Confused about making a menu? This is the Meaning of Maincourse and How to Arrange It!

When making a menu for a restaurant, sometimes I like to think for a long time, "What's the main menu, huh?".

Well, terms maincourse This often comes up when designing a menu, especially for restaurants that have a sequential concept from appetizer to dessert.

However, actually maincourse what is that? Come on, let's discuss it together while finding out how to create a menu that makes customers satisfied and want to come back again. 

Curious? Read the following article until the end, okay?

What is Maincourse? Get to know its meaning and function

So, before discussing further, you have to know first, main course is the main part of the menu in one complete meal. 

Usually, menu maincourse has a larger portion and a more "prominent" taste than an appetizer or dessert.

If you compare it, maincourse it's the star of the culinary show. Meaning maincourse itself refers to the main dish that is the main focus in a set meal. 

In Western and Eastern culinary culture, maincourse often made from meat, chicken, fish or vegetable preparations. 

So, if you are compiling menu maincourse, it's important to think about what you want to "highlight" as your restaurant's signature dish.

Read Also: Cafe vs Bistro vs Eatery: Differences and Characteristics in F&B Business

Why is Maincourse an Important Menu for Restaurants?

Source: Freepik

It's not just about portions, maincourse have a big role in shaping experience eat that memorable. 

When customers are equally satisfied menu maincourse, chances are they will recommend your place to other people.

Well, this is where the power of the menu strategy comes into play. You can't just put steak or fried rice on the side maincourse, continue to hope that customers will be immediately amazed. 

There must be a flow of taste, nutritional value, and a tempting appearance.

If you can present maincourse that has a balance of taste and aesthetics, the selling value of your restaurant will increase drastically. 

Therefore, you must first know the types maincourse which is popular in restaurants.

Types of Main Courses that are Popular in Restaurants

Source: Freepik

So, in various restaurants, menu maincourse has a lot of variations. So that you are not confused, here are some main course popular ones that could be an inspiration, such as:

1. Processed Meat

These are the ones that appear most frequently on the list main course. Starting from steak, lamb chop, to rendang, everything can fall into this category. Meat is usually the first choice, because of its dense texture and strong taste.

2. Processed Fish and Seafood

For customers who like seafood, menus such as grilled salmon, grilled tuna or squid with Padang sauce are possible main course favorite.

3. Chicken and Poultry

Chickens are very flexible. It can be fried, grilled, steamed, or processed into special menus from certain countries. Chicken parmigiana, fried chicken, even Indian butter chicken, you can put it all in main course.

4. Vegetarian and Vegan Menu

Don't forget the customers who are looking for it main course without meat. For example: vegetable lasagna, grilled tofu, or mushroom fried rice.

5. Rice and Carbohydrate Menu

In Indonesia, rice is often cooked main course main. So, don't be surprised if special fried rice, complete uduk rice, and liwet rice are customers' favorite menus.

Read Also: Chicken parts with lots of meat! This is the Best Choice for Your Cooking

How to Arrange an Attractive and Profitable Main Course Menu

Source: Freepik

After knowing arts maincourse, now is the time for you to make a list menu main course which is not only delicious, but also sells. 

So, here are some tips so you can arrange your menu smartly:

1. Get to know the target market

It's very important to know who your customers are. If you have a fancy restaurant in the city center, maybe main course western style such as sirloin steak or grilled salmon could be an option. 

However, if your target is a young family in a suburban area, mixed rice or grilled chicken could be more suitable.

2. Use familiar but innovative materials

Customers like flavors they are familiar with, but are also curious about something new. For example, fried rice topped with mozzarella cheese can be a fun twist to an ordinary menu.

3. Pay attention to the presentation

Remember, customers now like to take photos of food before eating. Make sure main course you are not only tasty, but also aesthetic. In fact simple maincourse things like fried chicken can look attractive with the right plating.

4. Calculate COGS carefully

Just making a delicious menu is not enough. You also have to think about ingredient prices, profit margins, and kitchen efficiency. 

Combine ingredients that complement each other, so you can sell a menu that is both profitable and high quality.

5. Organize the Menu Based on Taste Flow

Maincourse You can't make customers "uneasy". So, balance salty, savory and texture in one plate. 

If you have a creamy appetizer, maybe you can present it main course lighter ones such as grilled fish, so that the taste remains balanced.

Read Also: Get to know more about what is dine in? Check out the definition, advantages and differences with Take Away

Examples of Main Courses on Popular Restaurant Menus

So that you can imagine more, let's take a peek at some main course which has been proven to be liked by many people:

• Chicken Steak with Blackpepper Sauce
• Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce
• Honey Baked Chicken with Uduk Rice
• Spaghetti Bolognese
• Complete Nasi Liwet with Kampung Chicken
• Vegan Mushroom Burger
• Beef Teriyaki Rice Bowl

Each of maincourse above has its own character and audience. You can mix and match according to the theme of your restaurant.

Differences between Maincourse and Other Menus

So that you don't make a mistake when compiling a menu, let's discuss a little the differences between them maincourse, appetizer, dan dessert:

Well, through understanding this, you can create a pleasant dining flow for your customers. So, why main course a priority in business?

Why Should Maincourse Be Your F&B Business Priority?

Because main course is the menu that customers remember most. If they are satisfied with it maincourse, chances are they will come back again. 

In addition, usually the selling price main course is higher than other menus, meaning it can become a profit center for your business.

It's not surprising that many restaurant owners are willing to research for months just to find it menu main course which could be a mainstay. 

Especially if you can provide a unique touch, such as local ingredients, regional cooking techniques, or even a serving style that is different from competitors.

Conclusion

Now you understand maincourse and how to organize it effectively, right? However, remember, just having an okay menu is not enough. You also need a system that can help your business operations remain efficient.

So, for those of you who have a culinary business with many branches, ESB is the best choice. This system supports various payment methods and provides business performance reports. 

You can monitor all branches from just one platform! ESB also has features Order Management System (OMS) and which makes managing orders from various channels more efficient. 

In fact, you can create an online restaurant via ESB Order and increase the order quantity up to 13,5%! No need to be complicated. Just focus on organizing it menu maincourse the best, so that customers are satisfied, business will run smoothly. 

If you need a digital solution for neat, smart and integrated restaurant management, just visit ESB.