It is feeling more and more like summer. School is wrapping up, the weather is warming up and people are looking for ways to celebrate the change in seasons. This is great for restaurants because people are out and looking for places to go. Make sure your restaurant is on the map for the place to be this summer and be ready to boost your profits! If you need ideas on how to stand out and attract customers, look no further.
Outdoor Events
A great way to draw people in is to host a small event and if you have an outdoor area, this is a great time to utilize this space. You could have someone come out every Saturday evening in the summer to play live music or host a trivia night. If you have empty wall space to show a movie, you can even do dinner and a movie! This is a great opportunity for drink specials, and to drum up some new business. If you do plan to have any type of event, be sure to advertise it on your social media platforms. Doing this consistently during the summer will give you a higher chance of bringing in more customers!
Summer Specials
Summer is a great time for LTO’s. Think fresh fruits like strawberries, watermelon, blueberries, and raspberries. Add any of these to lemonade, margaritas or mojitos to add a refreshing summer touch. Also, adding a cold side of fruit, potato salad or coleslaw can be appealing in the hot summer months. You can add strawberries to a salad for a main dish, summer special or offer bbq sliders. There are so many ways to celebrate summer at your restaurant and get customers excited to dine with you!
To-Go Kits
Yes, people are wanting to get out more during the summer, but many are also having at-home get-togethers with friends and family. You could offer raw burger patties with all the fixings or taco meat with all the fixings for them to pick up and grill at home. This is especially great for 4th of July or Memorial Day when many people plan to cook for themselves. These ideas were popular during the pandemic, but are still a great way to gain business on days that would typically be slower. Even if you don’t cater, you could have a few options for people wanting to place a larger order for special gatherings.
So as the weather begins to heat up, be sure you are turning up the heat on your menu!
