The menu is only one piece. Signs, takeaway bags, loyalty cards and the website should all speak the same language. We can design the whole set at once, so the first guest through the door meets one brand from the street to the bill.
Menu design
Designed to be ordered from.
Restaurant menu design shapes what guests notice and what they order. We lay out every dish so the ones you most want to sell stand out.
Menu types
Which menus do you need?
- Table menusSingle cards, folded menus or covers with inserts you swap as dishes change.
- Takeaway and delivery menusDL or A5 leaflets for the counter, the bag and the letterbox.
- Drinks, wine and dessert listsSeparate cards that keep the main menu short.
- Menu boardsWall and window menus, and screens behind the counter.
- QR and online menusA phone-friendly version you can update the day a price changes.
Layout
How does menu layout affect what people order?
Guests skim a menu rather than read it, so the layout decides what they see first. We group dishes the way people choose, give your signature dishes room or a box of their own, and keep descriptions short and specific.
Prices sit at the end of each description rather than in a column, so diners compare dishes instead of costs. We keep the type large enough to read by candlelight, which matters more than most owners expect.
Sizes and stocks
Menu sizes and materials
| Choice | Options |
|---|---|
| Table menus | A4 or A3 folded in the UK and South Africa; 8.5 × 11 or 8.5 × 14 in in the USA |
| Tall menus | DL (99 × 210 mm), or 4.25 × 11 in in the USA |
| Wipe-clean | Laminated card, or synthetic paper that shrugs off water and grease |
| Daily specials | A template on plain paper that you print yourself |
| Takeaway | DL or A5 leaflets on 130–170 gsm silk |
Print & design
Related services
Questions
Questions about menu design
Question not here? Send it to us and we will answer it directly.
Ask a questionDo menus have to show allergens and calories?
It depends on where you trade and how large you are. In England, food businesses with 250 or more employees must show calories, as GOV.UK explains, and the FDA asks the same of US chains with 20 or more outlets. UK food businesses must also give allergen information. We lay out whatever your rules require.
Can we change prices without reprinting everything?
Yes, if we plan for it. A cover with replaceable inserts, a separate specials card or a template you print yourself keeps reprints small. For the main menu we hand over the source file, so a price change is a quick edit rather than a fresh design.
How much does menu design cost?
That depends mainly on the number of menus and how many items each one holds. A single takeaway leaflet takes little time; a set of food, drinks, wine and dessert menus with matching boards takes longer. Food photography, illustration and translation are extra, and your quote shows every piece separately.
Do you write the dish descriptions?
We can. Short, specific descriptions are easier to scan than long strings of adjectives, and we edit yours to a consistent length and tone. You confirm every ingredient, allergen and price before printing, because only your kitchen knows exactly what goes into each dish.
Opening a new venue?
Order your menu design
Send your current menu or a list of dishes, the sizes you print, how often prices change and your opening date, if it’s set. Every menu in the set is priced in one fixed quote. That is the first step towards a new menu design.