You want a QR code on your tables that opens the menu on customers' phones. Here's exactly how to set it up — from choosing where to host your menu to printing the QR.
Step 1: Create Your Digital Menu
You need a mobile-friendly page that displays your menu. Options from simplest to most sophisticated:
PDF upload. Upload your menu PDF to Google Drive, Dropbox, or your website. Get the shareable link. Pros: fastest to set up. Cons: PDFs aren't mobile-friendly — pinch and zoom is a poor experience.
Simple webpage. Create a page on your website (e.g., yourrestaurant.com/menu) with your menu items, prices, and photos. Pros: mobile-optimized, updatable, professional. Cons: requires a website.
Google Sites / Notion. Free page builders. Create a menu page, publish it, get the link. Pros: free, easy to update, mobile-friendly. Cons: less professional than your own domain.
Dedicated menu platforms. Services like Menuu, OddMenu, or Yumzi create beautiful digital menus with QR code integration. Some offer ordering, photos, allergen info, and multi-language support. Pros: purpose-built, professional. Cons: monthly cost (usually $10-30/month).
Social media. Link the QR to an Instagram highlight with menu photos, or a Facebook post with the menu. Pros: no additional tool needed. Cons: not always easy to navigate on mobile, mixed with other content.
For most restaurants, a simple mobile-optimized webpage on your own site is the best balance of professionalism, control, and cost.
Step 2: Create the QR Code
Go to qree.app. Paste your menu page URL. Customize colors to match your restaurant's brand. Download as SVG (for print) or PNG.
Use a dynamic QR code. Your menu will change — prices, seasonal items, daily specials. A dynamic QR lets you update the menu link without replacing the QR on your tables. You can even redirect to a lunch menu during the day and a dinner menu in the evening.
Step 3: Print and Display
Table stickers/stands. The primary placement. Every table should have a QR. Use an acrylic stand, a laminated card in a menu holder, or a vinyl sticker directly on the table.
Size: 3×3 cm minimum for table placement. 4×4 cm is more comfortable.
Label: "Scan to see our menu" — always include context.
Material: Must survive daily cleaning with wet cloths and cleaning products. Laminated paper, vinyl sticker, or acrylic stand. Paper alone will disintegrate within a week.
Don't Use a PDF
This deserves emphasis. A PDF menu on a phone requires downloading, pinching, and zooming. The text is small, navigation is impossible, and the experience is frustrating. Many customers will give up and ask for a physical menu.
Instead, create a proper mobile webpage. Menu items in readable text, organized by category, with photos where possible. The page should load in under 2 seconds on mobile data.
What About Ordering?
A menu QR can be just for viewing, or it can enable ordering. For ordering, you need a platform that supports it — Toast, Square, Menuu, or a custom solution. The QR links to the ordering page instead of a static menu.
Most small restaurants start with a view-only menu QR and add ordering later if needed. Don't let the ordering question delay getting a basic menu QR in place.
Common Mistakes
PDF instead of webpage. Already covered — don't do it.
QR too small. If customers can't scan easily from a seated position, they won't bother.
Menu page not updated. The digital menu shows last month's prices. If you're going digital, commit to keeping it current.
No fallback. Always keep a few physical menus for customers who don't have a smartphone or prefer paper.
Same QR for years. Check your QR codes monthly. Are they still scanning? Is the link still correct? Is the sticker still in good shape?
Create Your Menu QR Code
Go to qree.app, paste your menu URL, and download a QR code ready for your tables.