Best Practices: Master Menu Engineering - Help Center

Master Menu Engineering

Learn how the design of a menu can be used to maximize restaurant profits.



Maximize Menu Profits with These Tips

Designing a new menu? Not sure where to start? Let us help with some expert tips!

  1. Drop the Dollar Sign: Remove the dollar sign to make prices seem less daunting, encouraging customers to spend more.
  2. Highlight Popular Items: Use icons to call out customer favorites or chef specialties, making them stand out on a menu.
  3. Placement Matters: Put high-margin items at the beginning or end of sections to grab customers' attention and make other items seem more reasonable.
  4. Eye-Scanning Patterns: Customers read menus from left to right and top to bottom, so focus on corners for high-impact items.
  5. Scannable Menus: Ensure a menu is easy to read at a glance with clear headers, readable fonts, and limited colors.
  6. Visual Separators: Use boxes, frames, or colors to visually separate menu sections for easy navigation.
  7. Limit Choices: Avoid overwhelming customers by keeping section items to around 7 or fewer.
  8. Optimal Menu Size: Don't go too large; consider separate menus for desserts and drinks to save space.
  9. Color Psychology: Use colors strategically to influence customer decisions based on their subconscious associations.
  10. Font Fun: Fonts convey information about your dishes; choose them wisely to set the right impression.

Remember, a menu's design can significantly impact profits. Have fun experimenting with these tips!



Have a friendly expert give you a personal tour. Book a demo.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our Customer Success team by clicking here.

To visit our full Help Center, please click here.  

    • Related Articles

    • Create Menu Text

      Menu Groups are a special type of text field for menu content that makes it easy to organize and customize menu items. Each Menu Group can include a section Name with Notes, and contain multiple menu Items, with each field of text having its own ...
    • My Menu Groups

      Learn how to use My Menu Groups to quickly move menu text sections on a design. Menu Groups are a special type of text field for menu content that makes it easy to organize and customize menu items. Each Menu Group can include a section Name with ...
    • Common Menu Mistakes

      Read about common menu mistakes, and how to avoid them. Crafting the Perfect Menu: Avoiding Common Mistakes The menu is a powerful tool in a restaurant's success. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for both customers and staff while boosting ...
    • Alignment of Menu Group Names & Notes

      Learn how to align Menu Group Names and Notes. To change the layout of the Menu Group Name: Select a Menu Group on the design. In the left panel, select Style. Under Groups, Names select the box to the left of the color square. Select Left Aligned, ...
    • Font Styling within Menu Item Name and Descriptions

      Learn how to use Font Styling within Menu Item Names and Descriptions to accentuate specific words or phrases within your text by bolding, underlining, or italicizing them. Learn about Menu Groups here. Applying Font Styling within Menu Item ...