Rising Tides Live: Pricing Strategy & Menu Engineering

Scott Kleckner led this Rising Tides Live conversation on pricing strategy and menu engineering. With restaurant traffic falling and customers feeling the cost of dining out, he challenged operators to look beyond the usual annual price increase. Shawn Walchef and Iano Dovi shared how meal bundles can make ordering easier and give guests more value, while the group discussed menu costs, popular dishes and the experience customers expect for the price. The takeaway: Before raising prices, know which items sell, what they cost to serve and why guests keep coming back. Don’t raise prices on autopilot. Scott urged operators to check traffic, costs and customer behavior before adding the usual 5% or 10% to a menu. Build bundles around value and margin. Shawn and Iano shared meal packages that make ordering easier for guests. Scott stressed that a successful bundle doesn’t require giving away profitable items. Know what each menu item contributes. Look at its cost, margin and popularity, then give your strongest items the right placement on the menu. Episode Links Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/ Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/ Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/ Scott Kleckner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkleckner/