Fancy Menu Designs

Before You Start Designing Your Menu

We know your hands can’t stop itching to start designing your menu. But for now, you should put the excitement on hold and let us take first consider some things that will help you have a smooth-sailing designing later on.

For starters, you should check your competition first. Look at their websites or any promotional ad that features their menu. Take note of the important details such as the pricing and the food items they are offering. Study these notes and look for similarities or differences your prospective menu has with theirs. To make a more introspective approach, ask yourself these questions:

• How will my menu be different from everyone else’s?

  Take as much time as you can to answer this question because if you can’t, you should stop right here. There is no point in proceeding to the next steps if you can’t decide what will make your food distinct from the others. This decision will serve as the backbone for your menu design.

• What food items are similar to my competitors?

  The food items on your menu don’t necessarily have to be 100% unique or original. Look at how many fast food chains offer the same items on each of their menus such as burgers and fries. You can have items on your menu similar to the others but you have to add something distinct to your restaurant. This will help customer distinguish your restaurant from those who have similar offers with yours. Having a trademark helps in solidifying your brand identity.

• Does my menu pricing match my competitors?

  Pricing is a crucial part in setting your menu. You have to research your competitor’s pricing so you will be able to estimate how much you are going to prices your menu items. For example, if your initial pricing for a burger is $12 while the competitor’s offer is $8, it is obvious which burger the customers will be going for. But, of course, the quality isn’t accounted here. Still, matching your prices with that of the competitors helps attract more customers.

Tips for Designing Your Menu

A menu is an important tool for your restaurant. Thus, designing it should be made with careful considerations. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but it has to be effective in driving the customers into ordering. To know more about creating an effective menu, read the things you have to consider below.

• 1. Colors and Font

  The color scheme of the menu should match or at least complement the theme of your restaurant. For example, if your theme celebrates the aesthetics of a ’50s diner, then the menu should also have colors that represent the ’50s design. The font should have to match as well, just make sure that it’s not too small that it makes it difficult to read. Look for examples online to gain inspiration for the look that you desire. You can also experiment and play with the colors and font if you want to come up with an original design. Doing so will help you achieve a distinct look for your menu.

• 2. Menu Sections

  As you may have observed, menus from any restaurant, diner, or eatery have sections that are arranged sequentially: appetizers, soups and salad, main entrees, desserts, and beverages. It is critical to do it in this manner and highlight them by either bold headings, boxes, or borders. This helps the customers figure out which food is for which part of the meal course. It is also easier for them to navigate and choose their orders. You can also highlight dishes with any kind of insignias, such as a star, icon, or an indication that it’s a top choice or a chef’s favorite. This draws the customers’ attention to the popular and special dishes.

  The layout of the menu usually has one or two columns at maximum because having more than that would make your menu look like newspaper classifieds. For your daily specials, you can easily change it with a clear menu insert since it changes periodically. Avoid using too many pictures as it will only make the menu look cluttered. Also, refrain from using a distracting background or one that hinders the customers to properly read the text. This is a perfect example of a bad design, and you will definitely be loaded with complaints if you do so. Also, don’t use computer clipart. Just don’t. Your menu will look like it’s made by an amateur, and you don’t want to have that kind of impression.

• 3. Menu Descriptions

  Your menu description should make any customer drool. Explain what’s in the dish and use ethnic names if they fit to add an authentic flair to it. You can also incorporate a brief history of the dish, especially if its origins are from a foreign country. This will add fire to the customers’ curiosity and it may even affect their decision in ordering. One caveat here: don’t make it too long. Not only will it take up too much space in the layout but it will also bore the customers. Nobody wants to read an essay in a restaurant. Just give them a brief and fun description enough to convince them to order a certain meal.