As a restaurant, one of the biggest events you can have is Thanksgiving dinner. There are a number of people that prefer to go out and eat rather than cook. It can be a time of great profits for your business if you do it correctly. That means that you have to ensure you have the right blend of foods so that you appeal to any type of person that would come in. As you plan your menu it is important to keep both the interests of the customer and your own budget in mind. The easiest way to do this is to divide the meal into several categories and plan the foods you wish to offer in each.

Main Course

The main course is going to be the most important part of the meal. Your customers will not be happy if the main course is less than what they expect. Obviously for a Thanksgiving meal you want to have turkey on hand. Make sure that you buy and prepare enough turkey because this will likely be the one thing that everyone wants and chooses to eat. It will go fast and you need to be ready for the demand. However, there will be the occasional customer that prefers an alternative. If you plan to offer a selection in your menu then you might want to consider having ham or another main course selection for your customers to choose from.

Side Dishes

The sides you choose will be varied because every person likes something slightly different. While there are some sides that are traditionally associated with Thanksgiving, the fact is that no two dinners are the same. What you choose to serve will be based on several factors. If you have a buffet then you will likely offer several alternatives. If you are offering a limited menu then you will determine what you serve and allow the customers to choose from that. Some ideas that you could have include:

• Potatoes: mashed, au gratin, sweet and baked
• Stuffing
• Cranberry Sauce
• Yams
• Vegetables: green bean casserole, broccoli, squash
• Gravy
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Bread: rolls, biscuits

Desserts

Everyone expects dessert with their Thanksgiving meal and dining out is no exception. Again, what you choose to serve will vary depending on whether you are offering a buffet or limited menu for your dinner. There are a number of items that people look for on Thanksgiving and having them available will please your customers. One of the key things to remember is that pumpkin is often associated with Thanksgiving and many desserts feature it. Some types of desserts you can serve include:

• Pie: Pumpkin is a big one but you can also serve other pies such as apple, sweet potato and even a chocolate cream for those who prefer it.
• Cheesecake: while not typically associated with Thanksgiving, there are pumpkin varieties that would leave your customers begging for more.
• Cookies: Many people enjoy a good cookie and this is a great choice if you expect to have children

Once you have narrowed down your Thanksgiving menu then you simply have to work on preparing it and ensuring the customers arrive. After a year of dining with you and realizing how much easier and tastier the meal was, they will continue to come back and spread the word to others.

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