How to Prepare Your Restaurant for Summer: Tips for More Customers & Higher Profits

As temperatures rise and the days grow longer, restaurants across the country prepare for what's often their most challenging and rewarding season. With vacationers, families, and sun-seeking locals crowding patios and dining rooms, the summer season brings unique opportunities and obstacles that require strategic planning and preparation. 

From managing increased foot traffic to adapting menus for seasonal preferences, success during the busy summer months depends on thorough preparation and attention to detail. At Sea Breeze, we’ve put together the ultimate summer checklist for restaurants to help you serve more customers, more efficiently, and with a cool twist of style.

This summer, with recent news that consumers may spend less time in restaurants due to financial insecurity in the market, it's more important than ever that your business performs at its highest level. 

A well-prepared summer checklist ensures your restaurant thrives during this vibrant season. This guide outlines essential steps to prepare for summer holidays, popular cocktail recipes, family-friendly dining options, and ice management techniques to keep your operations running smoothly.

✔️ Embracing Younger Customers

Summer school break transforms dining patterns, bringing families with children to restaurants at times when they're typically adult-focused. Adapting your service to accommodate these changes can unlock significant revenue opportunities.

Consider offering early dinner specials or family hours between 4:00 and 6:00 PM, when families prefer to dine before children become tired and cranky. These earlier time slots also help distribute your dinner rush more evenly throughout the evening, improving kitchen efficiency and reducing wait times for all guests.

Lunch service takes on new importance during the summer months. Families often seek dining experiences during lunch hours when they might typically be at work or school. Consider expanding your lunch menu to include lighter, shareable options that appeal to both adults and children. Think beyond traditional kids' meals to include items like flatbreads, sliders, and build-your-own options that engage young diners while satisfying adult palates.

Create family-friendly lunch combinations that encourage longer stays and higher check averages. Offer lunch and dessert packages, or provide activity placemats and crayons to keep children entertained while adults enjoy their meals. These small touches can transform a quick lunch into a memorable family experience that encourages repeat visits.

✔️ Preparing for the Summer Holidays

Summer holidays create some of the year's highest restaurant traffic, with Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekend leading the charge. These peak summer holiday weekends can make or break your summer revenue, making preparation crucial.

Start by analyzing last year's data to identify patterns in customer flow, popular menu items, and, of course, staffing needs. Cross-train staff members to ensure flexibility when unexpected absences occur. Consider hiring seasonal workers early in the season to avoid the last-minute scramble that often leads to undertrained staff during your busiest periods.

Inventory management becomes critical during holiday weekends. Order supplies earlier than usual, as distributors often experience delays during peak periods. This will also help you avoid any weekend delivery fees, which can be costly for your business. 

Create buffer stock for your most popular items, especially proteins and specialty ingredients that may be difficult to source on short notice. Don't forget about non-food essentials, such as napkins, straws, and takeout containers, which often see increased demand during busy periods.

Communication with your suppliers should increase during the summer months. Establish backup suppliers for critical items and maintain relationships with multiple vendors to ensure continuity of service. Consider locking in prices for key ingredients early in the season to avoid price fluctuations during periods of peak demand.

✔️ Crafting the Perfect Summer Cocktail Menu

Summer cocktails can significantly boost your beverage revenue and create memorable experiences for guests. Focus on refreshing, Instagram-worthy drinks that complement the season's warm weather and relaxed atmosphere.

Mojitos remain a summer favorite, combining fresh mint, lime juice, white rum, and soda water. The key to a perfect mojito lies in gently muddling the mint to release oils without creating bitterness. Consider offering variations like berry mojitos with seasonal fruits or cucumber mojitos for a spa-like twist.

Sangria offers excellent profit margins and can be prepared in large batches, making it ideal for busy summer service. Sea Breeze offers many ingredients that go into a delicious Sangria that your customers will enjoy. Create both red and white versions, incorporating seasonal fruits like peaches, berries, and citrus. The beauty of sangria lies in its flexibility – you can adjust recipes based on available fruits and create signature versions that set your restaurant apart.

Frozen margaritas and daiquiris offer cooling relief on hot days, creating a vacation-like atmosphere. Invest in quality frozen drink machines and experiment with unique flavors like watermelon, mango, or hibiscus. These drinks photograph beautifully and encourage social media sharing, providing free marketing for your establishment.

Don't overlook non-alcoholic options. Craft mocktails using fresh fruit, herbs, and creative presentation can command premium prices while accommodating designated drivers and non-drinkers. Consider house-made lemonades, fruit-infused waters, and creative soda combinations that offer a refreshing experience comparable to that of alcoholic cocktails.

✔️ Ice Management: Staying Cool Under Pressure

Summer's increased beverage consumption, expanded outdoor dining, and higher temperatures create unprecedented demand for ice. Proper ice management can mean the difference between smooth service and frustrated customers waiting for cold drinks.

The most effective strategy involves pre-filling large buckets or containers with ice during slower periods and storing them in walk-in freezers. This technique, often referred to as "ice banking," enables your ice machine to focus on production rather than trying to keep up with immediate demand. Schedule ice banking during overnight hours or early morning when ice machines operate most efficiently in cooler temperatures.

Monitor your ice machine's performance closely during the summer months to ensure optimal operation. Higher ambient temperatures force machines to work harder, thereby reducing production capacity at precisely the time when demand is at its peak. Clean condenser coils regularly, as dust and debris significantly impact efficiency. Consider scheduling professional maintenance before peak season to identify potential issues before they become service interruptions.

Outdoor dining areas require special consideration for ice management. Ice bins exposed to the sun and heat lose product quickly, necessitating more frequent refills. Position ice bins in shaded areas whenever possible, and consider using insulated containers that maintain temperature for extended periods. Train staff to monitor outdoor ice supplies more frequently than indoor stations.

Calculate your ice needs based on summer patterns rather than year-round averages. Factor in increased cocktail service, expanded outdoor seating, and the tendency for ice to melt faster in storage bins. Many successful restaurants increase their ice orders by 40-50% during the peak summer months and still find themselves running short during exceptionally hot heat waves.

✔️ Setting Your Restaurant Up for Summer Success

Summer preparation requires attention to numerous details that may seem minor individually but collectively determine the success of your season. From holiday planning and cocktail innovation to family-friendly adaptations and ice management, each element contributes to creating memorable experiences that keep customers returning throughout the season.

We recommend starting your summer preparation early, ideally beginning planning in late spring. The restaurants that thrive during summer months are those that anticipate challenges and prepare solutions before problems arise. 

With proper planning and execution, summer can become your most profitable and enjoyable season, setting the stage for continued success throughout the year. To learn more, don't hesitate to get in touch with Sea Breeze today!