What was your favorite video game as a kid? No matter your answer, you likely have fond memories of spending afternoons on the sofa playing against your family members and friends on the television screen. Use this sense of nostalgia to your advantage by hosting a retro video game night right in your restaurant! If you’re looking for new ideas for fun restaurant events, read on!
The Logistics
An event like a video game night requires a little more planning than other restaurant events. You’ll need to source consoles and games, so start preparing for your event far in advance to make sure that you have time to get everything working properly. In addition, you’ll need screens to play on. If your restaurant already has televisions, great, but we also like to borrow older TV sets or pick some up at the thrift store for that classic 80s video game aesthetic.
When to Host Your Event
Video game nights are great for nights when your restaurant is slow, because that means that they’ll draw in a crowd without competing with your Friday or Saturday night regulars. Weeknights are great, as are Sunday nights.
Have a Tech Person on Hand
Tech issues can make or break your video game night. Older gaming setups don’t always play nice with new technology, so make sure you have someone on hand that can troubleshoot and quickly put an end to any problems that arise throughout the evening. Also, having someone to keep track of winners and high scores on score charts can prevent things from getting too confusing.
Fun Restaurant Events Need Fun Restaurant Snacks!
A restaurant event isn’t complete without a few specialized menu items. We recommend appetizers or desserts like Tetris-themed cake bites or PacMan cookies. Use your creativity and see what other delicious ideas you can come up with!
Easy Decorations for your Fun Restaurant Event
Decorating for your video game night is easy. String up some lights to give the room a techno glow, and create a score chart to record player’s high scores so that winners can be declared at the end of the evening.
Prizes for Winners
Of course, no video game competition is complete without rewarding the players that came out on top! Easy prizes, like gift cards and restaurant merch, are a great way to make sure that everyone is satisfied. You can also create specialized trophies or medals for your event, or send players home with a special takeout dessert!
Hosting a video game night is a great way to fill a night that’s usually slow with lots of energy and excitement! Happy gaming!
