Everyone loves good food and many people love to try something new. If your restaurant has a menu that hasn’t changed in ten years, you’re probably losing customers. When customers have had the same meals at your restaurant over and over again, they tend to get tired of eating the same dishes. While it’s good to keep popular dishes on the menu, it’s also a good idea to update your menu with innovative new dishes.
When you update your menu will depend on the demand for your restaurant. If you can update it seasonally, it will be in your favor. During the summer months there is no use keeping winter dishes on your menu, and the same goes for summer dishes during the winter months. You want to keep the menu fresh. More importantly, you want to serve the needs of your customers at that moment.
During the winter, it’s a good idea to add new and winter favorites, like soup or pasta. Baked potatoes with delicious dressings are also a wonderful winter meal. You could add dishes that are popular in other countries. Dishes with chili or hot spices are fun foods for people who try in the colder season. Also, focus more on adding more hot drinks, such as flavored hot chocolate, or create your own unique hot drink.
In summer, you can experiment with adding unique salads to your menu. Try interesting combinations that will intrigue your customers. Think about creating summer dishes based on seasonal vegetables or perhaps try dishes that are on trend. People love to try interesting dishes that they have seen on TV but cannot recreate for themselves. Also think about creating your own mix of cold drinks that have sweet and delicious flavors. Cocktails and mocktails are a hit in the spring and summer seasons.
If you can’t update your menu seasonally, review it annually. Decide which dishes have been ordered the most and keep them on your menu. Less popular dishes can be removed from the menu and replaced with new creations. Customers will enjoy trying the new foods and this will ensure that more customers return.
Updating your restaurant menu may seem like the least important part of your business, but it is an integral part of it. It is as important as using the correct catering equipment in your commercial kitchen. Take the time to review your menu and make changes as necessary to keep customers coming back often.