Investing in a pizza deck oven makes sense for many restaurants and foodservice operations. Pizza is popular and profitable. But what about those operations looking to expand their menu? Is it possible to create a diversified menu using traditional pizza ovens? The answer is a resounding yes.
Whether you’re looking to leverage your existing cook line in new ways, introduce and promote an occasional limited-time offer (LTO), or simply add some menu depth to your pizzeria brand, here are a few exciting menu concepts to consider.
Chicken Wings in a Pizza Deck Oven
For many pizzerias, wings are the second-highest-selling item after pizza—and they can become a major profit center without adding a fryer, hood modifications, or additional labor. Not to mention, a deck oven gives wings a roasted, slightly charred finish that’s difficult to replicate in a fryer.
The best part is, as major chains have explored and validated in their marketing research, this menu item already appeals to pizza customers and generates a lucrative profit-margin opportunity.
Roasted Vegetables in a Pizza Deck Oven
A side of roasted vegetables can be an excellent accompaniment to pizza. They offer a healthy, flavorful option that can be enjoyed alone, paired with pasta, or used to elevate a mixed salad. No matter how they’re served, roasted vegetables are a great way to attract health-minded clientele and upsell with a premium-priced menu item.
Because deck pizza ovens can reach extremely high temperatures, you can creatively roast items like red peppers or artichokes, almost charring them to enhance flavors. With a deck oven, vegetables can achieve the highly coveted roasted texture and flavor profiles that drive consumer purchase decisions.
Pork Chops in Brick Pizza Ovens
With brick ovens, there’s something captivating about the allure of flames in a kitchen. They can draw in diners when visible in front-of-the-house, theater cooking situations, and they impart amazing flavor profiles that are unrivaled in pizza ovens. For these reasons, brick pizza ovens are a great candidate for creating menu diversification.
Brick pizza ovens are known for infusing smoky flavors, particularly when they are wood-burning. This makes for a logical oven selection for pork chops, which restaurants can position as a premium menu item. As diners increasingly seek unique and memorable culinary experiences, the profitability of cooking pork chops in a brick pizza oven lies not only in the delicious product but also in the ability to create a lucrative niche in the competitive restaurant industry.