Country club food service should be high-quality, diverse, and delicious. With this in mind, ensure that each country club menu is up to par with industry standards. 

As food orders enter the club and golf course POS system, you'll ultimately gain insight about various food groups. However, you need to begin with a solid foundation of options. 

It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned country club manager or still learning how to open a country club, a thorough country club menu is essential. Luckily, we've got you covered! Read on to identify various items to add to your menus. 

Country Club Brunch Menu

Country clubs are notorious for hosting brunch. As a cross between breakfast and lunch, kitchen staff can feel a sense of overwhelm in preparing for this meal. 

Since brunch is a fan favorite, we do recommend you keep this option alive. However, just add a little bit of both categories to your country club menu. Check out key differences below:

Breakfast Items

There are many breakfast items to choose from for brunch. From savory meats to fluffy pancakes, offer guests a delicious mix. 

It's also important to note that sweet and savory breakfast items pair well together. Just think about bacon and French toast. Consider the list below for breakfast-centric brunch ideas:

• Pancakes
• French Toast
• Waffles 
• Fruit Parfaits
• Eggs
• Bacon 
• Sausage
• Hash Browns 

Combination platters are also a good idea during breakfast. Guests can sample a variety. Plus, this is a smart move for using up less common inventory goods. 

Lunch Items 

Lunch items can be a bit difficult to come up with during brunch. You don't want to make them so light that people are leaving hungry, but you also don't want to serve anything too rich early in the day. 

One thing is for certain, and that's that lunch-centric brunch menus can be much more creative than breakfast. Some of the following menu items are ideal for brunch-goers who show up past noon:

• Avocado Toast 
• Blintz 
• Salads 
• Panini  
• Wraps  

If you can offer smaller portions of some of your dinner menus, this is ideal. It will help keep a more limited menu and lessen the amount of ingredients you need to purchase. 

Country Club Cafe Menu

Opening a coffee shop or cafe at a country club should help you maximize revenue. Allow country club members to fuel-up, whether they're golfing, lounging by the pool, or socializing with friends. It's also a place to grab a quick bite to eat on the go. 

A country club cafe menu should range from robust coffee drinks to delicate pastries. Here is a handful of categories to list on your country club cafe menu:

Coffee Selection

As the most beloved caffeinated beverage, ensure that fresh coffee is available at all times. Use the best coffee roasters and purchase wholesale coffee beans to create potent drinks at a fair price. 

Everyone likes their coffee a bit different. To accommodate everyone, add the following drinks to your country club cafe menu:

• Freshly brewed coffee
• Espresso shots 
• Macchiatos 
• Cappuccinos
• Lattes

Ensure that you have the proper glassware and reusable cups to serve any coffee drink hot or iced. You can also research coffee industry trends for inspiration. Many baristas get creative with flavors and garnishings. Then, you can implement coffee shop marketing tactics to allure more members. 

Tea Selection

For those that aren't a fan of coffee, tea may be more suitable. With slightly less caffeine and much more mellow flavors, tea is a fan favorite amongst many cultures. Plus, many people love it for its amazing health benefits. 

Similar to coffee, cafes can serve tea in a number of styles. To ensure you can offer the widest variety, stock up on at least the following tea types:

• Chai 
• Green 
• Matcha 
• Hibiscus 
• Earl Grey
• English Breakfast 

Ensure that each barista knows exactly how long to steep each type of tea. Leaving tea leaves in hot water for too long can alter the flavor and make it bitter. Also opt for loose leaves instead of tea bags. The actual leaves are more flavorful and provide better health benefits. So, serve your members the best if you can! 

Smoothie Selection

Sometimes, people ditch the caffeine and opt for vitamins and antioxidants. Smoothies are a great way to incorporate fruits and veggies into a diet. Many cafe menus don't offer smoothies, either. 

Implement product differentiation by offering a delicious selection of frozen smoothies. Some of the most popular flavor combos include:

• Strawberry and Banana 
• Mixed Berries
• Mango and Pineapple
• Pineapple and Coconut
• Mango and Dragonfruit

Vegetables often serve as the foundation for smoothies. For example, frozen spinach helps bump up the nutrient profile of smoothies. You can also offer guests a scoop of protein power for an additional price. This will create the perfect drink for high-intensity activity. Plus, it will pair well with golf course food.

Pastries 

Pastries are delicious treats that pair well with cafe beverages. They're best served between the morning and early afternoon. Not only do they pair well with caffeinated beverages drunk early in the day, but they'll stay fresh during this time, too. 

It's not uncommon for cafe's to serve a large selection of pastries in unique flavors. Some of the most popular pastries to find on the country club menu include:

• Croissants
• Macarons 
• Fruit Tarts  
• Scones
• Danishes 
• Muffins 

The club manager should discuss options with the pastry chef. Then, they can offer the most diverse array of cafe favorites. 

Country Club Happy Hour Menu

Happy hour is a time when people can get together to socialize. There are usually drinks at a discounted price and a variety of finger foods. Read on to learn a bit about each category:

Specialty Cocktails 

Some of the most popular cocktails and specialty drinks are on happy hour menus. Sure, anyone can always ask for a standard drink. However, happy hour is usually a time to promote drink specials. 

From frozen drinks to twists on classics, bartenders can get very creative for happy hour. Here's a list of some popular options:

• Espresso Martini 
• Frozen White Russian 
• Watermelon Daiquiri 
• Strawberry Margarita
• Flavored Moscow Mule
• Mocktails 

Read through some of the best cocktail recipe books for inspiration. Then, create a one-of-a-kind menu. 

Hors d'Oeuvres

Something that pairs perfectly with cocktails are bite-sized snacks. Hors d'oeuvres are simple, delicious, and easy to prepare. Plus, they're often crowd-pleasers. 

Want to create the perfect balance of food and drinks during happy hour? Consider preparing these foods for the occasion:

• Pigs In a Blanket 
• Deviled Eggs 
• Bruschetta 
• Quiche 
• Caviar 

Did you know that liquor has the highest markup of all the types of inventory? This means that during happy hour, you can feel free to keep food prices at a minimum, too. 

Country Club Appetizer Menu

The appetizer list is full of variety. There are many items you can feature, aside from soup and salad, too. They complement the main course, as guests await the entree food. 

A full course meal always begins with an appetizer. So, let's dive into the three primary appetizer categories:

Soups 

In the colder weather, many people find comfort in a warm bowl of soup. Plus, it's not too heavy before a meal. Soups are a staple on almost every country club menu, too. 

The best part about soup is that there are so many flavor variations. Here's a handful that you may want to include on your country club menu:

• Minestone 
• Gazpacho 
• French Onion 
• Italian Wedding
• Lobster Bisque
• Hungarian Mushroom

If you want to increase soup sales, suggest pairings on the menu. Some soups may pair better with certain entrees than others. So, provide guests with this information.

Salads 

Salads can be bright and flavorful or consist of minimal ingredients. They're light, refreshing, and pair with almost every main course. Ensure that you source ingredients from wholesale produce suppliers for the fairest rates. 

No matter what a salad entails, fresh produce is necessary. Here's a selection of salads you can toss together for deliciously healthy appetizer options:

• Cobb
• Caprese
• Strawberry and Feta
• Chicken Cesar 
• Antipasto 

Don't forget to monitor fresh produce trends for new ideas. You never know what ingredient combos will gain traction. 

Small Plates 

Small plates and other types of appetizers are essential to a country club menu. They're just enough to satisfy someone's appetite without making them feel too full. 

Appetizers are typically savory, involving some kind of meat or seafood. However, there are some that plant-based people can order. Some of the most favorable appetizers include:

• Calamari 
• Escargot
• Spinach Dip
• Shrimp Cocktail
• Stuffed Mushrooms
• Fruit and Cheese Platter
• Nachos (see: best Mexican appetizers)

Want to give guests a variety? Offer appetizer samplers, so they can try a little bit of everything. 

Country Club Dinner Menu

The dinner menu is where one can locate the main courses. These dishes are bigger than an appetizer and contain some level of balance. They're usually the most filling, too. However, chefs should limit food quantities, to increase the chance of dessert orders. 

On a country club menu, dinners will most likely consist of meats, seafood, and pasta. See below for stellar examples in each category:

From the Farm

Meat and poultry are popular on dinner menus across the board. They provide chefs with much room for unique seasonings, savory sauces, and various side dishes. 

It can be hard to choose which meat products to include on your country club menu. However, we think that the following is a safe starting point: 

• Beef Wellington 
• Filet Mignon
• Chicken Marsala 
• Prime Rib 
• Rack of Lamb
• Chicken Parmesan 

Once you check out the data from your country club management software, you'll likely notice that these items are best-sellers. Not only are these options popular, but they're not too difficult to prepare. Within this in mind, work with bulk meat suppliers to stock efficient inventory. 

From the Sea 

Oceanic favorites are common across country club restaurants. Whether you’re inland or along the coast, seafood dishes are a must. Plus, they pair quite nicely with many sides. 

Purchase goods from restaurant seafood suppliers to get the best deal. Once you have the proper inventory, create some of the following dishes for your country club menu:

• Paella 
• Crab Cakes 
• Blackened Catfish
• Lobster Tails 
• Chilean Sea Bass 
• Seared Scallops

Selling fish dishes is popular, especially at higher end eateries. Serve items from the shore to create a wide variety of seafood entrees. 

Pasta Dishes 

Pasta is loved by many consumers and restaurants alike. Consumers enjoy it for its diverse selection of sauces and toppings. On the other hand, restaurants love it since it's inexpensive to make. 

Pasta comes in so many shapes and sizes. Here's a list of the basics to start your pasta menu:

• Lasagna 
• Linguine In Clam Sauce 
• Spaghetti and Meatballs 
• Pasta Primavera 
• Penne alla Vodka 

Customers can easily upgrade their pasta dish to contain a protein source if it doesn't already include one. Another great part about serving pasta is that they're often meat-free. If guests consume a more plant-based diet, the chef may be able to tweak some of these dishes to meet their needs.

Country Club Dessert Menu

Restaurants always save the best for last. It's no surprise that the sweetest menu is the most popular. Even in country club marketing plans, imagery of the dessert menu will likely perform well via social media.  

Delicate, decadent, and creamy sweets are a favorite amongst many. It can be difficult to narrow down your options, but we recommend you start with the following:

• Flan
• Cheesecake 
• Tiramisu 
• Bubble Cakes
• Crème Brûlée
• Chocolate Mousse 

It can be hard to determine which desserts are best-sellers, as it's so many people's favorite course. Use features of country club POS systems to gather reports about such data. Then, adapt the menu accordingly. 

Country Club Drink Menu

You simply cannot find a menu that doesn't include a beverage section. Not only do drinks pair with food, but they're often necessary to quench one's thirst in between bites. 

A country club should offer various drinks, from water to liquor. See below for soft drink and alcoholic beverage options:

Soft Drinks 

Everyone needs a beverage to wash down their meal. However, there are many consumers who opt against alcohol. So, include a variety of soft drinks to meet everyone's preferences. 

Need some non-alcoholic ideas that pair with food? Incorporate the following soft drinks into your country club menu: 

• Soda 
• Iced Tea
• Lemonade 
• Sparkling Water 

Soft drinks are popular and profitable. Feel free to get creative with flavors and brands. 

Alcoholic Beverages

Various types of alcohol pair well with food or are great on their own. Every country club should have a liquor license and serve various alcoholic beverage options. 

From glasses of wine to whiskey on the rocks, there are so many options that guests may enjoy. Some of the most popular drink options include:

• Margaritas (see: best tequila for margaritas)
• Martinis (see: best gin for martini)
• Daiquiris (see: best rum for daiquiri)
• Cosmopolitans (see: best vodka for cosmopolitan)
• Champagne
• Local and Imported Beer Brands

Ensure that every bartender knows how to calculate ABV. Knowing the ABV is vital for everyone's safety, so make this a top priority while training new bar staff members.

Country Club Kid’s Menu

You can't forget about the little ones! Create a kid's menu, so the whole family can dine together. Though it's one of the simpler menus, it's always a good idea to have several options. 

Kid-Friendly Meals 

Toddlers and children have a reputation for being picky eaters. So, you want to keep their menu as simple as possible. Several go-to items on a kid's menu include:

• Chicken Tenders
• Cheese Ravioli 
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Personal Pizzas 
• Hamburgers and Fries 

Restaurants can also make the kid’s menu more enticing. Features like bright color schemes and plating designs are common options. 

Kid-Friendly Desserts

Even when it comes to sweet treats, kids are pretty simple. Include a couple of the following for the little ones at your country club:

• Cookies
• Pudding 
• Ice Cream
• Brownie Bites  

One of the perks about having a kid's menu is that portions are a bit smaller. This is ideal if you're trying to emphasize the importance of sustainability by lessening food spoilage. 

Frequently Asked Questions About a Country Club Menu 

Trying out new recipes and building a successful country club menu takes a lot of trial and error. But now that you have a wide variety of options, it's time to perfect the club’s culinary space. 

The  club and golf course management staff can curate menus that will allure guests. In the meantime, read below for more details in regard to country club dining:

Can Non-Members Eat at a Country Club?

It all depends on the country club management team. Some country clubs allow non-members to dine at their restaurants, while others do not. It's always a safe move to check beforehand.

Is the Food On a Country Club Menu Expensive?

Yes, the food on a country club menu is pricier than a casual dining establishment. This is due to the upscale country club culture and the higher quality ingredients in each dish.

What Types of Food Are Typically Served On a Country Club Menu?

Country club menus feature a variety of upscale cuisine. Dishes may include high-quality meats, seafood, salads, soups, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. Country clubs also offer a selection of appetizers, desserts, and drinks.

Are Country Club Menus the Same at All Clubs?

No, country club menus can vary from one to the next. The specific dishes and styles of cuisine offered will depend on the club's location, chef, and member data.

Can Country Club Menus Accommodate Dietary Restrictions and Food Allergies?

Yes, many country clubs are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions or food allergies. It's important to inform the restaurant upon making a reservation. This way, they have time to prepare if needed.

Key Takeaways

Hopefully, this blog will serve as inspiration for your country club menu. Now that you have a wide variety of food and drinks to choose from, get creative in the kitchen! Once you finalize your menu, order sufficient ingredients to bring each recipe to life.