Labor Day may be summer’s unofficial finale, but for restaurants, it’s a high-stakes encore. With long-weekend travelers flooding highways and families soaking up the last golden hours of vacation, there’s never been a better time to flex your culinary creativity and fill patio seats.
Domestic travel is on the upswing. AAA clocked a record-breaking 72.2 million Americans on the move over Fourth of July weekend, and Labor Day’s looking just as busy.* If you want to win over both regulars and road-trippers, you need a menu that’s bold, efficient, and built for crowds.
One Weekend Only
Labor Day LTOs are all about FOMO. If guests know a dish vanishes after Monday, they’ll show up early, stay late, and drag the whole crew along.
Consider these short-term stunners:
- Pack & Play: Takeout reigns supreme over holiday weekends, especially for guests headed to parks, pools, and backyard parties. Boost convenience and revenue with a ready-to-roll trio: Ridgecrest® Fully Cooked Pork sliders, watermelon-feta salad, and individual cups of banana pudding. Gingham napkins are optional, but highly recommended.
- Smash Hit: No Labor Day is complete without a burger. Go big with a double stack of juicy West Creek® Beef Burger Patties layered with smoky Gouda, crispy bacon, tangy BBQ sauce, and pickles on a toasted brioche bun. Serve it up with hushpuppies and a side of zesty jalapeño ranch.
- American Pie: Celebrate the stars and slices with this red, white, and blue pie: roasted cherry tomatoes, whipped ricotta, and a blueberry-balsamic drizzle on a golden Roma® Pizza Crust. Finished with fresh basil, it’s the ultimate salute to summer.
Grazing Goals
Big flavors, no full commitment. These shareable bites are built for group hangs, slow sips, and maximum menu mileage.
- Mini But Mighty: This Labor Day, treat guests to a trio of savory sliders: Nashville hot chicken sammies, blackened shrimp po’boys, and fried green tomato BLTs. Add waffle fries and a surprising sauce selection — everything from smoked peach ketchup to honey-Sriracha mayo — to keep the good times rolling.
- Dip Happens: Busy weekend ahead? Let the dips do the heavy lifting. Build a bold, dunk-worthy lineup featuring Contigo® Mexican-Style Roasted Street Corn Dip, Empire’s Treasure® Mahi-Mahi Smoked Seafood Dip, and a house favorite like poblano beer cheese. Pile on pretzel sticks, crostini, and tortilla chips for maximum scoopability.
- Country Charcuterie: Give classic charcuterie a break and serve up a Southern spread instead. Think smoked sausages, pimento cheese, pickled veggies, and pepper jelly, all piled high alongside flaky Heritage Ovens® Buttermilk Biscuits. It’s a no-fuss snack board built for hungry hands.
Local Legends
Holiday travelers are hunting for a taste of place. Reel them in with hometown flavors that give your kitchen regional flair.
- New England: Craving coastal? Serve up Bay Winds® Lobster rolls tossed in lemon-tarragon aioli with a pile of sea-salt chips. Pair with a blueberry basil lemonade, and you’ve got Cape Cod in a coupe.
- Southwest: Bring the desert heat with green chile carnitas tacos topped with Cotija, avocado crema, and lime-pickled onions. Serve alongside a mezcal margarita rimmed in Tajín for a smoky, spicy finish.
- South: If you want guests to feel like they’ve wandered into grandma’s kitchen, serve cornmeal-crusted Empire’s Treasure® Rainbow Trout fillets with herb butter and sweet corn succotash. Wash it all down with a blackberry mint julep.
- Midwest: Go full beer garden with bratwurst on a pretzel bun layered with kraut and mustard. Add warm German potato salad and a frosty stein of craft lager, and you’re halfway to a polka.