Bar Food or Barf ood?

[maxijo]

I am looking for input on bar food. Does it really sell? I was thinking of selling personal pizza's, chicken fingers, popper's, etc. Does the finger food idea really work to sell more drinks? Can anyone prove it?
Please share your input.
thanks

[admin]

Thanks for joining the Message Board. Please tell all of your fellow industry people where we are and what we do.

As for your question. The answer is yes and no.

Certain bars do well with food items well others do not. It all depends on your hours of operation, cliental, your ability to provide the items in a clean environment, freshness of the product and so on.

In our club, we have a restaurant next door to us that provides the food for the club. It's a win-win situation for all of us.

I think that it helps sell more beverages. As for how much, it's all extra profit no matter how we look at it. We provide it as a service to our customers so that they don't have to leave to get food somewhere else. Once they leave, they might not return. We didn't want to take that chance. Our servers are also very adapt at upselling finer wines and liquors to go with their food choice. Not only do we provide finger foods, you can also order from the dinner menu. We are considered a high-end Nightclub and the restaurant is considered very chic with an eclectic menu. Dinner for two will usually run fifty to a hundred bucks a piece.

If you decide to do food. Make sure that your staff is food wise and trained in the proper hygiene and presentation of it. Nothing upsets me more then to walk into a place and see a bunch of garbage on the tables and the bar.

If you need more help. Give us as much info about your bar/club as possible. This way, we can be more specific in our answers and help.

Good-Luck, David.

[Xarn]

sushi or any other trendy food/unique food is acceptable as a sell. But common foods should not be sold and take away from the unique aspect of the club. If its a sportsbar, yeah you can pretty much sell anything over the bar.

[Andrew]

After a good party night, I love a BIG healthy breakfast. Trouble is, I have to leave the club and then I don't feel like going back.

I often wish they served food but all available space is dedicated to dancing or pool tables.

I usually go for omlettes (eggs & mushies & toppings - yum!).

[David]

One of the Clubs in town closes at 2 am (required by law) and then reopens at 2:15 as an After Hours Club until 4 am. They also serve breakfast between 2:15 and 4 am. This way, nobody has to leave to get groceries.

[Colette33]

David,
We also use the restaurant next door to us, (we actually use two,
one serves sushi, the other chicken fingers etc.) I was curious if you charge more to your customers then the restaurant charges. We do. Also how do you present the food once the restaurant delivers it to you?

[happybaboon]

Salty food will always mean more drink sales - Thats why sports bars do so well selling hell salty food to people dealing to many gallons of beer on a Saturday afternoon...

The same wouldn't work at any kind of club though (except for selling breakfast items as has been mentionned) because when you're clubbing... Do you really want to be eating anything? And do you really want to pay inflated prices for it when you could just walk for two minutes and pick up some McDonalds?

[ALLorNOTHING]

Someone said a club kicked everyone out at 2, then opened at 2:15. Is that to clean up, or is it a law? I dont think its a good idea to mix food at a dance club, but definetly after the music starts and the lights go on. It would also give you some extra time to close the deal with that girl you have been dancing with all night over some finger food. Nothing too big, or expensive though.

[ZEN]

Colette33
I ORDER FOOD FROM THE RESTAURANT NEXT DOOR. I DON'T RAISE THEIR PRICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS, BUT I DID HAVE THE RESTAURANT LOWER THEIRS AND TAKE THAT AS MY CUT.
ZEN