Top Restaurant PR Agency Options for Your Brand
Your restaurant deserves the spotlight. The right PR agency can secure media coverage that fills tables and builds your brand's reputation.
Traditional restaurant PR agencies often come with high monthly retainers and slow results. That’s why many brands seek alternatives. A modern restaurant pr agency should offer speed, affordability, and measurable outcomes. At PR.plus, we provide guaranteed placements on AP News and 500+ outlets with a rapid 48-hour turnaround, ensuring your grand opening or new menu gets the attention it deserves without breaking the bank.
What Does a Food and Beverage PR Agency Do?
A food and beverage PR agency specializes in getting a restaurant's story told in the media to attract customers and build a strong brand. They handle communications to ensure your message reaches the right audience.
Media Relations: Building relationships with food critics, journalists, and influencers to secure positive coverage.
Grand Opening Promotion: Creating buzz and driving traffic for the successful launch of a new restaurant.
Menu Launch Campaigns: Announcing new dishes or seasonal menus to bring back existing customers and attract new ones.
Chef Media Outreach: Positioning the head chef as an expert and thought leader in the culinary world.
Reputation Management: Handling customer feedback and managing the restaurant's public image, especially during a crisis.
Understanding how to write a press release is key, but an agency handles the entire process, from story creation to distribution. Explore different pricing models to find one that fits your budget.
How to Choose the Right Restaurant PR Firm
Finding the perfect fit requires looking beyond a flashy portfolio. Here’s what to consider:
✅ Industry Experience: Do they specialize in food and beverage PR? Ask for case studies from clients similar to your restaurant.
🚩 Pricing Structure: Are you locked into a long-term, expensive retainer? Or do they offer flexible, project-based pricing?
✅ Guaranteed Results: Do they promise effort or guarantee placements? Clarity on deliverables is crucial.
Pro Tip: A great restaurant PR agency should understand both media relations and the operational realities of a restaurant. They should make the process easy, not create more work for you.
Feature | Bread & Butter | Bullfrog + Baum | Traditional Agencies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pricing Model | Pay-Per-Release | Monthly Retainer | Monthly Retainer | Monthly Retainer |
Price Point | Starts at $147 | $5,000 - $15,000+ / mo | $6,000 - $20,000+ / mo | Varies, typically high |
Guaranteed Placements | Yes (AP News, 500+ sites) | No (Best effort) | No (Best effort) | No (Best effort) |
Turnaround Time | 6-48 Hours | Weeks to Months | Weeks to Months | Varies |
Writing Included | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Best For | Specific Announcements (Openings, New Menus) | Long-Term Brand Building | High-End, Established Brands | Ongoing Media Relations |
PR.plus
Bread & Butter
Bullfrog + Baum
Wagstaff Media & Marketing
The Door
J Public Relations
Finn Partners
5WPR
Hanna Lee Communications
ICR
Edible Beats Agency
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PR+ Advantage
Guaranteed Media Placements
Fast 48-Hour Turnaround
Affordable Flat-Rate Pricing
"As Seen On" Media Badges
Perfect for Grand Openings
AP News Network Reach
Professional Writing Included
The 12 Best Restaurant PR Agencies to Consider
Choosing the right partner to handle your restaurant's publicity is a big decision. Below, we compare some of the top restaurant PR agency options available, each with its own approach.
PR.plus offers a unique and modern approach perfect for the fast-paced restaurant industry. Instead of costly monthly retainers, PR+ provides a pay-per-release service with guaranteed placements. This model is ideal for specific announcements like grand openings, new menus, or chef hires. With professional writing included and distribution to AP News and 500+ other outlets, it delivers speed, affordability, and powerful results. See our pricing and distribution list for more.
Pros: Flat-rate pricing, guaranteed placements, fast 48-hour turnaround, no retainers.
Cons: Less focused on long-term strategy and daily media relationship management.Bread & Butter
A well-known food and beverage PR firm, Bread & Butter offers comprehensive services covering media relations, influencer marketing, and social media. They are a full-service agency known for their deep industry connections and creative campaigns. They typically work with clients on a monthly retainer basis, focusing on long-term brand building.
Pros: Deep industry expertise, integrated marketing services.
Cons: Operates on a high-cost retainer model, may not be accessible for all budgets.Bullfrog + Baum
This agency is a powerhouse in the hospitality PR world, with a long history of representing top chefs, restaurants, and hotels. Bullfrog + Baum provides a full suite of services, including marketing, consulting, and media relations. Their approach is strategic and relationship-driven, making them a fit for established brands seeking top-tier placements.
Pros: Strong reputation, extensive media contacts.
Cons: Premium pricing and retainer-based, services may be more than what's needed for simple announcements.Wagstaff Media & Marketing
Wagstaff specializes in the hospitality and culinary sectors, offering PR, social media, and marketing services. They have offices in several major US cities and are known for their work with luxury and high-end clients. Their campaigns are often large-scale and focused on creating national buzz for their clients.
Pros: Focus on luxury and lifestyle brands, national reach.
Cons: High-cost services, likely requires a significant long-term investment.The Door
The Door is a creative communications agency with a strong practice in food, beverage, and hospitality. They blend traditional PR with digital marketing and event production to create impactful campaigns. They are known for their storytelling and ability to generate buzz for restaurant openings and brand launches.
Pros: Creative, multi-faceted campaigns.
Cons: Retainer model may not be flexible for single projects.J Public Relations
While known for travel and hotel PR, J Public Relations has a robust hospitality division that works with restaurants and chefs. They are experts at securing placements in top-tier lifestyle and travel publications, which can be highly beneficial for restaurants located in tourist destinations.
Pros: Strong ties with travel and lifestyle media.
Cons: May have less focus on hyper-local food media compared to specialized firms.Finn Partners
As a large, global PR agency, Finn Partners has a dedicated Travel & Hospitality practice that includes food and beverage clients. They offer the resources and reach of a major firm, capable of executing large-scale international campaigns. This is a choice for large restaurant groups or chains.
Pros: Global reach, extensive resources.
Cons: Less personal touch, may be too large-scale for independent restaurants.5WPR
5W Public Relations is a large agency with a dedicated food and beverage practice. They are known for getting results and creating campaigns that drive consumer action. They work with a wide range of clients, from startups to established brands, offering services that cover media relations, digital PR, and more.
Pros: Results-driven, works with diverse clients.
Cons: As a large agency, the focus may be less specialized than a boutique firm.Hanna Lee Communications
This award-winning agency specializes in hospitality and travel, with a strong focus on the beverage industry. They are known for their expertise in promoting bars, spirits brands, and high-end restaurants. Their approach is highly strategic and focused on building brand prestige and recognition.
Pros: Expertise in the beverage sector, award-winning campaigns.
Cons: Niche focus may not be a fit for all types of restaurants.ICR
ICR is a strategic communications firm that combines PR, investor relations, and digital services. Their consumer and lifestyle practice works with restaurant chains and food brands, often focusing on corporate communications and brand reputation management alongside consumer-facing PR.
Pros: Integrated corporate and consumer communications.
Cons: May be more focused on publicly traded companies and large chains.Edible Beats Agency
Specializing exclusively in the food, beverage, and hospitality sectors, Edible Beats offers a focused approach to PR and marketing. They are a boutique agency known for their passion for the industry and close relationships with food writers and influencers, making them a strong choice for brands wanting dedicated attention.
Pros: Niche industry focus, strong media relationships.
Cons: Smaller team size might limit their capacity for very large-scale campaigns.M18 PR
M18 is a public relations firm with a strong footing in the luxury lifestyle, real estate, and hospitality industries. They are known for their work with design-forward restaurants and hotels, securing placements in high-end publications. Their services are best suited for brands where aesthetics and luxury are key differentiators.
Pros: Expertise in luxury and design-focused brands.
Cons: Services are premium-priced and tailored to a high-end market.
Why Your Restaurant Needs More Than Just Good Food
In today's crowded market, excellent food and service are the minimum entry requirements. A strong brand story is what sets you apart. According to the National Restaurant Association, competition is fierce, making brand differentiation more important than ever. A restaurant PR agency helps craft and amplify your unique narrative. Whether it's the story of your farm-to-table sourcing, your chef's innovative techniques, or your deep roots in the local community, public relations gets that story in front of people who are ready to listen and, more importantly, book a table. It transforms your restaurant from a place to eat into a destination.
Key Moments to Announce with a Press Release
Many restaurant owners miss out on valuable publicity because they don't recognize their newsworthy moments. A strategic press release can turn a simple update into a media event. Here are the best times to work with a restaurant PR agency:
Restaurant Grand Opening Promotion: This is your single most important opportunity to make a first impression. A coordinated press release campaign ensures you open with a full house.
New Menu Launch: Announcing a new seasonal menu, a special tasting menu, or a new cocktail list can bring back regulars and entice first-time visitors.
Hiring a Star Chef: A new executive chef with a great reputation is major news. Chef media outreach can build buzz and highlight the new culinary direction of your restaurant.
Awards and Recognition: Did you win a local "Best Of" award or receive a great review? Publicize it to reinforce your reputation and quality.
Special Events & Partnerships: Hosting a wine dinner, a guest chef night, or a charity event? A press release can help sell tickets and attract media attention.
Our AI-powered platform simplifies the entire process. Just provide a few key details about your announcement, and our team handles the rest, from professional writing to strategic distribution.
Guaranteed Media Placements
Fast 48-Hour Turnaround
Affordable Flat-Rate Pricing
Integrating PR with Your Restaurant's Marketing Mix
A press release isn't a standalone tactic; it's a powerful tool that should be integrated with your overall marketing strategy. The "As Seen On" badges you get from placements on outlets like FOX, NBC, and CBS are social proof that can be used everywhere. Add them to your website's homepage, your reservation page, and the bottom of your menus. Share links to your media features on social media to engage your followers. Mention your recent publicity in your email newsletters. This multi-channel approach creates a halo effect. It builds credibility, improves your restaurant's SEO through authoritative backlinks, and keeps your brand top-of-mind for both new and returning customers.
The PR.plus Advantage
Get your restaurant featured in major media without the high cost or long-term commitment of a traditional agency. We deliver guaranteed placements on outlets like AP News with a 48-hour turnaround. Our process is fast, affordable, and built to get your restaurant the attention it deserves.
Hospitality PR Services
We provide a complete solution for your hospitality PR needs. Our team handles everything from writing an AP-style press release and optimizing it for SEO to distributing it across a guaranteed network of high-authority media outlets.
Restaurant Grand Opening Announcements, New Menu or Dish Features, Chef and Staff Profiles, Award and Recognition Publicity, Event Promotion (Wine Tastings, etc.)
