According to a recent study by the National Restaurant Association more than a quarter of Americans plan to visit a bar or restaurant on St. Patrick’s Day this year. With raucous pub crawls in a city that turns its river green, St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago bodes well for bar and restaurant owners looking to make the most of this festive holiday.
Weber Grill’s three locations in Illinois will honor the joyful celebration of St. Patrick’s Day by incorporating an Irish-take on one of the restaurants’ most iconic dishes, Beer Can Chicken. Special for the holiday, Chef Larry Donahue will be transforming the succulent chicken dish into a true Irish feast by using Guinness to create the perfect au jus.
Chef Donahue will also be serving up a hand-trimmed Corned Beef that has been smoked with hickory wood for 10-12 hours, and then piled high on rye for a festive sandwich at lunch, and served with cabbage and potatoes at dinner.
Providing customers with traditional Irish fare is just one step in the process of offering up an unforgettable experience this St. Patrick’s Day. Here are 3 more ideas that will be sure to bring in the green.
1. Beer & Cocktails: Green Beer is easy and has become a tradition for dive bars on St. Patrick’s Day. Instead think about other ways to pay tribute to great Irish brews. Without being over the top you can highlight Guinness, Killian’s, Smithwick’s and other great Irish beers in a mini beer flight of 3-4 ounce samples. Owners should also highlight specialty cocktails for the non-beer drinking clientele as well as some Irish whisky based shooters.
2. Capitalize on Social Media: Social networking is an easy and inexpensive way to get customers engaged early in your promotional efforts. Take advantage of your savvy followers by creating a contest on your Facebook page or encouraging your fans to post photos of themselves in their best St. Patrick’s Day getup. Your efforts will pay off.
3. Stand Out: St. Patrick’s Day falls on March 17, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited to one day of celebration. Try to fill the void that your competitors don’t. Introduce Irish-themed bands, include games like beer pong or have the lucky leprechaun make a visit and hand out prizes. Annual events, if executed properly, will continue to draw crowds year after year.