Menu Item Placement Strategies

Have you ever wondered why some dishes on a restaurant menu seem to catch your eye more than others? It’s not just by chance. Smart restaurant owners use clever menu item placement strategies to guide their choices and boost their sales. Let’s dive into the world of menu engineering and uncover some secrets that can help your restaurant thrive.

Discover our:

–iPad Wine List

–iPad Food Menu

Want to see how a digital menu can transform your restaurant? Click here to learn more about our solutions!

The Golden Triangle: Your Menu’s Sweet Spot

When customers open a menu, their eyes usually follow a specific path. This path forms what we call the “Golden Triangle.” It starts in the middle, moves to the top right, and then to the top left. Knowing this, you can place your most profitable items in these spots to catch your customers’ attention right away.

Pro tip: Put your star dishes – those with high popularity and high profit – in the Golden Triangle area of your menu.

The Power of Positioning

Where you place items on your menu matters a lot. Here are some key spots to keep in mind:

Top right corner: This is often the first place people look. Put a dish here that you really want to sell.
Top left corner: The second place eyes tend to go. Another great spot for a high-profit item.
Bottom right corner: People often look here last, making it perfect for your most expensive dishes.

Remember, the goal is to guide your customers’ eyes to the dishes you want them to order most.

Using Design to Your Advantage

Your menu’s design can play a big role in what people choose to eat. Here are some design tricks to try:

Use boxes: Put a box around items you want to highlight. It draws the eye and makes those dishes stand out.
Play with colors: Use different colors to group similar items or highlight specials.
Add images: A picture is worth a thousand words, especially when it comes to food. Just make sure the photos are high-quality and appetizing.

The Art of Description

How you describe your dishes can make a big difference. Use words that make people’s mouths water. Instead of just saying “Chicken Pasta,” try “Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes.” Sounds much more tempting, right?

Quick tip: Use descriptive words that appeal to the senses. Words like “crispy,” “juicy,” or “savory” can make a dish more appealing.

To learn more read → Menu Descriptions That Sell on Your Digital Menu

Pricing Strategies That Work

How you show prices on your menu can affect what people order. Here are some tricks:

Drop the dollar sign: Studies show that removing the dollar sign can lead to higher spending.
Use round numbers: $15 looks cleaner and less expensive than $14.99.
Place prices after the description: This makes customers focus on the food first, not the cost.

The Decoy Effect

This is a clever trick used by many restaurants. Here’s how it works:

You have two similar dishes.
One is priced much higher than the other.
Most people will choose the cheaper option, thinking they’re getting a good deal.

This strategy can help you sell more of the dish you want to promote.

Seasonal and Special Menus

Changing your menu with the seasons keeps things fresh and exciting for your customers. It also lets you take advantage of seasonal ingredients, which can be cheaper and tastier.

Bonus tip: Use special menus for holidays or events. People love feeling like they’re getting something unique.

Digital Menus: The Future of Menu Design

More restaurants are using digital menus. These offer some great advantages:

Easy to update
Can show pictures of every dish
Can be changed quickly for different times of day

Try our digital menu solution to see how it can transform your restaurant’s ordering process.

The Importance of Testing

What works for one restaurant might not work for another. That’s why it’s crucial to test different menu layouts and see what works best for your business. Keep track of what sells well and what doesn’t, and adjust your menu accordingly.

Data to Back It Up

Let’s look at some numbers that show just how important menu design is:

Statistic	Percentage
Increase in sales from strategic item placement	15-35%
Customers who order the first item they see	33%
Sales boost from using descriptive language	27%

These numbers show that smart menu design can have a big impact on your bottom line.

Putting It All Together

Creating an effective menu is like putting together a puzzle. You need to consider:

Your restaurant’s style
Your target customers
Your most profitable dishes
The psychology of how people read menus

When you get all these pieces right, you’ll have a menu that not only looks good but also boosts your sales.

The eMenu International Difference

Now, you might be thinking, “Sounds great, but where do I get these magical iPad menus?” That’s where eMenu International comes in. They’re the pros when it comes to iPad menus for restaurants.

Founded in 2014, eMenu International embarked on an ambitious journey, driven by a group of visionary founders. With an unwavering belief in the potential of touchscreen technology, they set out with a clear mission: to lead a revolution that would make touchscreen menus an indispensable asset for premier dining establishments worldwide.

A Decade of Innovation and Service

For nearly ten years, eMenu International has been at the forefront of bringing restaurants and hotels into the modern era. Through their pioneering technology and commitment to personal service, they have enhanced the dining experience for countless patrons and significantly boosted revenues for over 800 establishments.

Elevating Special Events

eMenu International doesn’t just change how menus are presented; it transforms how special events are catered to. From creating Monday night specials to tailoring menus for upcoming events, their technology ensures that every occasion is uniquely catered for.

Versatile Hours of Service

Understanding the dynamic nature of dining, eMenu International’s solutions adapt to show appropriate menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This flexibility ensures that establishments can always offer their guests the perfect dining options, no matter the time of day.

Championing Sustainability

In a world increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability, eMenu International offers a path to go green. Replacing traditional paper menus with sleek tablets, helps establishments save on printing costs and significantly reduce their environmental footprint.

Efficiency Redefined

One of the key benefits of adopting eMenu International’s technology is the remarkable reduction in wait staff hours. Establishments have reported a 15% reduction in staff hours, attributed to more efficient time management, allowing staff to focus more on engaging with guests and enhancing their overall dining experience.

eMenu International stands as a beacon of innovation in the mining industry. With their revolutionary touchscreen menu technology, they have redefined how establishments serve their guests and played a pivotal role in making dining experiences more enjoyable, sustainable, and efficient. As they continue to lead the charge into the future, eMenu International remains dedicated to elevating the standards of dining around the globe.