Spring is almost here! This year, the official start of the season takes place on Tuesday, March 19th! A time of renewal and growth, the spring season provides the perfect opportunity for restaurant owners to freshen up their menus. By incorporating fresh, seasonal ingredients and adding new dishes, you can attract new customers while keeping your regulars intrigued.
Are you ready to give your restaurant a springtime boost? What are your plans to freshen up your menu?
Highlight seasonal produce.
The spring season is all about freshness. Why not showcase the best of seasonal produce? By incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your dishes, you add pops of colour and flavour to your menu. Think asparagus, peas, strawberries and rhubarb. Consider featuring a seasonal salad or soup or adding spring vegetables to your entrees.
“Spring is the perfect time of year to indulge your customers in seasonal fruit,” writes Kacey Bradley on BarAndRestaurant.com, “While you rearrange your appetizer menu, include a fruit board in place of heavy bread. Options like watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and strawberries will stand out from your competitors and serve as a refreshing replacement to calorie-heavy alternatives.”
Offer a St. Patrick’s Day- themed menu.
Just before spring gets going, St. Patrick’s Day will arrive on March 17th. Celebrate the occasion with traditional Irish dishes such as corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew and shepherd’s pie. As well, offer up some green-coloured dishes. They can create a festive atmosphere and add to the holiday’s celebratory nature. By celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, you can attract customers who are looking for unique dining experiences and tastes of Irish cuisine.
Don’t forget about the beverages! Drinking is a significant part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Highlight the Irish drinks on your menu such as Guinness, Irish whiskey and Irish coffee. As well, offer green-coloured drinks like green beer and shamrock shakes. They will all help to create fun dining experiences that will attract customers who are looking for fun nights out on St. Patrick’s Day.
Promote a brunch special.
Brunch is a popular meal all year round. During springtime, however, it becomes a more commonplace experience. Offering a brunch menu will help to generate more visits to your eatery. Freshen up your menu with such brunch dishes as avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches or eggs Benedict. Once again, remember the drinks! You can offer brunch cocktails such as mimosas or Bloody Marys.
“Brunch continues to be a fantastic idea to keep customers happy,” contends TheFork, “This is especially true for foodies, who enjoy this middle-ground between breakfast and lunch, since it lets them eat breakfast later than usual and treat themselves at an excellent establishment that offers them what they like and is trendy. Spring is the perfect time for this culinary style.”
How easy is it for your customers to pay at the table?
This spring, 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.
