Your restaurant’s menu is more than just a list of food and prices. It’s a marketing tool, a customer interface, and the foundation of your customer’s expectations.
Most menus are broken down into a few standard categories: appetizers, entrees, desserts, and beverages. Some restaurants will also have specialized sections for burgers, sandwiches, or kids’ meals.
Let’s take a look at some examples of restaurant menus for different occasions, including dinner, lunch, and banquets. While we’re at it, we’ll take a look at the legendary larry menu and see what lessons can be learned from its design.
Dinner Menu & Specials
Larry’s offers a varied dinner menu, with pub fare favorites alongside more elevated entrees and desserts.
Appetizers
The crab and artichoke dip is a popular starter, priced at $15. Consider the fresh ingredients and attractive presentation.
Other appetizer choices include wings, nachos, mozzarella sticks, and chips with salsa.
Entrees
The entree menu features a range of options, from Lobster Ravioli & Jumbo Lump Crab ($25) to Guinness BBQ Ribs ($20) and Chicken Mascarpone ($22).
Customer favorites include the Surf & Turf ($25) and Veal Saltimbocca ($23).
Desserts
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Salted Caramel Crunch Cake, Banana Foster Pudding, or New York Cheesecake. Other options include Apple Pie, Coconut Custard Pie, and rice or bread puddings.
Burgers
For a more casual meal, Larry’s offers a selection of burgers, including the GORGONZOLA BURGER, STEAKHOUSE RANCH BURGER, and BBQ BACON & CHEDDAR BURGER. Vegetarian options include the BEYOND BURGER and the BAJA TURKEY BURGER.
Lunch Menu
Larry’s offers a wide range of lunch options, from combo meals to individual dishes and even an all-you-can-eat option for those with heartier appetites.
Combo Meals
Combo meals let you combine multiple dishes for a satisfying and varied lunch.
- Chicken & Sour Cream Enchilada and Beef Crispy Taco Combo ($11.00)
- CREATE YOUR OWN COMBO ($9.75)
Combo meals offer a mix of flavors and textures in a single meal and are often more affordable than ordering each item separately.
Individual Dishes
If you’re looking for a specific dish, Larry’s has several tempting options.
- Mexican Pizza
- Burrito Especial ($15.75)
- Arroz Con Pollo ($16.50)
- Fajitas Chiquitas ($11.00)
Each dish features unique ingredients and preparation methods, highlighting the diverse flavors of Mexican cuisine.
All-You-Can-Eat Options
- All-You-Can-Eat Tortilla Soup & Mexican Caesar Salad ($8.50)
For those with larger appetites, the all-you-can-eat option provides a cost-effective way to sample multiple dishes.
Banquet and Buffet Menus
If you’re planning a party, Larry’s offers a range of banquet and buffet options to suit your needs. Here’s a peek at what’s available:
Buffet-Style Options
Buffets are a great way to feed a crowd. They let guests pick and choose what they want, which simplifies service and cuts down on wait times. Some popular buffet choices include:
- Nacho Bar ($11 per person)
- Pasta Bar ($13 per person)
- Appetizer Buffet ($12 per person)
- BBQ Buffet ($14 per person)
Customization and Dietary Considerations
Larry’s is happy to customize meals based on your dietary needs. You can add protein to combo meals, substitute ingredients, and request meals that are gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan. Just be sure to let your server know about any food allergies or restrictions.
Pricing and Minimum Party Sizes
Here’s a quick look at the buffet pricing structure:
- Nacho Bar: $11 per person (beef), +$2 for chicken
- Pasta Bar: $13 per person, +$3 for shrimp, -$10 for no meat
To reserve the banquet room, there’s an hourly fee ($50/hour Sun-Thurs, $75/hour Fri-Sat), a two-hour minimum, and a 20-person minimum for buffets.
Key Considerations for Menu Design and Pricing
A restaurant menu has a lot of jobs to do. It has to inform, entice, and, of course, accurately represent the food you’re serving. Here are some key considerations for menu design and pricing.
Menu Layout and Visual Appeal
Menu design matters. High-quality images and descriptive language can draw customers in and make them eager to try your food. Organizing menu items logically into sections (like appetizers, entrees, and desserts) helps people find what they’re looking for. Highlighting specials with boxes or other visual cues can also boost sales.
Pricing Strategies
When it comes to pricing, you have a couple of main options. Cost-plus pricing means you add a markup to the cost of your ingredients. Value-based pricing means you consider how much the customer thinks the dish is worth.
Psychological pricing techniques can also be effective. Ending prices in .99 can make them seem lower, and some restaurants avoid dollar signs altogether to reduce price sensitivity.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
It’s important to be accurate in your menu descriptions. Don’t mislead customers about ingredients or how the food is prepared. You should also disclose potential allergens and dietary restrictions, like gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Finally, it’s always a good idea to warn about the risk of foodborne illness from raw or undercooked items.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re creating a dinner menu, a lunch menu, or a banquet menu, each serves a different purpose and caters to specific customer expectations.
Menu design and pricing strategies matter. A well-designed menu can attract customers and boost sales.
To create a successful restaurant menu, understand your target audience and adapt your menu to their preferences. Your menu is the first impression you make, so make it count.