Digital QR code menus: what they bring and what remains mandatory
During the pandemic many restaurants stuck QR codes on tables with a PDF of the menu behind them. That was quick, but rarely good: the PDF is hard to read on a phone, often out of date and barely usable for search engines. This article shows how a digital menu works properly and which printed obligations remain, with Germany as the example.
What a digital menu brings
Done well, a digital menu has real benefits:
- Prices and dishes change instantly, without reprinting.
- Daily specials, sold-out dishes and seasonal offers are always current.
- Photos, allergens and additives can be added per dish.
- Several languages for tourists without extra menus.
- The same menu appears on the website and can be found in search.
What remains mandatory: the price list
In Germany, Section 13 of the Price Indication Ordinance requires restaurants to show food and drink prices in a price list. It must be clearly displayed, placed on the tables or presented to every guest before ordering. In addition, a price list of the main dishes and drinks must hang next to the entrance.
A QR code alone doesn't reliably meet these duties, because not every guest has a phone or wants to use it. Keep a printed menu available and keep the display at the entrance. The digital menu complements; it doesn't replace.
A web page, not a PDF
Build the menu as a normal, mobile-friendly web page instead of a PDF. It loads faster, adapts to the screen, can be zoomed and works with screen readers. Search engines understand the dishes and prices and can show your restaurant for searches like "schnitzel" or "vegan bowl" in your town.
Mind readability: large enough text, good contrast, no text over photos. That helps every guest, not only people with visual impairments.
Allergens, ordering at the table and cost
Mark allergens per dish. For table service in Germany they may be given verbally if written documentation exists; in the digital menu they're most convenient for guests. If guests should also order and pay through the menu, it becomes an ordering system with POS integration, which takes more work.
A digital menu as part of your website, maintained by your team, with QR codes for the tables, is set up as part of a restaurant website from €1,800 with us.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I drop the printed menu entirely?
- Risky in Germany. Section 13 PAngV requires a price list accessible to every guest and a display at the entrance. At least keep printed menus available on request.
- What does a digital menu cost?
- As part of the website it has no running fees. Specialised providers usually charge monthly, sometimes with an ordering function.
- Can we change prices and daily dishes ourselves?
- Yes, in the editor, from a phone too. Changes are visible immediately behind all QR codes.
Sources
Send us your current menu. We show how it looks as a digital menu on your website and give you a fixed price.
Request a digital menu