Digital menus for restaurants, explained plainly
Updated
"Digital menu" can mean three different things: a PDF on a website, a tablet handed to each table, or a mobile web page opened from a QR code. They cost very different amounts and solve different problems.
The three kinds of digital menu
- PDF menu: your printed menu exported as a file. Cheap, but hard to read on a phone and a chore to update.
- Tablet menu: dedicated devices at each table. Looks impressive, but you buy, charge, clean and replace the hardware.
- QR web menu: a mobile page guests open with their own phone. No hardware, easy to update and usually the cheapest.
Why most small restaurants choose a QR web menu
It uses the phone already in your guest's hand. There is nothing to buy, and the menu is readable because it is built for a small screen instead of shrunk down from A4.
Updating is the real win. Food costs change often; a digital menu lets you change a price in seconds instead of waiting for a reprint.
What it costs
Tablet systems usually charge for hardware plus a monthly fee. QR web menus range from free to a monthly subscription. On menulink.live the menu itself is free with no item or scan limits; the paid plan removes the "Powered by" badge.
Getting started
Start with the menu you already have. Type in your categories and dishes, add photos of your best sellers, and print a QR code for each table. You can refine descriptions and photos over the following weeks.