Your restaurant menu is not just a list of dishes you offer customers. It is a powerful sales tool many restaurant owners don’t take full advantage of, which directly influences the revenue they make.
Whether you’ve got a printed menu or an online version on your restaurant website, what’s on it is what matters. The perfect menu is one that impacts your customers’ behavior and willingness to order food in your restaurant.
What are examples of menu types?
We can distinguish many different types of menus, for example:
- Static Menu: A fixed menu that stays mostly the same. It is mainly used in fast-food restaurants and ones with multiple locations.
- Seasonal menu: this menu type changes regularly, for example, each season.
- A la carte Menu: Each menu item is offered individually, and customers can create customized meals. This menu type is popular in fine-dining restaurants.
- Daily/Weekly menu: This menu type changes frequently and usually goes hand-in-hand with a restaurant style that offers more dynamic dining, like food trucks or a coffee shop.
- Prix-fixe menu: An existing menu that provides a predetermined number of courses at a fixed price, limiting customers to choose from a few options for each course.
- Diet-based menu: A menu type that is dedicated to a group of customers who need to follow some dietary restrictions, for example, gluten-free, lactose-free, etc.
How can I design a restaurant menu?
Looking to make your menu stand out? Here are a few basic rules to help you create a menu that reflects your brand identity and gets you seen by potential customers:
Utilize design to emphasize key dishes
It’s great to highlight the dishes you want to sell through your restaurant menu design. One of the strategies is to follow the golden triangle rule and place your most profitable menu items in this area. For more details, you can check our guide on menu engineering.
Don’t put too many menu items on your menu
When adding photos to the paper menu, opinions are divided. It would help to analyze the pros and cons before using menu item photos in your restaurant paper menu. In the case of the online menu, remember that picture quality is of the highest priority. Check our step-by-step guide on how to make a restaurant menu for more details.
Create a menu that aligns with your restaurant’s branding
Use the same colors and include your restaurant logo in your menu to match your restaurant website in order to maintain good restaurant branding consistency.
Remember the color theory
The colors of your restaurant’s theme affect your customers’ perceptions of your restaurant. Make sure that the colors you use match your branding. A perfect example of this using warm colors (deep greens, browns, and oranges) for a homey and welcoming cafe.
Don’t forget about photos
When it comes to adding photos to the paper menu, opinions are divided, and you need to analyze the pros and cons before deciding on using photos of your menu items in your restaurant food menu. For an online menu, remember that the quality of your images is the highest priority. Check our food photography tips to make sure you add outstanding pictures of your dishes to your restaurant menu.
Use menu modifiers and cross-selling tools
While creating your online restaurant menu, use menu item modifiers and cross-selling to increase the sales of your restaurant dishes. For example, if a customer orders a pizza, you can suggest they add a beverage to that.
Keep your menu readable
Remember that your restaurant menu needs to be easy to understand. Don’t use bizarre fonts, icons, and an excessive amount of colors. Simplicity is what makes a good first impression on your clients.
Hire a professional or use available tools to design your menu:
- UpMenu
- Adobe Express
- Canva
Use templates for menus to sell food online
To sell food online, you can use ready menu templates to design your restaurant menu. Then, use a menu management system to add your restaurant menu and start selling food online to boost sales.
Examples of 50 restaurant menu design ideas
Here are some examples of restaurant menu templates, which include both paper and online restaurant menu examples.
1. Bistro restaurant menu
Features:
- Bright and transparent menu design template
- Attractive pictures of dishes
- Menu item labels
- Easy to navigate menu
2. Green table restaurant menu
Features:
- Bright and transparent design
- Attractive pictures of dishes
- Easy to navigate menu
- Clear division of menu categories
3. Pastel restaurant menu
Features:
- Pastel colors used in the restaurant menu template
- Easy to navigate page menu
- Enticing pictures of dishes
- Clear division of menu categories
4. Bobby Burger restaurant menu
Features:
- Attractive pictures of dishes
- Information about the ingredients used to prepare menu items
- Information about promotions
- Bright and transparent design
5. Sushi Kushi restaurant menu
Features:
- Contrasting colors in a restaurant template
- Pictures of dishes seem to pop up
- Easy to navigate menu
6. Meet & Fit restaurant menu
Features:
- Clear division of menu categories
- Contrasting colors in a restaurant template
- Easy to navigate menu
- Pictures of dishes seem to pop up
7. Kura Warzyw restaurant menu
Features:
- Attractive and appetizing pictures of dishes
- Easy to navigate menu
- A complete and clear division of menu categories
8. One Happy Bowl restaurant menu
Features:
- Pastel colors used in the restaurant menu template
- Easy to navigate menu
- Additional add ons (custom dishes)
- Attractive pictures of dishes and their fresh ingredients
- Clear division of menu categories
- Information about discounts
9. Pasibus restaurant menu
Features:
- Clear division of menu categories
- A focus on contrasting colors in the restaurant template
- Easy to navigate menu
10. 7 Street restaurant menu
Features:
- Contrasting colors design
- Attractive pictures of dishes
- Easy to navigate menu
- Information about bestsellers and promotions
- Clear division of menu categories
Online Ordering System
Start selling food online
Set up commission-free ordering for your restaurant's website in minutes. Boost revenue while saving on third-party fees
Learn more
11. Paper modern black & white REYLA restaurant menu
Features:
- Transparent colors
- A lot of white space
- No currency symbols
12. Paper Michael’s Pizzeria fine dining restaurant menu
Features:
- Transparent colors
- No currency symbols
- The clear division into menu categories
13. Paper colorful pizza menu
Features:
- A short menu with no more than 4 menu items in each category
- Restaurant specials are highlighted
14. Paper original seafood menu
Features:
- Calm colors
- Local special is highlighted
15. Paper menu with illustrations
Features:
- A limited number of menu items in each menu category
- Menu enriched with illustrations that draw the customer’s attention
16. Paper seafood menu with illustrations
Features:
- A limited number of menu items in each menu category
- Menu enriched with illustrations that draw customer’s attention
17. Paper Rosie’s coffee menu
Features:
- Short, simple menu
- No currency symbols
- Using boxes to divide the menu into categories
18. Paper organic flat rustic restaurant menu
Features:
- The clear division into menu categories
- Short, simple menu
19. The secret bar restaurant menu
Features:
- Original, colorful menu with drawings
- Short, simple menu
20. Cataluna restaurant menu
Features:
- A limited number of menu items in each menu category
- Simple and transparent design
- The clear division into menu categories
21. Muhabbet bar menu
Features:
- Colorful and optimistic menu with illustrations
- The clear division into menu categories
22. SCCC Grille restaurant menu
Features:
- The black and white classic design
- The clear division into menu categoriesa
- THe menu divided into columns
23. Doña Pita restaurant menu
Features:
- Optimistic, colorful menu
- Clear division of menu items in boxes
- Menu specials are highlighted
24. Perdida restaurant menu
Features:
- Colorful and optimistic menu with illustrations
- The clear division into menu categories
25. Locanda Vittoriae restaurant menu
Features:
- Nice color palette
- Beautiful typography
- Interesting arrangement of menu sheets
- The clear division into menu categories
26. Leadbelly’s restaurant menu
Features:
- Color consistency
- Beautiful menu cover
- Menu divided into categories
27. Stone Lodge restaurant menu
Features:
- No currency symbols
- Clear menu division into menu categories
- Menu specials are highlighted
- Clear menu with illustrations
28. Muchacho 2.0 Menus
Features:
- Colorful and optimistic design
- Clear menu division into menu categories
29. co*cktail restaurant menu
Features:
- Simple design
- Menu divided into categories
- No more than 7 menu items in each menu category
30. Fast Food restaurant menu template
Features:
- Color consistency
- Menu divided into categories
- Menu recommendations
Table Ordering
QR Code Ordering & Payments
Allow customers to order and pay directly from their table to enhance customer service and boost the average order value
Learn more
31. Salad restaurant menu
Features:
- No currency symbols
- Information about ingredients
- Simple and clear design
32. Café B menu
Features:
- Light colors
- Brand and color consistency
- SImple menu with illustrations
- No more than 7 menu items in each menu category
33. AMAVİ SEAFOOD & co*ckTAILS menu
Features:
- Untypical shape of co*cktails menu
- No currency symbols
- Brand consistency
- Simple, elegant design
34. Till & Sprocket restaurant menu
Features:
- Simple design with illustrations
- No currency symbols
- Brand consistency
35. Mama Fried Menu
Features:
- Menu divided into boxes
- Menu enriched with illustrations
36. Bagel Sandwich restaurant menu
Features:
- Appetizing menu
- Pictures of the dishes seem to pop up
- Menu clearly divided into categories
37. The loft restaurant menu
Features:
- No currency symbols
- Brand consistency
- Calm and elegant menu design
38. Square Ruth breakfast menu
Features:
- Colorful menu
- Menu divided into menu categories
39. Alchemy restaurant menu
Features:
- A lot of white space
- Lack of currency symbols
- Beautiful colorful drawings
40. Noble Experiment menu
Features:
- Elegant menu with gold elements and embossed letters
- Elegant menu cover
41. Batince restaurant menu
Features:
- Colorful menu design
- No currency symbols
42. Pacific Catch restaurant menu
Features:
- Menu specials are highlighted
- Clear division into menu categories
- No currency symbols
43. Flavio’s Burger Menu
Features:
- Short and simple menu
- Illustrations refer to the menu
44. B.C. Catering Menu
Features:
- Simple and readable design
- Boxes show menu categories
45. Hula de Hawaii restaurant menu
Features:
- The logo refers to the graphics on the postcard
- Optimistic and simple menu
- Dessert menu printed on a postcard
46. Vera restaurant menu
Features:
- Wooden menu printed manually in a restaurant
- Simple menu design which refers to the restaurant brand
47. The Brass Onion restaurant menu
Features:
- No currency symbols
- Colorful and simple design
48. Super Loco restaurant menu
Features:
- Colorful and optimistic menu design with illustrations
- Menu divided into categories
- No currency symbol
49. Belgo restaurant menu
Features:
- The menu looks like a newspaper page
- No currency symbols
- Beautiful illustrations
50. The Sandwich Gallery restaurant menu
Features:
- Great idea to show a restaurant menu in the form of a journey to different countries
- No currency symbol
- Menu item labels
Key Takeaways
- Restaurant menus are a sales tool. It motivates a customer to order food both online and in the restaurant.
- There are at least 9 factors worth considering while designing a restaurant menu.
- Eye-catching, colorful, or black-and-white menu design is crucial.
- Remember about color psychology and learn about menu engineering to boost your restaurant’s sales
- Make sure that your menu is readable and easy to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What do you write in a restaurant menu?
A restaurant’s menu typically includes a list of the dishes and beverages it serves patrons. The restaurant’s menu is an important marketing tool that lets consumers know what is available and tempts them to try the food and drinks.
The following are some typical items you might discover on a restaurant menu:
- Names of dishes: The names of the dishes should be understandable, concise, and sufficiently descriptive to inform the client of the contents. An illustration would be “Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce” or “Vegetarian Lasagna.”
- Descriptions: Brief descriptions of each meal can give customers more information about its ingredients, preparation method, and flavor character. Descriptions can help customers decide if they want to order the dish or not.
- Prices: The price should be prominently indicated next to each dish’s name or description. Currency symbols like $ or € are also frequently used to denote the used currency.
- Categories: Dishes can be divided into categories based on their genres, such as appetizers, entrées, and desserts, or the cuisine they come from, such as Italian, Chinese, or Mexican.
- Drinks: If a restaurant serves drinks, the menu typically includes a distinct section for them. A list of wines, beers, co*cktails, and non-alcoholic drinks may be included in this section.
- Specials: Some restaurants have a section dedicated to daily or weekly specials, which are meals or beverages that are only served for a short period.
- Dietary Restrictions: Those with dietary restrictions should check if the establishment provides gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan options.
What are the 5 types of menu design?
Restaurants can present their menu items in a number of aesthetically appealing and effective ways by using several types of menu designs. Here are five typical menu design styles:
- Static Menu: The most conventional style of menu design is the static menu, which presents every item on the menu along with a brief description and a price on one or more pages. This style of menu design is ideal for restaurants with a fixed menu that stays the same regularly.
- A la carte menu design: Rather than buying a pre-made meal or combo, diners can select individual dishes from an a la carte menu design. This menu layout style is typical of fine-dining establishments and frequently includes more expensive items.
- A table d’hôte menu:This is the polar opposite of an a la carte menu in layout. It provides a set meal—typically one with several courses—at a predetermined cost. High-end restaurants frequently utilize this menu layout style to entice patrons to try novel items or combos.
- A du jour menu design:Commonly referred to as the “menu of the day,” includes a predetermined menu that is updated daily or weekly. Restaurants that employ seasonal or locally produced ingredients should adopt this style of menu design.
- Digital Menu Design: A more contemporary method that uses technology to present menu options dynamically and interestingly is called a “digital menu design.” This type of menu design can be displayed on a tablet or a digital screen and easily updated to reflect changes in menu offerings or prices.
What is the list of dishes in a restaurant?
The menu may change depending on the cuisine, setting, and style of the restaurant. However, on most restaurant menus, some common categories of dishes can be found. Here are a few instances:
- Appetizers: Small plates or snacks that are typically served before the main dish are referred to as appetizers. Examples include chicken wings, crab cakes, bruschetta, soups, and salads.
- Main dishes: These are typically larger than appetizers and are known as entrees. Some examples are steak, fish, pasta, chicken, pork, and vegetarian alternatives.
- Sides: Side dishes are frequently served with the main course and might contain mashed potatoes, french fries, veggies, or rice.
- Desserts: Sweet foods called desserts are usually served following the main course. The following are some examples: cakes, pies, ice cream, and other sweet dishes.
- Beverages: A wide range of choices are available as beverages, including sodas, coffee, tea, beer, wine, and co*cktails.
What type of menu do most restaurants use in 2024?
A static menu offers a set selection of year-round goods and is used by most eateries. Due to how simple it is to plan and order the same dish on multiple visits, this menu design is practical for both the restaurant and the patrons.
In addition, since the menu options are constant, it is also simpler for the restaurant to manage inventory and food costs. Nevertheless, some eateries might employ different menu designs based on their concept, menu, and patron preferences.
For example, a fine-dining restaurant might offer an a la carte menu, allowing guests to select specific meals and pay for them separately. At the same time, a café or bakery might utilize a du jour menu design that includes daily specials.
