3 ways to enhance happy hour during patio season (and beyond)

Creating your seasonal calendar

When warmer weather hits, customers are looking for patios where they can gather with their friends to enjoy cold drinks and delicious food. Sixty-two percent say deals like happy hour make them more likely to choose a restaurant, making patio season the perfect moment to refresh your offerings.¹

And there’s also no need to limit yourself to the warmer months. With a little twist, these ideas can help you increase check sizes and drive traffic all year long.

Three tips to enhance happy hour during patio season and all year long

1. Increase check averages and guest satisfaction by implementing a food and drink pairing menu. 

Take menu items you already offer (or variations of them) and pair them with local craft brews, regional wines or mixed drinks to offer a unique happy hour experience for your customers.

Choose a cheese curd or mozzarella stick currently on your menu and add a side dip of jalapeño-laced peach jam. On your summer LTO menu, suggest pairing with an American Amber Ale. The slightly bitter hops will create a through-line with the jalapeño and marry nicely with the peachy fruit while the toasted malt creates an interesting contrast to the sharpness of the cheese allowing its flavor to come to the forefront. Or pair with an American stout. The roasted component in this beer is a sharp contrast to the fruit in this dipping sauce while also contrasting the richness of the cheese, helping to create a perfect balance. 

You can also lean into tropical and global flavors. Toss cream cheese jalapeño poppers in a tortilla crumb coating and serve with a chunky mango chili sauce. On your LTO menu, suggest pairing with your American amber ale. To bring more of that sweet heat customers love, onion rings drizzled with hot honey and sprinkled with chopped bacon strikes a great balance.

2. Ask the customers what they want.

While suggestion boxes seem to be a thing of the past, there are newer ways you can capture feedback from your customers. Consider reviving a type of suggestion box but spruce it up by letting customers share their happy hour/patio menu ideas in a raffle. One lucky winner will get to see their suggestion on a seasonal menu. 

You can also reach out to your followers on social media to see what types of menu items they want to see this summer. Have your staff experiment with a few different ideas and then take to Instagram or TikTok to have your customers vote on which one they want to try. The winner can be used on a seasonal menu or as part of a limited-time offer.

Take learnings from how and where your customers engage the most to shape how you receive feedback in the future.

3. Host a seasonal kickoff party.

What better way to get the word out about your new happy hour offerings/seasonal menu than with a party? Invite customers on a specific day where you may have a special menu, live music, giveaways and more. Use social and in-store signage to drive awareness of your event.  

Standing out from your competitors starts with planning. When you differentiate your menu and the experience a customer gets at your operation through a unique seasonal menu and an experience they won’t be able to stop talking about, you can help your operation succeed during key, pre-dinner hours. 

McCain is here to help with menu inspiration, LTO business strategies and the broadest portfolio of beer-battered products, cheese products and bold flavors that pair well with craft beer to help differentiate menus and increase check averages. 
  

By leaning into seasonal flavors, guest input, and buzzworthy events, you create moments that feel special, and give customers the extra nudge they need to make your place their go‑to stop.

SOURCES 
¹ National Restaurant Association; 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry Report
² Deloitte; Serving up an impactful social media strategy for restaurants