Pongal offers for restaurants: sell the harvest feast without the commission

Pongal is a four-day Tamil harvest festival, and the sales come from feasts, combos and catering — not single plates. Families order a full Pongal spread; offices and apartments order in bulk. The restaurants that win Pongal sell clear combos, take feast orders as dated pre-orders, collect a UPI advance, and deliver with their own riders instead of handing a delivery app a third of the bill. Here's the playbook on Menuthere, commission-free.

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In short

• Sell combos, not just dishes: sakkarai (sweet) pongal + ven pongal + vada + filter coffee as one item.
• Take the big-feast orders as dated pre-orders with a minimum notice (Lite and above).
• Price family and office packs so bulk orders are one tap.
• Take a UPI advance through your own Razorpay/Cashfree account — 0% Menuthere commission.
• Deliver with your own delivery boys and live tracking; overflow to Porter/Rapido.

When is Pongal?

Pongal 2027 falls across 15–18 January 2027, with the main day, Thai Pongal, on 15 January 2027 (Bhogi the day before, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal after). Dates follow the Tamil solar calendar — confirm each year. Open bookings a week to ten days ahead, as feast and catering orders are planned.

Step 1 — Build Pongal combos

The Pongal sell is the combo. Make a few clear ones (set your own prices):

Put these in a "Pongal Special" category so they're easy to find during the festival.

Step 2 — Take feast orders as dated pre-orders

Family feasts and catering are planned, so sell them ahead:

• Collection/delivery date and time at checkout.
• Minimum notice so the kitchen has time (one notice setting covers your pre-order items).
• A prebookings list keeps the orders due next at the top on Thai Pongal morning.

Pre-orders and scheduled orders are on Lite and above. See online ordering system for India.

Step 3 — Take a UPI advance

• Connect your own Razorpay, Cashfree or Easebuzz and take prepaid UPI/card/netbanking at checkout. Menuthere takes 0% commission.
• Collect walk-in and phone advances on your own UPI QR.
• State your cancellation terms in the item description.

Step 4 — Deliver without losing a third to an app

• Add your own delivery boys (Pro); assign in one tap; the customer tracks the rider live.
• Overflow to Porter/Rapido (add-on) at the morning and lunch rush.
• Collect any balance by UPI at the door.

See own delivery for Indian restaurants.

Step 5 — Promote across the four days

• Pin the Pongal combo link to your WhatsApp status — see WhatsApp ordering India.
• A table/counter QR straight to the Pongal menu — see QR code menu India.
• Share in local apartment and office WhatsApp groups a week ahead.
• Mark a combo sold out in one tap when the kitchen is full; switch it back on when you can take more.

Pongal playbook checklist

• "Pongal Special" category with clear combos
• Family feast + office pack as dated pre-orders
• Minimum notice set for the kitchen
• UPI advance via your own gateway
• Own riders (and Porter/Rapido overflow)
• WhatsApp + QR live a week ahead
• "Sold out" ready for when the kitchen is full

Planning the rest of the calendar? See the Onam Sadhya playbook and Navratri menu playbook.

0% commission, no contract.

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