Winter is coming, and in Wisconsin and Indiana, we all know that means indoor activities to avoid frigid temperatures.
For restaurant owners, winter can mean fewer customers and wasted space unless you are ready and willing to set up comfortable outdoor dining during the winter season. Though it’s not an easy undertaking, it is possible. Many of your customers yearn to be warm and outside, so why not give them a new experience while meeting their needs? You can rise to the occasion and create special, heated outdoor dining for your guests.
In those long, cold months, people can get cabin fever, and fun outdoor adventures are limited. In our region, temperatures can reach record lows in January and February. Even on cold, frigid days, hearty Midwesterners will bundle up and eat outdoors if you provide them with a warm, comfortable space.
So, how do you make the most of outdoor dining in cold weather? Here are eight tips to help restaurant owners keep their patio patrons eating happily on chilly days.
1. Shelter Your Patio Dining Areas
If you have a patio space, an awning or pop-up tent can shelter your patrons from whatever the weather brings. However, it’s important to use caution and follow fire code guidelines if you plan to heat covered areas. There are restrictions on the type of heaters you can use on a covered or enclosed patio.
One way to provide shelter for your guests is to cover, or partially cover, your outdoor dining area. Look for a sturdy umbrella and creative coverings to offer some protection. Cozy up the dining space with soft colors, candles on the tables, and comfortable seating to encourage a sense of warmth.
The Twisted Fisherman offers an all-season outdoor space with picnic tables, patio furniture next to firepits, and snow globes you can sit in.
2. Consider FirePits
If your patio isn’t covered, a firepit may be another option for encouraging diners to enjoy their meals outside. A fire feature is a delightful way to warm up outdoor dining. It creates an atmosphere and ambiance. With the clean option of odorless gas and propane, you don’t have to worry your patrons will go home smelling like a campfire. Even fine dining establishments can find tasteful fire feature options for their outdoor dining area. Gas firepits are odorless and relatively easy to install.
See this concept in action at Hagermeister Park, a restaurant with a patio of Riverside Igloos decorated with pillows, blankets, board games, and plenty of outdoor firepits.
3. Divide Up Dining Areas
Another option for adding outdoor dining in cold weather is to break up your seating in unique ways. You could consider small booths and even clear dome-type structures (as featured at Café Benelux and other restaurants) that make for a fun, different take on private dining. While these structures require an investment, many restaurants have been using them successfully for years.
One word of caution—check your local heating guidelines if you use dome structures or greenhouse-type enclosures for dining. Many areas won’t allow restaurants to use propane under any enclosure or covered patio.
Want to experience dining in a dome? Fox River Brewing lets you reserve domes for up to 90 minutes for yourself and up to 9 of your friends and family. The domes even have heaters to keep you warm, so you can stay comfortable no matter how cold it gets outside.
Or, check out Buckatabon, where, instead of a dome, you can dine in a heated shanty for a truly private, unique experience.
4. Use Space & Patio Heaters
Patio and space heaters started selling out in August. If you haven’t purchased outdoor heaters for your facility yet, now is the time! As demand increases, they will only become harder to find, lower in quality, and more expensive.
As mentioned above, you must check with your local ordinances on the type of heater you can safely use outside. Some cities only allow electric heaters or restrict the number of propane-fueled heaters you can use in a dining area. A three-season room or screened porch may have even more regulations, so follow all the guidelines.
As a restaurant owner, you don’t want patrons to be cold, but you also don’t want to get shut down for a fire code violation! Play it safe by finding appropriate heating options for your neck of the woods.
5. Plan for Snow Removal Now
No matter your outdoor seating plan, make sure you factor in snowfall. Typically, we don’t see heavy snowfall in the Midwest until December or January, but it’s always best to prepare. Enlist the help of professional snow removal services, buy a snowblower, stock up on ice melt or rock salt for walkways, and make sure you have a plan in place to keep your dining area dry.
Sending servers out with snow shovels before a busy night can result in disaster. Snow removal isn’t something you want to address at the last minute. Instead, put assignments and guidance in place now for your staff. That way, you won’t be caught off-guard when we start to get heavy snowfall.
6. Keep Hot Food Hot
The main challenge of outdoor dining is keeping hot food hot. When temperatures are cool, food will get cold quickly and become less appetizing. When you factor in the challenge of outdoor dining in cold weather and lackluster, lukewarm food, you can see why people would feel turned off at the prospect of eating outside.
The solution is to focus on small plates and skillet dishes (like fajitas, for example) and take extra steps like warming plates before sending them out to dine. Keep food as hot as possible and keep enough servers ready to ensure your dishes don’t “die” in the window. Patrons will likely crave warm, comforting dishes from the oven and off the skillet. Try offering things like hearty soups and stews or comforting baked casseroles. Give them what they want by serving piping hot food that can help warm people from the inside.
7. Add a Bevy of Hot Beverages
Another great way to keep your diners warm and satisfied when dining outside is to offer several hot beverages on your menu. You don’t have to stick to just tea and coffee, either. There are warm cocktails, spiked hot chocolate or cider, and many other wintery adult options that will give patrons extra warmth.
Make hot beverages special and promote them to your outdoor guests. You could even offer hot tea to welcome them as they wait (an inexpensive touch that chilly patrons will appreciate).
While it’s essential to keep diners moving through their meal experience quickly to keep the tables turning for more revenue, recognize that many restaurant-goers are seeking a positive experience. Take it to the next level with a welcoming, comforting cup of warmth.
County Clare is the perfect example. They serve coffee year-round but offer a changing seasonal drink menu. In winter, they usually have hot Irish coffee, hot whiskey, and hot cider on the menu, with more than a dozen options.
8. Prioritize Safety for Outdoor Dining in Cold Weather
While we all want to maximize the positive dining experience, it’s also essential to prioritize safety. Keep plenty of space for everyone to maneuver around tables and chairs as servers make their way to and from the kitchen and customers go to the restroom. Make sure signage is visible to help everyone navigate.
If you provide an outdoor dining area, you should still offer to-go options for patrons who prefer takeout. Make sure your online ordering system is ready for the winter months, significantly if outdoor dining options wane with icy weather.
A well-thought-out outdoor dining option may boost your restaurant for years to come. With a year-round outdoor dining option, you can expand your restaurant offerings and welcome guests to a great outdoor space, no matter the weather.
