PDF menu or web menu
A QR code menu links either to a PDF of the printed menu or to a web page built for phones. A PDF is quick to set up but can be slow to load and hard to read on a small screen, since guests must pinch and zoom. A mobile web menu loads faster, reflows to the screen and is easier to update, though it takes more work to build.
- PDF: fastest to set up, same look as print, harder to read on phones
- Web page: easier to read, searchable, simple to update
- Either way: keep file sizes small for weak mobile signal
Keep a printed option
Not every guest has a smartphone, a working data plan or the eyesight to read a small screen comfortably. Keeping printed menus available on request, including a large-print copy if possible, makes the menu accessible to everyone. Staff should be ready to offer one without the guest needing to explain why.
Practical setup
Put the code where guests sit, at a size that scans from the seat, with a short label such as “Scan for our menu.” A dynamic code lets Maple Street Bakery change its menu or prices without reprinting table cards. Test each card in the room’s actual lighting, and check the link after every menu update.