Everything on Interactive Dishes
Creating interactive dishes and adding interactive elements to your restaurant can keep customers coming back for more. When many of us think of interactive dishes, we imagine a hibachi meal: part show, part meal. But interactivity doesn’t have to be as grand as cooking table side. Here are some reasons why you should consider interactive dishes, along with some creative ideas to get you started!
Why You Should Have Interactive Items
Interactive dishes, offer your customers a sense of wonder and awe. Whether it’s creating something custom table side, or creating an element of play in the dish, customers love these experiences. Because interactive dishes often have such fun and unique components to them, they are much more memorable to your guests. We can easily recall and share a story with a friend of guacamole made to order table-side, but we may not gush over our last trip to Olive Garden.
That’s because interactive dishes help create experiences. Customers who experience the joy of these dishes are more likely to promote you (and your dish!) through word of mouth, remarking how great of an experience it was to dine with you. By creating these memories - not just the food that they shared, but also with the people they are with, you can strengthen customer loyalty to your restaurant. Plus, an interactive dish is a great positive review attractor online!
Interactive Menu Item Ideas
Bring it to the table
Are there any elements of your restaurant that you can bring table side? Can you prepare fresh, made-to-order guacamole and salsa on a cart? Can you roll out a wheel of mozzarella and place hot pasta onto it to melt and add cheese to the dish? Be creative!
Let guests play with their food
Are there any dishes on the menu that you can change to create a sense of play? In the food world, we often see this with desserts. Desserts can have melting or cracking chocolate shells that give guests the fun and unique opportunity to play with their food. For savory foods, consider something that can be flambéd or lit with flames tableside. (Bonus points if other guests look over and ask what dish was just served!)
Create Shareables and Build-Your-Own Boards
Create a custom charcuterie board or shareable dish where guests can mix and match different items and flavors. Let guests experiment and talk with each other about the delicious combinations that they come up with!
Looking to get creative with your menu? Sherane Chen LLC would be happy to assist you in the creative process. Contact us today or call (386) 627-3628 for a free initial consultation!