How To Adapt Your Restaurant Menu for Takeout
How To Adapt Your Restaurant Menu for Takeout
Apr 03, 2021
Share
FacebookTwitter

Traditionally, higher-end restaurants have focused on their dine-in experience, offering limited (if any) takeout options. But, times they are a-changin’, and upscale dining establishments are evolving right along with them.

Consumers crave high-end cuisine, but these days, many prefer to enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes. The trouble is, some menu items don’t travel well. However, with a little outside-the-box thinking, it’s possible to adapt your menu options for off-site dining. And by sprinkling in some special touches, you can capture the essence of an upscale dining experience — while still capitalizing on the takeout trend.

Offer a pared-down menu
Efficiency is essential when it comes to takeout, but it can’t come at the expense of quality. To successfully execute on your takeout offerings, abbreviating your menu is a must. As a first step, trim down your menu options by figuring out which items are more to-go friendly. While you want a manageable menu, make sure to curate a nice assortment of options that represent your restaurant well. As you’re determining what to include on your takeout menu, consider the cost. Where possible, offer simpler (read: less expensive) options. One clever idea is to deconstruct a multi-course meal into one simpler dish that features the flavors and characteristics of its fancier counterpart.

Get creative
Customers don’t just come to upscale restaurants for high-quality food — they also expect a special dining experience. While you can’t exactly replicate your dine-in experience in a takeout format, you can find creative ways to make your to-go experience exceptional. For example, set the mood by including votive candles with your orders. Or, encourage customers to sit down and soak up their at-home dining experience by including wine pairing recommendations for each menu item. Add special touches where possible — a personalized note or a themed playlist go a long way.

Create takeout meal kits
While you’re getting creative, give your guests the opportunity to do the same. Enable guests to recreate your restaurant experience at home and put their culinary skills to the test by offering meal kits. Not only can meal kits be faster than actual meals for your kitchen staff to prepare, but they offer a fun at-home opportunity for customers to play chef. Brainstorm different sales-boosting kit ideas, such as “family meal kits” or “two-day meal kits.” To ensure the meal kit experience is one-of-a-kind, include technique tips from the chef or cooking how-to videos. Your customers will love it, and likely tell their friends about your fun offering.

Don’t skip dessert
Last but not least, don’t forget dessert! All too often, restaurants skip the dessert section on their takeout menu, and in doing so, they leave money on the table. Many guests don’t even consider dessert as a to-go option because it’s not offered — but that doesn’t mean they don’t want it! Don’t deprive takeout customers of sweet treats to top off their experience. Curate a takeout menu that features a couple of your most popular desserts, and you’ll keep customers satisfied while stepping up your sales.

Maintain consistency for ultimate takeout success
If you want to be successful with takeout, adapting your menu is an important piece to the puzzle. But as always, consistency is the key to repeat customers. Check out these tips for consistency, so you can wow your guests, time and again.

Ovention Ovens Make It Easy
Shuttle® S2600
Shuttle® S2600

Introducing the largest size of the Shuttle family, the S2600 accommodates a full-size sheet pan, making it perfect for schools, universities, and high-volume cooking operations, and can function as either a high-performance conveyor or a closed-cavity oven with menu flexibility, enhanced by Precision Impingement technology that uses top and bottom hot air for faster cooking.

Shuttle® NEW 2600! 2000/1600/1200
Shuttle® NEW 2600! 2000/1600/1200

If you value precision and volume, Ovention has the perfect oven to fit your operation. The Shuttle sets the new standard for conveyor ovens everywhere. No other oven can operate as both a conveyor and a closed-cavity oven.

Matchbox® 1718/1313
Matchbox® 1718/1313

Cook a full menu of delicious offerings without an oven hood. The Ovention Matchbox 1718/1313 takes the traditional conveyor oven to a whole new level.

Conveyor 2600/2000/1400
Conveyor 2600/2000/1400

Simple, smart and the right fit for operators looking for a high-throughput conveyor oven. The Ovention Conveyor Oven is the most technologically elegant and operator-friendly conveyor on the market today.

Matchbox® M360 14/12
Matchbox® M360 14/12

Cook a full menu better, faster, and easier. The Ovention Matchbox M360 has Precision Impingement® technology, a unique cooking carousel, and a small footprint, making it the perfect fit for any operation.

Finishing F1400
Finishing F1400

Finish your plates with ease and precision with this robust IR finishing conveyor. Melt, sear, toast, and finish to perfection with this operator-friendly, quiet conveyor.

MiLO® Double/Single
MiLO® Double/Single

Revolutionary infusion of Linear Impingement and Infrared (IR) technologies. Independently controlled top and bottom cavities, each with its own interior light and control panel.

MiSA®‑a12
MiSA®‑a12

Introducing MiSA; Microwave Speed Assist. Higher quality, higher speed, smaller footprint.

Related
Solving Staffing Shortages With Technology
Oct 30, 2024

Staffing and labor are ongoing challenges across many industries, particularly food service. In the fast-paced food space, the right kitchen […]

Boost Customer Excitement with Irresistible Limited-Time Menu Offerings
Oct 08, 2024

The art of a successful restaurant’s limited-time offer (LTO) is a delicate balance of giving customers what they want without […]

Customized Bowls: What’s Inside This Flavor-Packed Food Trend
Sep 15, 2024

Poke, burrito, nourish, acai bowls and more! From fast-casual restaurants to meal delivery services, bowl meals are experiencing significant popularity […]

Schedule an Ovention Ovens Demo

Our goal is to partner with you to help you build your business. We will set up a demonstration that suits your needs, whether you want us to cook your current product, show you a range of new products, or do a side-by-side comparison with another oven we are ready to show you what Ovention can do.

Please complete ALL the fields below to schedule a demo.*

Find a Rep Near You

Experience an Ovention oven in action. We have test kitchens all across the country and representatives waiting to demonstrate our award-winning technology and ease of use. Contact us today to learn how one of our ovens can elevate your culinary versatility and build your business.

Cooked with Conveyor 2600/2000

0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop