If you own a restaurant in San Diego, you need to take advantage of the incredible weather and ever-present sunshine with a patio. An outdoor patio completely transforms your restaurant, turning your simple storefront into an al fresco dining experience. If you choose to build a patio for your restaurant, there are a few things you can do to maximize the effectiveness of your new outdoor dining option. Below, you can find 5 awesome patio ideas to help you completely revolutionize your restaurant.
Once you have built your outdoor patio, you need to decorate it with signs and custom banners. Make the patio feel like home, with images and text that advertise your restaurant and help tell your brand’s story. Create banners and posters that look good and give the customer valuable information.
One custom banner or poster you can have is your menu! Make it easy for customers to see what is on your menu so they are ready to order. If your menu changes often, you likely do not want to have to reprint the banner or poster every few weeks. Instead, post QR codes throughout the patio that customers can scan to see the up-to-date menu.
Make changes to your menu so that everything you offer can be easily enjoyed outdoors. For example, if you have a drink on your menu that you light on fire before giving it to the guest, the wind outside may make it difficult to continue to offer this tableside experience. Therefore, look through your menu and think if there will be any obstacles to serving each and every menu offering.
A patio gives you a lot more room to work with, so take advantage by hosting events and promotions. For example, find a musician to play on your patio, host trivia, present workshops or classes, or offer a dog meetup. These are all creative and fun ways to attract new customers.
One huge perk of having an outdoor patio is the natural ambiance it provides. Sitting outside can be a pleasant and refreshing experience, as long as you add a few things to make sure the customer is comfortable.
First, you need to make sure you block the sun so that customers are not baking in the blinding heat. Install umbrellas, a shaded rooftop, or tinted glass to make it comfortable to sit outside during the day. You also might want to get something to deter flies, mosquitos, and other bugs.
Next, you need to prepare for the evening. You might want to invest in a few heating lamps so that chilly winter nights are bearable. Also, make sure you have a candle or some other kind of light for each table so that customers can easily read the menu.
Finally, add some plants and vegetation! Make the patio come alive by adding a few potted plants, flowers, and vines to the patio.
If you have a patio at your restaurant, you are going to need to make a few tweaks to make it awesome. At L+L Printers, we specialize in helping restaurants create custom marketing materials to help put their business over the top, and we can help you design and print posters and banners for your patio. Not only that, we can also help you redesign your menu so it is suitable for an outdoor dining experience. To learn more or to get a quote on the cost of restaurant marketing materials, contact L+L Printers in San Diego today by calling (760) 477-0321.