5 ways operators plan to cash in on St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day retail spending is estimated to this year be the highest ever tracked by the National Retail Federation—with nearly 28% of consumers planning to celebrate the holiday via a bar or restaurant party, according to the NRF. Here are five ways restaurants aim to take advantage of the holiday to bring home their own pot of gold.  

Customers have three ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at McAlister’s Deli. Along with giving free green tea to customers who wear green on March 17,the chain launched a limited-time Reuben spud that comes topped with corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing and Swiss cheese. Diners can also enter to win one of 50 pot(ato)es of gold, which have McAlister’s gift cards stuffed inside.  

From March 11 to 20, select Applebee’s locations will be offering hand-battered fish and chips as well as a series of themed drinks including an Irish Peach Sour and a non-alcoholic Little Leprechaun drink made with pina colada mix, pineapple juice and kiwi. 

Both locations of The Hash Kitchen in Scottsdale, Ariz., will be offering a variety of St. Patrick’s Day-themed breakfast items, including Lucky Charms French toast, green eggs and ham benedict and green Irish soda donuts served with a carmel whiskey dipping sauce and dusted with edible gold topping. 

Backbeat, a whiskey bar and restaurant in Austin, Texas, is celebrating the day with a variety of drink specials, offering frozen Irish coffees all day as well as 20% off of Irish whiskeys ordered neat. The bar is also hosting a happy hour whiskey tasting.

Along with live music, green beer, contests and drink specials, customers who visit select Bennigan’s locations on March 17 will have the chance to enter and win a golden ticket. The ticket grants them 24 free Monte Cristo sandwiches—a signature on the Benngian’s menu—each month for a year.