While entrees tend to get the bulk of the attention, having a great appetizer menu can entice diners during happy hour and beyond. If your menu could use a revamp, it may be time to check out some of the best appetizer recipes from our beloved food vendors. Hot Artichoke Alaskan Salmon and Parmesan Dip …
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If you don’t have a seasonal menu, you’re missing out on the opportunity to wow your guests, lower costs, experiment, and increase profits. In today’s blog, the foodservice experts at McDonald Wholesale discuss 5 fun winter menu ideas that can take your restaurant to the next level. Capitalize on Comfort Foods As the weather gets …
With the NCAA and the NFL season underway, many people’s weekends are focused on football. As family meal deals grow in popularity, it might be time for your restaurant to considering offering a takeout tailgaters menu people won’t be able to resist. What is a Tailgaters Menu? Like family meal deals, a tailgaters menu focuses …
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Increasing your average order size can increase your profits. In today’s blog, the foodservice experts at McDonald Wholesale discuss what the average order size is and provide some restaurant menu ideas that can help increase your average order size. What is Average Order Size? Your restaurant’s average order size refers to the average dollar amount …
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Even if you think of dinner as your restaurant’s bread and butter, focusing some attention on lunch service can make a big difference to your bottom line. These daily lunch special ideas and promotions can help you take your lunch business to the next level. Lunch Punch Card When it comes to lunch promotions for …
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New menu items can be exciting for chefs and customers alike. In today’s blog, we discuss how to promote new menu items on a budget. Step Up Your Social Media & Email Marketing Whether your restaurant already has a strong social media presence or you’re still figuring out how to use social media for small …
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Long days, time off from work, and warm weather means more business at your restaurant. These summer menu ideas for restaurants can help you drum up new business and keep regular customers coming back for more. Construct Some Cold Sides Seasonal menus are great because they offer you a chance to take advantage of in-season …
Why is food getting more expensive? While disruptions to the supply chain due to coronavirus are partially to blame, rising food costs have been a problem for restaurant owners for years. Here’s how to fight rising food prices with clever, affordable substitutions. Substitute Cheaper Cuts of Meat With meat prices so high, it can be …
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Whether they read it online or after being seated, your menu is often a guests’ first impression of your restaurant. As a restaurant owner or executive chef, you can’t sit down with every customer to make suggestions, but the design of your menu can do a lot of that work for you! Learn how to …
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For many people, happy hour calls to mind elaborate cocktails and discounted beer and wine options, but appetizers are an equally important part of the happy hour experience. As restaurants continue to reopen for dine-in, it’s the perfect time to rethink your happy hour food menu. In today’s blog, we answer this important menu development …
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When it comes to food, it’s hard to find something more popular than pizza. In fact, a Technomicstudy showed that 43% of consumers eat pizza at least once per week. If you own a mom and pop pizza shop, you may think your traditional pie is where it’s at but incorporating these pizza trends into …
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While brunch used to be reserved for special occasions like Mother’s Day and Easter, more and more diners are regularly spending money on weekend brunch. Here’s why your restaurant should consider offering weekend brunch service. Lower Food Costs Managing rising food costs is one of the biggest challenges that restaurants face today. While paying staff …
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Does your menu take advantage of popular restaurant trends? If not, you may be missing out on opportunities to keep your diners happy and coming back for more. Here’s what you need to know about adding all-day breakfast items to your restaurant menu. The All-Day Breakfast Menu Trend You Can’t Afford to Ignore Restaurants across …
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Wondering how to improve school lunches so students are happier, healthier, and more adventurous eaters? Try these ideas! Install a Salad Bar One low-stress way to improve school lunches is to install salad bars in school cafeterias. Not only do salad bars increase consumption of fruits and vegetables in schools, but they also offer variety …
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Even if your restaurant is thriving, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should leave your menu the same. In fact, updating your restaurant menu every year can help reduce food waste, cut costs, and keep customers coming back for more. Heres why you should update your restaurant menu every year. Food Costs Fluctuate The price of …
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Childcare is expensive, so rather than paying a babysitter, many parents are opting to eat at restaurants with their kids. While it doesn’t make sense for every type of restaurant to be kid-friendly, restaurants that aren’t accessible to kids can isolate a huge group of potential customers: parents with kids under the age of 12. …
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Looking to boost sales at your restaurant? Try creating a late night and happy hour menu. Not only do these programs increase foot traffic and revenue during non-peak hours, but for many restaurants, these hours account for up to one-third of alcohol sales. These late night and happy hour menu ideas could help your restaurant …
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Looking for a way to grow your restaurant, increase profits, and inspire your staff? Seasonal menus might be just the ticket. Here are the four biggest ways seasonal menus can benefit your restaurant. Lowering Costs When food is in season, it tends to be less expensive because it costs less to grow and ship. Seasonally …
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The West Coast is no stranger to vegan restaurants, and while some spots thrive selling exclusively vegan fare, simply adding some well-crafted vegan-friendly menu items can help your restaurant satisfy a more diverse clientele. While you can certainly experiment with fun recipes utilizing trendy meat substitutes like jackfruit, one easy way to accommodate vegan diners …
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Running a successful restaurant isn’t easy, and in order to stay relevant, it’s important to track and incorporate different food trends into your menu. While dessert isn’t the main event, having a solid dessert menu can contribute to the success and longevity of your restaurant. Before updating your menu, consider these exciting dessert trends for …
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Being successful in the restaurant business means keeping up with the latest food trends. It’s just not enough to serve quality food at competitive pricing. Staying relevant requires updating your menu to include ingredients that are trendy and popular with diners. By making this effort, you’ll draw new customers and keep your regulars coming back …
Secret menus are all over Portland. Dutch Bros has one. Pip’s Original Donuts has one. Kenny and Zukes Delicatessen has one. And, here’s why you should have one: No news spreads faster than a secret. People love sharing a good secret with their friends and everyone loves feeling like they are in-the-know on something exclusive. …
Did you know that the placement of items on your menu has an impact on how frequently they are chosen by your customers? With a few changes to your menu design, you can get customers to purchase what you want them to purchase and increase your profits without raising prices. It’s called menu engineering, and …
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Dining customers are beginning to care more and more about the ingredients they are being served and rightfully so. “Is it organic?” “Is it gluten-free?” “Is it antibiotic-free?” These are probably questions you’ve heard before. This year, you’re bound to hear questions about Keto Diet menu options. The Keto Diet has actually been around for …
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Is seaweed the new millennial food trend? Trend predictors say yes. While seaweed has been known as a superfood for the last few years, food trend experts say its popularity will really take off in late 2017, replacing kale as the clean eating item to have on your menu. This superfood is loaded with vitamins …
Valentine’s Day is a special time for romantics, as well as restaurateurs. In fact, according to two decades of research from the National Restaurant Association (NRA), Valentine’s Day is the second most popular holiday for dining out surpassed only by Mother’s Day. These high-traffic dining days present restaurant owners with unique opportunities to seize new business, strengthen …
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Your lights are on, your grill is fired up, and your staff is ready. Your restaurant is positioned in what you thought was the perfect location, yet day in and day out you find your tables standing empty as they beg for customers to put them to use. You’re not alone. With so many restaurants …
As National Dessert Month comes around this October, you might consider what sweets are on your menu and how you can follow the latest dessert trends of 2016. Customers will be looking for popular desserts after a good meal at your establishment, and staying on top of the latest trends will assure that you’re offering …
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Either you’ve been waiting all year for pumpkin spice everything, or you’re deeply offended by the very notion. Whether you like it or not, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back again this fall and it’s sure to be as profitable as ever. As you come up with menu ideas throughout the year, consider how you …
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Getting customers in the door is one challenge. Getting them to come back is another. The truth is that repeat customers are vital to the success of your business. According to Restaurant Engine, a minimum of 1/3 of a restaurants revenue comes from repeat customers, and they cite a Harvard study that suggests an increase …
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A menu might seem like a pretty straightforward concept, but it can make or break a restaurant. There is a lot more to it than selecting menu items that are tasty. Below we’ll break down the five most important things to consider when strategizing a new menu. Who is your Target Customer? When thinking about …
