Bar menus suffer from an image problem. Consumers have come to associate bland appetizers, stale pretzels, and uninspired cocktails with the bar scene.
This represents a prime opportunity for ambitious bar owners or those looking to open a new bar.
You can raise the bar by using these innovative bar menu ideas to lure customers in and keep them satisfied. Continue reading to learn how you can tweak your bar menu to get rave reviews from your patrons.
Historically, bar food menus have played second fiddle to the drink list. It’s no secret that a strong selection of alcoholic beverages is key to the success of any bar. But that’s no reason to ignore your bar food selection. After all, offering a food menu is a proven way to boost your bottom line.
Your customers don’t want old peanuts and microwaved pizza. The modern bargoer craves quality choices. Not only can you increase your profits by offering more expensive food choices, but you can keep the party going for longer by offering good food and music. (After all, 41% of patrons think the music is just as important as drink selection.)
Of course, that doesn’t mean you can neglect your cocktail concoctions. Ultimately, people go to bars to drink. That’s why we’ll tackle bar menu ideas both for food and alcohol in the following section.
Integrate as many of these bar menu ideas into your business as you can to bring in more customers and pad your profit margins.
You don’t need to run a Mexican-themed bar to take advantage of the Latin nation’s universally beloved cuisine. Whether it’s crispy fish tacos or a simple tortilla chip with queso combo, Mexican food elevates the bar experience.
That’s because its tantalizing combination of salty, spicy, and fatty flavors pair well with many alcoholic drinks from lagers to margaritas. Best of all, you don’t need to break the bank or go to culinary school to get the most from your Mexican menu.
Create a savory nacho dish by mixing together tortilla chips, fried ground beef and sour cream. Sprinkle on jalapenos and a few other choice veggies like onions and peppers for a flavor sensation.
One of the best ways to up your bar’s food menu game doesn’t have to do with the food you offer. Offering up an array of delicious dipping sauces can elevate classic finger foods like french fries, tater tots, and onion rings.
Offer your customers an expansive range of dipping sauces from zesty BBQ creations for bar food staples like buffalo wings and chicken tenders to a hearty melted cheese sauce for your tortilla chips and quesadillas.
You don’t need to stray too far from your roots to offer up a stellar dipping experience when you take advantage of this innovative bar menu idea. Experiment with spicy mustard and unusual types of ketchup like chipotle or habanero-infused varieties.
Nothing screams delicious bar food like french fries straight from the fryer with a mouthwatering array of dipping sauces arranged for your dining pleasure.
Food recipes don’t have to stay static. In fact, oftentimes the best way to stand out in the world of food service is to take an old classic and give it a new twist. This doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. Try out this bar menu idea to put a new spin on a best-seller.
In fact, modifying a crowd favorite is a great way to kickstart your creativity. After all, you already know how to make this menu item. Simply altering a single variable can let you take a beloved comfort food in a new, mouth-watering direction.
For example, when was the last time you ordered breakfast food at a bar? Combine the sugary and savory elements of French toast and bacon with the low-key convenience of bar food by offering bacon-infused French toast sticks with maple syrup dipping sauce.
You can broaden your appeal to people with gluten allergies by offering gluten-free bar food mainstays like pretzels, mozzarella sticks, and other finger food favorites.
There’s no better combination than beer, BBQ, and baseball (or football, basketball or volleyball). You don’t have to run a sports bar to take advantage of game-day crowds. And what better way to cater to the sports crowd than by offering mouth-watering BBQ dishes like ribs, sliders, and crispy chicken?
True, going for a BBQ-infused bar menu presents a few difficulties, not the least of which is the sheer uptick in the number of napkins you’ll need. But at the end of the day, nothing quite complements a lager like sweet, mesquite-smoked BBQ sauce.
Here’s another bar menu idea that will keep your patrons sticking around longer. Go beyond your typical bar room snacks with a line of signature sandwiches. From cheeseburgers to Philly cheesesteaks, sandwiches walk the fine line between full meals and a hearty snack. Best of all, they pair well with many alcoholic favorites from light beers to cocktail classics, and they don’t require any fancy restaurant equipment.
Best of all, sandwiches offer endless opportunities for customization. Treat the sandwich creation process as a branding exercise. For example, you could create a signature cheeseburger with spicy jalapenos and stacked onion rings to stand out from the competition.
Let your mixology mavens show off their skills with an innovative array of cocktails like the Mumbai Margarita, which makes use of rose petals and rose water, or eye-catching color-changing cocktails. Appeal to the cafe crowd with a coffee and coke, or get your tropical on with an Anna Banana.
Mocktails are a fantastic way to make sure no one feels left out. These non-alcoholic beverages can help you draw in a larger and more diverse crowd. And the cherry on top? You won’t need to add to your existing bar inventory since most mocktails will make use of the ingredients you have on hand.
Remember, the goal here is to drive traffic to your bar through word of mouth. So don’t be quick to throw out a creative cocktail recipe when brainstorming new bar menu ideas.
There’s no better way to get customers through the door than to showcase your newest creations with a happy hour special. While creative cocktails have a strong potential to build a loyal customer base and even spur word-of-mouth advertising, you need to get your patrons hooked first.
And what better way to get customers in the door than to offer discounts during your bar’s sleepiest hours?
Cultivating killer bar menu ideas doesn’t have to be hard. You can boost your bottom line and increase your profit margins by incorporating the tips above, including creating innovative cocktails and mocktails or offering a happy hour special.
Changing up your menu doesn’t have to be difficult. You can use KioskBuddy’s integrated menu feature to effortlessly update, tweak, and fine-tune your menu. Plus, KioskBuddy even has an open tab feature that can help boost your sales numbers by keeping the drinks and eats flowing.
KioskBuddy is a self-serve kiosk app that runs on a tablet and integrates with your Square POS to easily and securely facilitate orders payments. Simply add KioskBuddy to your bar counter, booths, and tables — freeing up your front-of-house staff for more important tasks like mixing up those new cocktails!
Get started with KioskBuddy today, and enjoy your free, 30-day trial!