Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — I've been following Lost Larson for a while. The pastry photography on your feed is genuinely some of the best I've seen from an independent bakery. Laminated dough shot that close, in that light, it's rare.
But there's almost no short-form video — no Reels, no TikToks showing the morning pull, the shaping, the actual process that makes your bread worth a 20-minute drive. That gap is where you're leaving real customers.
Not pitching anything yet. Just noticed it and thought it was worth saying.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my last email. I put together a quick re-edit of your existing content to show what a 30-second Reel could look like: [LINK]
For bakeries and restaurants specifically, short-form video drives foot traffic in a way static posts don't. Someone scrolling at 9pm sees a lamination video and shows up Saturday morning. That's the conversion path — and it's repeatable.
We handle everything: filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
Worth a look?
— Alex, ReelCraft
Sent two emails — this is the last one. If there's any interest in getting more eyes on what you're already making, I'd love 15 minutes. Or just reply and tell me your biggest headache around content right now.
That's all I'm asking.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — Folklore has one of the most distinct visual identities of any restaurant I've seen in Logan Square. The warm tones, the plating, the way the room photographs — it's clearly intentional.
The gap is short-form video. No Reels showing the dinner service energy, the cocktails being built, the kitchen prep that makes someone say "I need to go there." Your photography does a lot of work. Video would close the reservation.
Not asking for anything yet. Just a genuine observation.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my note about your content. I put together a quick re-edit using existing Folklore material to show what a short Reel could look like: [LINK]
Restaurant video content drives covers differently than any other category. Someone sees a 30-second clip of your dining room on a Thursday night, they're making a reservation for Saturday. Static photos don't create that urgency — video does.
We do everything: filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Two emails, this is the last one. If video content is something Folklore is thinking about, I'd love 15 minutes. Or just reply with your biggest content frustration right now.
Either way, appreciate the time.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — Big Jones is doing something rare: Southern food with a real historical throughline. The heirloom sourcing, the technique, the story behind the menu — that's content most restaurants can't make because they don't have it.
What you don't have is short-form video telling that story. No Reels about the grits sourcing, the biscuit process, the farm relationships. People make dinner decisions on their phone now. The story you're already living is the one that fills tables.
Not pitching yet. Just noticed the gap.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my last email. Put together a quick re-edit using your existing content to show what a 30-second video could look like: [LINK]
Heritage and sourcing content performs exceptionally well in short-form — it's the kind of thing that gets reshared. For restaurants with a real story like Big Jones, video is the most efficient way to make that story reach people who've never heard of you.
We handle filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Sent two emails — this is my last one. Happy to do a 15-minute call or just answer one question: what's the biggest frustration with your content right now?
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — 5 Rabanitos has the kind of food that stops someone mid-scroll. The color, the plating, the regional specificity — it's not generic Mexican food and it looks like it.
But there's almost no short-form video. No Reels showing the mole process, the tlayuda being assembled, the kitchen running a Friday service. That's the content that brings people into Pilsen who've never been. Your photos are doing the heavy lifting alone right now.
Just wanted to name it. Not asking for anything yet.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my last email. I cut a quick demo using your existing content to show what short-form video could look like for the restaurant: [LINK]
Food video — especially process content — drives foot traffic for restaurants in ways that photos can't replicate. Someone watches your mole being made on a Tuesday and they're in on Saturday. That's the conversion pattern we see consistently.
We do everything: filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Two emails — this is the last one. If short-form video is something 5 Rabanitos wants to explore, I'd love 15 minutes. Or just reply with what's been hardest about content for you.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — the Korean-Polish thing at Kimski is genuinely interesting and weirdly photogenic. Pierogis with gochujang, the soju menu, the fact that it's inside Maria's — that's a story that basically writes itself.
What's missing is video. No Reels showing the hybrid menu being built, the bar side running, the mashup that makes Kimski worth explaining to a friend. Short-form is where that story spreads.
Not pitching anything yet. Just noticed the gap.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up. I put together a quick re-edit using your existing content to show what a Reel could look like for Kimski: [LINK]
Concept restaurants — places with a real point of view — perform especially well in short-form because the content is inherently shareable. Someone watches 30 seconds of your menu and immediately wants to send it to a friend. That's free word-of-mouth with reach.
We handle everything: filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Two emails in — this is the last one. If you want to talk about video for Kimski, I'd love 15 minutes. Or just reply with your biggest content headache.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — The Duck Inn is one of those places where the food is clearly worth the trip to Bridgeport, but you'd never know it from the content. The photography is solid. Short-form video is almost nonexistent.
No Reels showing the rotisserie, the service flow, the room. That's the content that makes someone in Lincoln Park decide Bridgeport is worth the drive. Right now your reach is limited to people who already know you exist.
Not asking for anything — just flagging what I noticed.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my last email. I put together a quick demo using your existing material to show what a 30-second Reel could look like: [LINK]
For neighborhood restaurants with destination-worthy food, video is the most efficient tool for expanding your radius. Someone in a different neighborhood sees 30 seconds of your rotisserie and makes the trip. Static posts don't create that pull.
We do filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Last email — two previous ones went unanswered. If there's any interest in video for The Duck Inn, happy to do 15 minutes. Or just reply and tell me the biggest content problem you have right now.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — Lula has been Logan Square before Logan Square was a thing. That history and the farm-to-table ethos you've built is exactly the kind of story that performs in short-form video.
But the Reels presence is thin. No content showing the weekend brunch flow, the seasonal menu changing, the kitchen sourcing. People discover restaurants through video now. Lula's story deserves that reach.
Not pitching — just a genuine observation.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my note. I cut a quick demo using existing Lula content to show what short-form video could look like: [LINK]
Restaurants with a strong identity and a loyal following — like Lula — get disproportionate results from video because the content is authentic. Someone who doesn't know you yet sees it and feels the pull immediately. It accelerates word-of-mouth that's already happening.
We do everything: filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Two emails — this is the last one. If video is something Lula wants to explore, I'd love 15 minutes. Or just tell me what's been hardest about content.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — Honey Butter is one of the most photogenic restaurants in Chicago. The bird, the sides, the color on everything — it's made for video.
But the Reels content doesn't match what the food looks like in person. No slow-motion pours, no sandwich builds, no behind-the-counter shots. That's the content that drives lines. Fried chicken especially translates to video in a way that very few food categories do.
Just flagging it. Not asking for anything yet.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my last email. I put together a quick demo using your existing content: [LINK]
Fried chicken content is one of the highest-performing food categories on Reels and TikTok — the texture, the sound, the color. Restaurants that lean into that get outsized reach. It's one of the clearest cases where short-form video pays for itself in new covers.
We handle filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Last email — two previous ones. If there's any interest in leveling up the video content, I'd love 15 minutes. Or just reply with your biggest content frustration.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — Parachute is the kind of restaurant that gets written up constantly and still feels like a neighborhood secret. The food is genuinely inventive — bucket list corn rib, the bone marrow burger — and it photographs beautifully.
What's missing is consistent short-form video. No Reels of the kitchen building those dishes, no service night content, nothing that captures what makes Parachute worth a 45-minute wait. That content would do a lot of work.
Just a genuine observation. Not pitching yet.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my last note. I put together a quick re-edit showing what a Reel could look like for Parachute: [LINK]
For restaurants with cult dishes — the kind people tag their friends in — video is the format that makes that word-of-mouth scale. Someone sees the corn rib being made and they're texting three people immediately. Static posts don't have that reach ceiling.
We do filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Two emails in — this is the last one. If video content is something Parachute is thinking about, happy to do 15 minutes. Or just tell me what's been hardest about content.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — Dove's is one of those places where the aesthetic does as much work as the food. The diner look, the Tex-Mex menu, the mezcal, the playlist — it's a complete world. And it photographs like it.
Short-form video is almost absent. No Reels of the counter service, the enchilada sauce, the Sunday brunch crowd. That's the content that makes someone add a restaurant to their list. Dove's atmosphere is exactly what performs on video.
Not pitching anything. Just noticed the gap.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my last email. I put together a quick demo using your existing content to show what a short Reel could look like: [LINK]
Restaurants with a strong, distinctive vibe — like Dove's — get outsized results from video because people share atmosphere content. Someone sees 30 seconds of your counter and the playlist and they're tagging a friend immediately.
We handle everything: filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Two emails — this is the last one. If there's any interest in video for Dove's, I'd love 15 minutes. Or just reply with your biggest content headache.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — Avec has been one of the anchors of the West Loop for 20 years. The communal format, the wood-burning oven, the chorizo-stuffed dates — it's the kind of place that has regulars for life.
What's missing is short-form video. No Reels of the oven, the service pace, the dishes being built. That's the content that introduces Avec to people who've never been — and there are still a lot of them. Your photos are doing that work alone right now.
Not pitching yet. Just a genuine observation.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my note. I put together a quick re-edit of your existing content to show what a 30-second Reel could look like: [LINK]
For restaurants in the West Loop specifically, short-form video is the main discovery channel for out-of-neighborhood diners. Someone visiting for a work dinner sees your wood-burning oven content and Avec goes on the list. That's a consistent conversion path for restaurants that lean into it.
We do filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Two emails — this is the last one. If video content is something Avec is thinking about, happy to do 15 minutes. Or just tell me what's been hardest about content for you.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — Smyth is operating at a level most restaurants in Chicago aren't. Two Michelin stars, the tasting menu format, the farm — it's a complete vision. And your photography reflects that.
Short-form video is the gap. No Reels of the plating process, the farm sourcing, the kitchen during service. Fine dining content performs extremely well on short-form right now — the precision and the craft translate visually in a way that drives both reservation interest and press attention.
Not pitching. Just noticed the opportunity.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my last email. I put together a quick demo using existing Smyth content to show what a short-form video could look like: [LINK]
Fine dining content is one of the highest-engagement categories in food video right now — the plating, the technique, the detail work. For a restaurant at Smyth's level, video also serves a PR function: it feeds the press narrative and extends the reach of every review you get.
We handle filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Two emails — this is the last one. If there's any interest in video content for Smyth, I'd love 15 minutes. Or just reply with what's been the biggest content challenge.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Send Email 1 first. Wait 3–5 days before Email 2. Wait another 3–5 days before Email 3. Replace [LINK] with the actual demo video URL before sending.
Hi — Pacific Standard Time has one of the strongest visual identities in River North. The California-Mexican concept, the light in that space, the produce-forward menu — it photographs beautifully and the Instagram reflects that.
Short-form video is almost nonexistent. No Reels of the masa being made, the cocktail program, the dinner service energy. River North has a lot of competition for the tourist and expense-account dinner. Video is how restaurants like PST differentiate before someone even looks at the menu.
Not asking for anything. Just flagging what I noticed.
— Alex, ReelCraft
Following up on my last email. I put together a quick demo using existing PST content to show what a short Reel could look like: [LINK]
For River North restaurants, short-form video is the most efficient way to reach diners who are planning ahead — hotel guests, visitors making dinner reservations a week out. That's a different audience than your regulars, and video is how you reach them before they open OpenTable.
We handle filming, editing, posting. $99/mo, two videos a week.
Portfolio: reelcraft.co/work Pitch deck: reelcraft.co/pitch-deck
— Alex, ReelCraft
Two emails — this is the last one. If video content is something PST is thinking about, I'd love 15 minutes. Or just reply with your biggest content frustration right now.
— Alex, ReelCraft