Guide to an inviting and engaging restaurant menu design
Most people who visit restaurants may not realize it, but the menu design plays an important role in impressing them. How your menu looks is just as important as what is on it – when it comes to attracting customers to your restaurant. Here are some tips to help you develop an arresting restaurant menu design.
Start with the end in mind: Who is it for? Your customers, obviously. You need to think about what the USP of your restaurant is, and incorporate that in your restaurant menu design. For instance, a beachside café may do well to incorporate the theme of water or water sports. A romantic night club must go in for a more subdued yet rich design. Using unique art, graphics and fonts are a sure way of attracting attention. Just make sure that your customers understand what you have printed.
Single or double: If you have limited items on offer, you can make do with a single flap design. Here the front side of the flap will have attractive graphics. The back side contains the printed matter. It is important that the artwork on the front flap does a great job of pleasing customers.
Use your colors: Your restaurant menu design must help you establish your brand identity. So, make it a point to use the same colors on the menu card. If you have a particular font for the restaurant, use the same for the main flap of the menu (at least!).
The best at first: How you list out the items on your menu also has an impact on your customer’s buying habits. Research shows that most people look at the top right corner of the menu first. This is a fantastic place to feature your signature product. Next, the customer will turn to middle of the menu page. List out your most expensive items here. Even though some customers will skip this item, you may list other popular items around this item. Most customers are impressed by the price difference and they will buy the other items.
Describe it: Most people love tantalizing descriptions. Weave magic with words and lure your customers to try the best you have to offer. If your customer believes that they are getting their money’s worth, they will be happy to taste all the different items you have to offer, time and again.
Organize: The way in which you organize your items also make a difference. Generally, people like to have breakfast items followed by starters, soups, salads, lunch items, entrees, beverages, spirits, desserts. While you do not have to stick to this arrangement, make sure that you organize your items in a way that makes sense.
When you are ready to get the restaurant menu design ready, make sure that you run the design by a number of people. Collecting feedback will help you finalize the best menu design ever!