If you own a seafood restaurant on the waterfront, chances are you're not the only one. Water just screams "seafood," and if it is abundant where you are, there's a good chance you have several nearby competitors. So, how do you set your waterfront seafood restaurant apart from all the others? Here are a few ideas.
Offer a "fish of the day"
It has long been customary for restaurants to offer a "soup of the day," so why not take a riff on this and offer a fish of the day? This fish could be whatever you can get most affordably at the seafood market that day. Have the chef come up with a unique, but simple way to prepare it, and put it on the menu at an affordable price. This will entice guests to keep coming back again to try something new. It also gives your chef a chance to try out a lot of different recipes. They might discover a few great ones they want to make permanent features on the menu.
Craft ocean-themed drinks
If you have a full bar, consider creating a few custom drinks that have creative, ocean-themed names. You can even take it a step further, and make them fish-themed names. One could be the Fabulous Flounder. Another could be the Electric Eel. Garnish these drinks with beachy items like tiny umbrellas. Guests will find this cute and festive.
Serve a late lunch
When people are on the waterfront, they are often on vacation. And people on vacation often get a late start to the day, which means they probably won't be having lunch until later in the afternoon. If the other restaurants cut off their lunch service at the customary 3:00, extend yours until 4:00.
Make sure there are lots of good, light, seafood-based options to choose from. Fish tacos, seafood salads, and poke bowls are the name of the game these days! With your longer hours and great lunch selection, you'll soon become the go-to spot for those who missed lunch at the other seafood restaurants.
If you own a waterfront seafood restaurant in the seashore, you have to take steps to draw customers in and make your place distinct. The ideas above will get you off to a good start. Pay attention to what your customers order and love most, and use that information to inform your decisions, going forward.