Dining out is an experience that starts well before the food arrives. What your customers see when they examine your menu can mean the difference between thriving and merely getting by.
A well-designed menu is one of the most important marketing tools a restaurant has. It highlights food choices in a way that enhances the dining experience, thereby encouraging repeat business and increases profits. In this blog, we’ll share three tips for making your restaurant menu stand out.
Tip #1: Use the right menu cover
Not all covers are created equal. Unique MCPI produces different menu covers, each one designed for a specific purpose. The right presentation will make ordering easier and even encourage upselling. For example:
- If you offer lunch or dinner specials, a single-panel menu cover makes all of the choices easy to peruse.
- Do you have a wine list or special line of desserts? Present it on a two-panel table tent menu that diners can examine as they wait for or enjoy their meal.
- To present your entire menu in a clear and easy-to-scan format, use a three-panel cover that divides breakfast, lunch, and dinner (or appetizers, main courses, and desserts) into three neat, scannable columns.
Tip #2: Use quality photos
Studies have shown that placing a photo next to a menu item can increase sales of that dish by up to 30%. Professional-quality food photos can stimulate appetite and encourage diners to try something new. Experts recommend that you use no more than one image per page, to avoid visual clutter or confusion.
Tip #3: Use a complimentary font
Menu font plays an important role in setting the tone for the dining experience. A crisp and clean sans serif typeface like Arial or Helvetica suggests that you serve simple yet modern cuisine while a fancier serif font like Times New Roman or Garamond leave a more classic impression. If you mix fonts, use serif for headings and san serif for dish descriptions.
What’s the bottom line?
According to a Gallup poll, diners spend an average of 109 seconds (just under two minutes) reviewing a menu. By using the right cover, appealing, visuals, and presentation strategies that encourage ordering, your restaurant menu will stand out and be memorable. At Unique MCPI, we design menu covers that present your appetizers, entrées, desserts, and beverages in a distinct and appealing manner. We welcome the opportunity to contribute to the success of your restaurant. If you have questions or would like to place an order, please contact us today!
