Your paper menu is costing you more than you think. Every reprint when prices change, every customer who can't read the font, every allergy question your staff can't answer instantly — it adds up. A QR code menu solves all of it. Here's exactly how to set one up.
Step 1: Sign up for free
Go to octopusmenu.com and create your free account. No credit card required. You get 1 menu, 1 QR code, and access to everything you need to get started. The sign-up takes about 90 seconds — just your email address and a password. You set your venue’s name afterwards, in the dashboard.
Step 2: Build your menu
Add your categories first — Starters, Mains, Desserts, Drinks, or whatever structure makes sense for your restaurant. Then add items inside each category: name, description, price and allergen tags — plus a photo if you're on Essential or Growth.
Allergen information is not optional — it's critical. EU Regulation 1169/2011 requires the 14 major allergens to be disclosed. Octopus Menu makes this simple with built-in allergen toggles per item. Toggle the ones that apply and they appear clearly on the menu for every guest.
A few tips for building your first menu:
- Use short, honest descriptions. Guests want to know what they're eating, not read an essay.
- Add photos where you have them (Essential and Growth) — a dish guests can see is easier to choose.
- Don't agonise over perfection. You can update everything instantly. A live imperfect menu is better than a perfect menu that isn't published yet.
Step 3: Download your QR code
Once your menu is live, download your QR code from the dashboard. It's a standard PNG file. You can print it at any local print shop, or use an online service like Moo or Vistaprint for table cards. Most restaurants spend £20–£40 on a set of table cards.
Step 4: Place your QR codes
The most common placements:
- Table cards or tent cards — the most popular option
- Printed on the back of receipts
- On your window or entrance (for passersby to browse before coming in)
- On your website and social profiles (turns your Instagram bio into a menu link)
One QR code is all you need to start. Octopus Menu generates a permanent URL for your menu — the QR code never expires or changes, even if you update every item on your menu.
Step 5: Tell your guests
A small sign near the entrance — "Scan to view our menu" — is all most restaurants need. Guests are used to QR codes now. The friction is essentially zero.
A few restaurants find it helpful to add a one-line note on the table card: "Scan to browse our menu." This removes any uncertainty about what the code does.
Results you can expect
Most restaurants see their first digital menu view within minutes of placing QR codes. The changes you'll notice over the first few weeks:
- Fewer allergy questions from staff — guests can see allergens directly on the menu
- Faster table turns — guests browse while waiting, so they're ready to order sooner
- No more reprinting — change a price in 30 seconds, it's live immediately
- Real data on which dishes guests look at most
The maths
A set of 20 paper menus, reprinted quarterly when prices change, costs roughly £80–£120 per year in printing alone — plus the time to organise it. A QR code menu on Octopus Menu's free plan costs exactly £0 and never needs reprinting.
