Your guests likely crave a range of tastes when enjoying drinks at your bar, so what is the best bar food to serve? Creating a bar food menu can be challenging, since some customers just want your standard basket of fries, while others want a unique experience. To meet the needs of your guests, listing typical bar foods as well as your own inventive recipes are both great ideas. Below are some useful tips and bar food ideas to create a well-rounded menu that’s sure to satisfy any hungry customer.

Create a Bar Food Menu with the Classics

Among the changing bar trends in the industry, some of the best bar food staples remain the same. Below are some common bar menu ideas to satisfy your customers and maximize your profits.

• French fries
• Onion rings
• Nachos
• Wings
• Mozzarella sticks
• Quesadillas
• Burger sliders
• Artichoke dip
• Roasted cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, or other roasted vegetable assortment

There's always room for more classics. Add a regional or local favorite that your customers will love, like Philly cheesesteaks or Chicago-style hot dogs. Either way, you've started your bar food menu off right by including some classic options.

Bar Menu Ideas: The Eye-Catchers

In addition to the classics, you can (and should) show off your unique recipes. To come up with new bar food ideas, you can develop a fresh take on the classics above or form your own new concepts. If you are just opening your bar or are looking to reinvigorate your bar food menu, take some inspiration from some of the hottest spots in major cities:

• Cheese fries with cheddar, Gouda, and chives from The Penrose in NYC. By including unique ingredients like Gouda cheese and chives, the Penrose offers an upscale, new twist on a favorite bar food.
• Roasted portobello with artichoke-truffle mousse and parmesan from Tap 79 in Miami. This unique item combines complementing flavors and hearty finishing touches that create a fulfilling bar snack.
• Cheesecake eggrolls from Far Bar, an Asian fusion bar in Los Angeles. Most of us might be accustomed to savory eggrolls, but Far Bar offers a rare version with this sweet snack that’s sure to entice late-night guests.
• House-made sausage plate from Hopleaf Bar in Chicago. This plate features seasonal accompaniments to go with the sausage. Try creating your own version to offer guests a variety of one type of food, like a cheese board, or make a platter that’s an assortment of house specialties.

Restaurants and bars can set themselves apart with more intricate or aesthetically pleasing dishes that include exotic ingredients or that combine uncommon flavors. By offering your guests something different, you can create a memorable experience for guests who will look forward to returning.

Serve the Best Bar Food by Pairing Food and Beverages

The best bar food typically pairs well with the drinks served at your bar. When creating your bar food menu, it's always a good idea to consider foods that can complement your drink selection. You can also use your drink selection as inspiration to come up with bar menu ideas.

• Beer is a great all-around choice that pairs well with carbs, red meats, and heavier food in general. For example, if you serve light lagers and wheat beers, try including spicy food or burgers on your bar food menu. If you offer a selection of stouts, go for chocolate desserts, shellfish, or Mexican food.
• Cocktails can be tailored to accent certain dishes. For instance, a ginger-infused drink would go well with sushi, which normally includes ginger as a palate cleanser. On the other hand, a light cocktail with herbal notes would not overwhelm a light goat cheese board. Or try offering a specialty margarita to be enjoyed with your nachos or quesadillas.
• Wine also has common pairings, so it is wise to include bar food menu options that would go well with your wine assortment. Many white wines are great with seafood and poultry, while red wines often complement pasta and red meat. However, food has the ability to greatly alter the taste of the wine, so be sure to understand how your food and wine offerings interact when recommending pairings to guests.

Pricing Your Bar Food Menu

Pricing your bar menu can be tricky, especially if you are serving a range of food, such as cheap, easy-to-make options like french fries, along with more complex items that might cost more and require more labor. Below are some suggestions for pricing your bar food menu.

Classic Bar Food Has a High Profit Margin

Traditional bar food, such as french fries, onion rings, and wings, can be made quite cheaply. Not only can you find inexpensive bulk bar food, but most of it is quick to make and does not require much labor. This makes your more classic bar food excellent to feature on your menu for two reasons. It lets you keep your food affordable for virtually every customer, and you can turn a handsome profit even with low prices.

Scale Your Bar Food Prices Based on Labor

For foods that are more complicated and require more prep work than simple batches of fries or quick burgers, you should adjust pricing accordingly to turn over a profit while meeting the budgets of your customer base.

Keep Track of Customer Demand for Your Bar Food

One innovative option for pricing your bar food menu is to gauge prices by keeping track of customer demand for certain items. You can raise the price of food and drink with high demands while lowering other items, mimicking the supply and demand mechanisms that affect the stock market.

If you're shooting for a more practical angle, you can check out some user-friendly formulas that teach you how to price items on your menu according to your restaurant's needs and parameters. That way, you can satisfy your customers' appetites and wallets while maintaining healthy profit margins for your business.

Whether your run a swanky, upscale bar or a casual pub, having a great bar food menu is essential. The best bar food ranges from your classic bar grub to unique and innovative dishes from your kitchen, so a well-rounded menu is ideal. And, by pricing your menu correctly, you will not only satisfy your guests, but your business can flourish as well.