Why Eatertainment is taking center stage in 2023.
Doing what it says on the tin, Eatertainment is simply a concept that combines entertainment with a food offering.
When you think of an eatertainment venue from your past, what’s the first place that pops into your mind? Wherever in the world it is and however fun the activity on offer, we’ll bet it wasn’t critically acclaimed for the F+B menus. Slushies at the sports center, rubbery hot dogs at ice rinks, nasty nachos down at the bowling alley and indescribably sugary snacks at the arcade, it’s no wonder that interest was waning.
Then the pandemic hit and everything changed.
Vast swathes of the world have gone tech-native thanks to months at home with screens for company. We have become proficient mixologists and expert home cooks with more discerning palettes. We want the fun of in-person social events with gourmet tastes and more bang for a buck.
Even back in the relatively halcyon days of 2019, it was discovered in a report by SevenRooms and YouGov that 49% had chosen an eatertainment venue for a regular night out with friends. Experiential dining is nothing new to the experience-craving millennials but it seems that no matter the age, we’ve collectively become more appreciative of any location that can give us great food, proper drinks and gamified activities with a techy twist all under one roof.
Enter Eatertainment 2.0, the next chapter in modern casual dining and drinking.
The key here is quality. Guests not only expect a memorable experience but enhanced F&B offerings to boot with thought and care given to dietary restrictions and zero-proof drinks.
Here are 2 brands who took on the challenge of good eating, good drinking and good fun in one place… and won.
Born in London, England and slowly but surely dominating the American minigolf scene (which is no mean feat), Puttshack positions itself as the perfect place to ‘Tee up. Eat up. Drink up.’
At its heart, it hosts creative courses and unbelievable technology that takes minigolf to never-before-seen heights with a sense of humour. But the other thing that really puts Puttshack in the Eatertainment 2.0 category, is the food and drinks on offer.
Offering real signature cocktails, their bartenders are mixologists, not soda dispensers. With the truly elegant wine selection, premium spirits, craft beers and zero-proof drinks for adults, they have dialled up the style at the bar.
This continues through to the food menus which elevates casual dining, featuring the likes of Duck Bao Buns, Lobster Rolls, Bavette steaks, Kashmiri Cauliflowers and even the possibility of proper pizza with a gluten-free base.
This is fun food… but not as we know it.
Miles away in distance but close as can be in quality is Dubai’s Brass Monkey. A one-stop shop for all-around fun, this Emirate eatertainment venue features 12 bowling lanes, retro arcade games, driving simulators, games tables and so much more.
Again, it differs from its predecessors primarily in the calibre of F&B on offer. Prawn Gyoza and Edamame sit proudly alongside Brisket Tacos and Curly Kale & Quinoa salads in this adult take on classic leisure complex plates.
At the bar, cocktails include the classics with some nifty riffs on old favourites like the Wakai Iku Sour. With the very best in wines, beers, sodas and spirits, even the tea list is top quality.
Whilst we’re not suggesting installing a bowling alley down the middle of your restaurant’s dining room or delivering your cocktails by remote-controlled toy car (though this could be fun), delving into what it is that makes this sort of establishment so appealing to the modern consumer can be enlightening.
Even if it’s not a perfect pairing in reality, it’s worth considering the philosophy of eatertainment and how it could benefit you as the traditional dining and drinking experience becomes ever more experiential.
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