We are finally headed for the spring and summer season.
Spring and summer bring warmer weather, extended daylight, and the craving for cold beverages. This is the perfect time to get your restaurant hot weather ready.
From transforming your space into an outdoor retreat to making the most of occasions, there are several ways to elevate your dining experience, attract new guests and boost your bottom line this season.
Use these seven tips to prepare your restaurant for the spring and summer vibes.
Spring cleaning comes first
Spring cleaning highly differs from winter cleaning. Spring means more dust and more dirt left on tables and chairs, even the decorative setting that you have.
Make sure you throw your restaurant a deep cleaning service and open the outdoor area. You won’t like to eat out at a dirty restaurant.
Well, guess what, no one does. Even if your kitchen is clean but your seating area is dirty, customers will unconsciously relate the poor cleanliness in the seating area to poor food safety.
Update your menu with creative seasonal offerings
Updating your menu is a must for your preparation. Your guests’ preferences are changing, and your menu should reflect that with in-season produce.
On a hot sunny day, your customers will want something fresh and light, not the warm hearty dishes you were serving this winter. Spring brings an excellent opportunity for your restaurant to partner with local farms and suppliers to incorporate their produce into your offerings.
Are you using local honey in one of your cocktails or breakfast items? Make sure your guests know.
Your menu should highlight local ingredients because this is an effective way to show your restaurant’s role in its community.
Today’s consumers care about food transparency and want to see how their decision to support your restaurant affects their environment.
Become a destination for spring and summer parties
During the hotter months, people go out to eat more - and often in bigger groups. Many companies host parties, giving their employees a chance to step away from their 9 to 5 responsibilities to enjoy some refreshing sips and a delicious meal as a team.
Look around your restaurant and see what spaces you can offer for private events. Additionally, take advantage of the holidays.
There’s Heritage Day in the spring season and summer is packed with holidays and local events that can draw crowds to your restaurant. Make sure you are ready to capitalise on these opportunities.
Create special themed menus for holidays. Consider offering traditional braai options, themed desserts, or festive cocktails. You can also host special events like live music nights, or holiday brunches.
These can attract families, groups of friends, and tourists looking for a fun way to spend their evenings.
Market your restaurant for success
From menu promotions, seasonal events, or even boosting your restaurant over Instagram, there are a variety of ways to market your restaurant.
Use the warm weather as a way to host these special events we have mentioned that can be held outside and organically market these events while encouraging guests to spend time in your establishment.
Through Instagram and other social media platforms, as well as word of mouth, use the weather to your advantage and bring more traffic through your doors. It’s known that Instagram users love to consume media that shows not only the food on offer at restaurants but also the general insight into how dishes are made, how staff interact with the place as well as organic reviews from visitors.
With the sun shining, the menu changing and the general energy of restaurants blooming in the spring and summer, using Instagram to promote seasonal content is another great method of using the weather to your advantage.
Create mood lighting
Diners who enjoy savouring their meals and chatting with friends may want to stick around after the sun sets. Install appropriate lighting so that they can see their food and each other while enjoying a festive ambience.
For example, if you want to create a rustic or romantic ambiance, opt for warmer tones of yellow and orange light. Choose cooler blue tones of light if you are going for a modern vibe.
Either way, consider dimmable fixtures so you can adjust the light as it gets darker outside.
Embrace your greenery
Plants are a perfect fit for an outdoor dining area; greenery enhances the natural vibe of the patio and brings life to an urban space.
You can also use plants to beautify the commercial patio enclosure, create private dining areas, or conceal unsightly fixtures. Some plants can even repel mosquitoes, which creates a better patio dining experience.
When choosing greenery, consider the required upkeep. Sturdy, low-maintenance plants can stand up to heavy traffic and reduce the workload for your staff.