The Hangout Menu Design
It’s been an unusually cold and rainy few days here on the Gulf Coast, even for this time of year, and it’s gotten me thinking of warmer sunny days back on the beach. The Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area is full of restaurants and attractions - everything from mini-golf, to fine dining, diners to dolphin tours… there’s a little bit of everything!
One of our favorite places to visit when we make a trip out to the beach for the afternoon is arguably the most well-known hotspot on the Gulf Coast - The Hangout in Gulf Shores! Many people know The Hangout for their iconic annual music festival, Hangout Fest, which is easily the biggest on the Gulf Coast; but if you’ve never heard of or been to The Hangout, this isn’t your traditional beachfront destination. Is it beachfront? Yes! Are the views killer? Absolutely. Is the food amazing? You bet. We’re talking about fresh seafood, bountiful portions, and unique signature drinks taboot. But NONE of that is the best part about the Hangout!
The thing we love most about The Hangout is how. much. fun it is! Not just from an actual entertainment perspective, but from a branding and marketing perspective — this brand just gets it!
The massive footprint of the restaurant features a giant gift shop, walls adorned with rubber ducks, vintage action figures, lunchboxes and an active, crowd-sourced “Wish Wall” where you can write your very own wish on color-coordinated paper and stick it up as part of the display — so freaking cool!
We knew when the team at The Hangout asked us to redesign their menu for them that we had to take all of these elements to heart and tie them all in to the menu, while still making sure to maintain the practicality and usability of the menu. So many times restaurants get too cute with their menus; they complicate the layout or try to be too on-brand with their naming of dishes or menu categories and it can be a pain point for guests. Not here. The Hangout has a strong sense of who they are and they trusted us to showcase their brand in a tasteful, but unique and fun presentation.
One of my favorite parts about this menu is actually the cover. When doing our research for the project, we came across this internal staff letter written by the owner to the staff, which had become part of the employee training manual. We felt it perfectly summed up the heart of this brand and would serve as an amazing introduction to the experience for the guests as well.
Kayla took the letter and recreated it in this amazing, impactful and whimsical typography design that lets you know you’re in for a fun ride with folks who are passionate about what they do!
The inside of the menu highlights the various different activities the restaurant offers — everything from ping-pong to foam parties, fresh seafood to the aforementioned rubber ducks and giant Pez dispenser collection. This place is as much a nostalgia museum as it is an amazing eatery.
The Hangout is a beacon of fun on the Gulf Coast. Seriously, no matter how old you are, they take the term eater-tainment to a whole new level and we had just as much fun creating this beautiful tri-fold menu for the crew there! Now, who’s hungry?!
Below is a full look at the details and design!
