From Shore to Door: Chicago Restaurant Beach Delivery is Making Waves
- eileen strauss
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Key Takeaways
Chicago's lakefront offers a built-in summer customer base: thousands of beachgoers, boaters, and bikers seeking convenient, high-quality food.
Delivery apps now support flexible location pins for drop-offs at beach entrances and harbor docks.
Drive results by including clear pickup instructions, a beach-friendly menu, and targeted marketing.
Chicago is a thriving food metropolis, celebrated for its iconic deep-dish pizza, diverse neighborhoods, and world-class dining. But a local secret lies along its 26 miles of shoreline—restaurants delivering not only stunning lakefront views but also delicious food right to the beach.
The lakefront isn't just beautiful—it's profitable. With over 26 miles of shoreline and more than 20 million annual visitors, Chicago's beaches attract both locals and tourists. The challenge? Once people settle in, they rarely want to leave their spot for food. That's where you come in.
Thousands flock to North Avenue, Montrose, and Edgewater beaches on sunny days, and smart restaurant owners are seizing this hot-weather opportunity: direct-to-beach delivery. From upscale lakefront venues to fast-casual spots serving boaters and sunbathers, beach delivery is quickly becoming a powerful seasonal revenue stream.
"What sets Chicago apart is its diversity. You can find world-class restaurants in the Loop, authentic ethnic eateries in neighborhoods like Pilsen, and fresh, locally sourced ingredients from the Midwest all in one city." ~ Eren Yigit, Head of Demand Generation · Sauce
Chicago Restaurant Beach Delivery
Adding yet another layer to Chicago's identity, the lakefront inspires menus featuring fresh seafood and seasonal produce, elevating the dining experience.
New delivery technology allows for flexible GPS pinning, making it easier for customers to drop a pin at their cabana, the nearest beach entrance, a lifeguard stand, or marina slip. Combined with high demand for convenience and low desire to leave the water, Chicago restaurant beach delivery is a natural fit.
Here's how some of Chicago's savviest restaurant operators are making waterside delivery work—and how you can too.
🌊 Riding the Wave
Chicago's lakefront offers more than sun and surf—it's a summer dining destination. From boater-friendly pizza slices at harbors to beach cabanas sipping cocktails, several spots deliver directly to beachgoers. Whether you're relaxing at Montrose, North Avenue, Ohio Street, or Edgewater Beach, you can order everything from vegan Thai to deep-dish pizza without leaving your towel.
Here are a few our picks:
Located right on the beach, Shore Club offers a full-service kitchen, exclusive cabana seating, beachside cocktails, and serves directly to nearby loungers. Their seasonal model proves exclusivity, smart branding, and tailored menus can turn a few short months into big revenue.
This Mediterranean-inspired café capitalized on foot traffic at Ohio Street Beach with walk-up service and direct delivery to shoreline customers. Their light, summery menu is perfect for beachgoers craving flavor without fuss.
Bringing bold, plant-based flavors to Chicago's lakefront, this 100% vegan kitchen offers colorful curries, crispy spring rolls, and Thai noodle bowls that hold up well in transit—ideal for sand-side snacking.
A laid-back, open-air spot on the sand known for burgers, fish tacos, wraps, and frozen drinks. Seasonal delivery to beach spots and docks makes The Dock a favorite for those who don't want to miss a minute of sunshine.
Steps from the sand, this café offers sandwiches, tacos, salads, and iced coffee with online ordering designed for easy beach pickup.
Known for oversized slices loaded with creative toppings, Big G's delivers hot, fresh pizza to both beach blankets and boat slips, perfect for groups craving classic Chicago-style flavors by the water.
Famous for crispy fried chicken and artisan donuts, Do-Rite satisfies sweet and savory cravings dockside or on the beach with quick, convenient delivery.
A deli standout specializing in oversized Italian sandwiches, fresh salads, and picnic-ready sides. Fast delivery keeps Montrose Beach and harbor guests fueled for lake days.
Serving customizable burritos, bowls, and sides packed with bold flavors and fresh ingredients, Burrito Beach delivers handheld meals perfect for lakeside lounging.
A classic Chicago chain offering toasted sandwiches, soups, and shakes delivered to popular harbors like Belmont and Burnham, perfect for boaters and beach visitors seeking familiar comfort food.
How to Make It Work for Your Restaurant
Chicago's beaches offer a sun-soaked sales channel—if you know how to navigate it. Here's how to get your operation beach-ready, from map pins to menu picks.
📍 Expand Your Delivery Zone
Take advantage of GPS pinning by updating your delivery map to include:
North Avenue Beach (near Shore Club or Castaways)
Montrose Beach and harbor docks
Edgewater Beach entrance
Ohio Street Beach near Navy Pier
This small move opens the door to thousands of new summer customers.
📦 Rethink Your Packaging
Beach delivery means battling sand, sun, wind, and heat. Your packaging needs to rise to the occasion:
Use sealed containers to protect freshness (and keep the sand out).
Offer compostable utensils and napkins for convenience and sustainability.
Bundle meals in sturdy, grab-and-go bags—especially for group orders.
🧺 Curate a Beach-Ready Menu
Some foods thrive under a beach umbrella—others, not so much. Focus on items that hold up in heat and are easy to eat by hand:
Wraps, sandwiches, and grain bowls
Fruit cups, salads, and snack boxes
Frozen treats like popsicles or frosé pouches
Keep it light, fresh, and Instagrammable.
🚩 Simplify Pickup & Drop-Off
The easier you make it, the faster you serve—and the more likely customers are to re-order.
Post clear instructions on your website like "Select 'North Avenue Beach and meet your driver at the bike rack."
Use signage, branded flags, or custom handoff points to make transactions seamless
🚤 Rememeber Docksiders
Chicago's docks are full of boaters looking for easy dining options. Market your service as "Dockside Delivery" and target marinas like:
Belmont Harbor
Burnham Harbor
Jackson Park Inner/Outer Harbors
💡 Bonus Tip: A QR code at the dock or signage at marina entrances can go a long way.
⛱️ Foods that Work Best for Beach Delivery?
When it comes to lakeside logistics, not every dish makes the cut. Between the heat, wind, and sand, successful beach delivery relies on meals that are resilient, portable, and easy to eat.
🏖️ Beach-Friendly All-Stars
When designing your beach menu, think durable, chill-friendly, and mess-proof.
Handheld, heat-resistant, and low-mess wraps and sandwiches are made for on-the-go dining.
With hearty bases like quinoa or greens, Grain Bowls and Salads hold up in transit and can be eaten straight from the container.
Frosé pouches, popsicles, or pre-packed ice cream cups deliver instant refreshment.
Pre-cut fruit, cheese cubes, chips, and dip are perfect for light grazing on a beach towel.
Shareable Meals like pizza, burritos, and boxed meals for groups work well when bundled in sealed, easy-carry packaging.
🩴 Beachside Flops
Items that melt fast, such as gourmet burgers with lots of sauces, sundaes, and chocolate-based desserts
Anything that needs assembly or plating
Dishes with delicate garnishes or foams that won't survive the trip
*Bonus Tip: Create menu options that eaten with one hand while holding a beach read in the other. (promote these options with catchy phrases like Handheld Faves, One-Handed Offerings, Sand-Free Choices)
⛱️ Promoting Chicago Restaurant Beach Delivery
Reach customers with geo-targeted ads on social media, focusing on users tagging their posts with popular beach locations.
Collaborate with local beach activities like yoga or paddleboard classes for cross-promotion.
Offer promo codes exclusive to beach pickup points or harbor slips to encourage orders.
Post your Beach Day Bundle menu in Instagram Stories with swipe-up links, run localized ads targeting North Avenue, Montrose, and Edgewater with clear CTAs, and use codes like SANDY10 or BOATBITES linked directly to your delivery menu.
Clickable menu links help customers visualize dishes, pricing, and packaging—boosting confidence and conversions.
Price beach-friendly items between $8–$20 to encourage impulse buys
Secret Sauce: Why We're Betting on the Windy City
Chicago has long been a culinary powerhouse, blending rich traditions with bold innovation. Beyond its vibrant restaurant scene, the city's delivery ecosystem is booming—making it an ideal market.
What makes Chicago truly unique is its iconic lakefront—over 26 miles of public beaches and harbors. This natural playground isn't just a summer hotspot; it's a new frontier for food delivery. From luxury cabanas at North Avenue Beach to boat slips at Montrose Harbor, Chicago's food scene reaches diners in some of the most scenic and dynamic settings imaginable.
"At Sauce, we're not just powering delivery—we're rethinking what's possible. Beach delivery was once considered impractical, but with the right tech, marketing, and guidance, shorefront orders can be a legitimate revenue stream." ~ Eren Yigit, Head of Demand Generation, Sauce
Takeaway
Chicago's lakefront isn't just a scenic backdrop—it's a booming summer dining market waiting to be tapped. If your restaurant hasn't yet jumped on this lucrative trend, now's the time. Ready to ride the wave? Partner with Sauce and turn sunny days into serious sales.
By Eileen Strauss
