks Cuppa, a cozy café in Exeter, UK, has brewed up a brainteaser that’s drawing crowds. Their promotion, dubbed the “Brew Brain Teaser,” promises a 10% discount on your drink if you can solve the riddle of the week. Curious customers have spent many a latte brainstorming answers, but the solution remains elusive. The challenge went viral online when a visitor shared it on Reddit, racking up thousands of upvotes and comments from around the world as people collectively scratched their heads. Owner John Creeks is thrilled, he created the puzzle to spark fun interactions, and he’s intentionally keeping the answer secret to keep the game going. The result is marketing gold: visitors keep coming back to see if anyone has solved it or to take another guess themselves. Creeks Cuppa even teases new riddles every few weeks, ensuring there’s always a fresh enigma brewing alongside the espresso.

Words Harita Odedra 
Date 25-07-2025