How excited are you for the start of summer tomorrow? If you’re a restaurateur, you’re likely pretty amped. There is no question that you should take advantage of the next few months when warmth and sunshine will be the norm. What can you do to turn up the heat in your restaurant this summer?
Here are four steps to a rise in summertime action at your restaurant:
1. Host outdoor events.
Naturally, the summertime provides us with warmer weather conditions. That gives you the ability to open up your patio to the public. It also allows you to take things one step further by hosting events outdoors. Outdoor events in the summer are especially beloved in Canada. As Bentobox points out, in cold climates, summer is the best time to be outside at night.
“In hot climates, night is the best time to be outside during summer,” notes their website, “Either way, summer nights are a luxury, and restaurant events should take advantage of it. Ranch 45 in Solana Beach, California, does just that with its Wine Dinner Under the Stars, which includes a prix fixe pairing menu and generates demand with limited seating.”
2. Unveil a new summer menu.
It’s so fun for customers when they get to experience something new. With the summertime set to begin, your eatery has a brand new opportunity to excite its patrons. Introduce some new dishes that are exclusive to the summer season. It will help to encourage visits all throughout the season. Be sure to highlight the fact that summer is the only time when those menu items are available.
“One of the best ways to attract guests during the summer and keep them coming back for more is to refresh your menu,” insists OpenTable, “Summer-fy it by adding dishes that reflect the flavors and ingredients of the season like fresh, local produce, light and refreshing entrees, and vibrant cocktails to cater to the summer palate. Colourful salads, fresh-caught seafood dishes, and fruity desserts are always a hit, too.”
3. Promote a live music series.
Summer is easily the best time of year to host a concert series. Set up a stage either indoors or outdoors. Offering live entertainment at your venue is a great way to make your restaurant a summer hot spot. According to Bentobox, few things pair with warm weather as well as live music does.
“That's why live music series — where restaurants host musicians during set days and times — are so popular during the summer,” informs their website, “The series component encourages repeat guests, who can use the consistent timing to make live music part of their summer routines. It also allows restaurants to drum up business during typically slow hours, or drive extra revenue with cover charges during peak hours.”
4. Provide a painless pay-at-the-table payment process.
This summer, freshen up your payment processing with the sleek dual-screen smart payment terminal from Unity Payments! With our POS solution, your restaurant can optimize the checkout process, increase customer satisfaction and loyalty and drive revenue growth. To learn all about it, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-661-3761 or email us at info@unitypayments.ca.
