If your restaurant’s tables aren’t as full as they should be, the problem might not be the food—it might be the marketing.

And in 2025, there’s still one paid platform that consistently brings diners through the door: Facebook Ads. 

In this guide, we’ll show you how local Pensacola restaurants can use Facebook ads to target hungry locals, promote daily specials, and fill seats—even on slow nights.

🍔 Why Facebook Ads Still Work for Restaurants in 2025

A lot of platforms come and go, but Facebook is still king when it comes to hyper-local targeting.

Here’s why:

• Over 70% of adults in Pensacola are on Facebook or Instagram daily.

• You can target users by ZIP code, interests (like “seafood” or “craft beer”), and even behavior (like recent dining activity).

• You can advertise with any budget, from $5/day to $500.

That means Facebook ads let you skip the guesswork and talk directly to the people most likely to dine with you.

🎯 The 3 Types of Restaurant Facebook Ads That Actually Work

At CAVU Digital Marketing, we’ve run hundreds of ad campaigns for restaurants—and we’ve narrowed down the three highest-converting formats:

1. Specials or Limited-Time Offers

These drive immediate action. People love urgency.

Example:
“$10 Burger + Beer this Friday only 🍔🍺 — Reserve your table now!”

• Ad Target: 5-mile radius, ages 25–55, foodies, craft beer fans

• Call to Action: Book Now, Call Now, or Learn More

• Bonus Tip: Use a high-quality photo of the dish

2. Local Events or Live Music Nights

Use ads to promote events that get people out of the house.

Example:
“🎶 Live Jazz + Dinner This Saturday Night | Downtown Pensacola’s Hidden Gem”

• Ad Target: Ages 30+, interest in live music, couples

• CTA: Get Tickets or Reserve Now

3. Showcase a Signature Dish or Customer Favorite

Build brand awareness and attract repeat diners with mouthwatering content.

Example:
“Meet our #1 seller: Blackened Grouper over Creamy Grits 😍 — Now taking weekend reservations!”

• Ad Target: Foodies in Pensacola, recent travelers, seafood lovers

• CTA: View Menu or Book Now

📍 Hyper-Local Targeting: Your Superpower

Here’s what sets restaurant Facebook ads apart from other industries: people eat where they live (or visit).

That means:

• Use a radius around your restaurant (start with 3–5 miles)

• Narrow by age range and dining interests

• Target Pensacola zip codes or neighborhoods like East Hill, Downtown, or Cordova

You don’t need 10,000 impressions—you need the right 500.

🛠️ What You Need to Run a Killer Ad

Here’s your checklist before launching:

✅ Eye-catching image or short video
✅ Clear headline (what + when + where)
✅ Call-to-action button (Book, Call, View Menu)
✅ Mobile-friendly landing page or phone number
✅ Budget (even $10/day is enough to test)

Pro Tip: Don’t just boost a post—use Meta Ads Manager to unlock real targeting.

📈 Results You Can Expect (Real Numbers)

One of our Pensacola restaurant clients ran a 7-day Facebook ad for a weeknight taco special. The results?

• 📞 78 direct calls from the ad

• 📲 150+ menu views

• 💵 22% revenue bump that week

And all for less than $100 ad spend.

With tracking set up (which we handle), you can see exactly what your ad dollars are doing.

🤝 Let Us Handle It for You

Running ads while running a restaurant? That’s a recipe for burnout.

We offer full-service Facebook ad management for Pensacola restaurants—including:

• Strategy + copywriting

• Ad creative (video/images)

• Geo-targeting

• Budget optimization

• Performance reports

📞 Call 210-589-0794
💻 Or visit cavu-digitalmarketing.com to get started.

Final Thought

Facebook ads aren't just a nice-to-have—they’re a reliable, measurable way to get people into your restaurant this week.

If you want to stop hoping for walk-ins and start driving real traffic, let's talk.

At CAVU Digital Marketing, we help Pensacola restaurants fill their seats with strategic ad campaigns that work.