Disadvantages of the digital menu – and how you can avoid them

Guests without a smartphone

The most obvious disadvantage of the digital menu: Not every guest has a smartphone with them or wants to use it. Older guests, children, people with visual impairments, or simply guests who want to switch off while eating quickly feel excluded by a QR code at the table.

The solution is simple: always keep some printed menus on hand and say so. A sign on the stand like "Prefer paper? Let us know" is enough.

Poor reception

In basement rooms, mountain huts, or buildings with thick walls, mobile phone reception is often weak. A menu that does not load is worse than no menu at all.

• Offer guest Wi-Fi and make access clearly visible, for example with a dedicated Wi-Fi QR code.
• Keep the menu slim: few images, fast loading time.
• Test the reception at different tables yourself.

Battery and readability

Empty battery, small screen, dim light: Not every digital menu is easy to read at the table. A stylish design with thin, bright text on a dark background may look good on the computer, but not in the restaurant.

Pay attention to sufficient contrast and clear fonts. At Same-QR, the editor checks the contrast when you change colors and warns if text would be unreadable on the table. The menu adapts to the screen width, and the font can be enlarged using the phone's settings.

Feeling at the table

Some guests find it impersonal when only a code is on the table instead of a menu. Looking at the phone interrupts the conversation, and the feeling of being served suffers. In some establishments, a purely digital menu simply does not fit the concept.

Here the service helps: explain the menu personally, give recommendations, ask questions. The QR code is a tool, not a substitute for hospitality.

What you can do about it

• Have printed menus ready and offer them actively.
• Design the digital menu to be slim and easy to read.
• Offer guest Wi-Fi where reception is weak.
• Provide the QR code with a friendly note.
• Train staff so that they can answer questions about the menu and allergens.
• Keep the digital menu up to date – outdated information undermines trust.

Used correctly, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for many businesses: current prices, a daily offer without labels, and allergen information that anyone can read. The disadvantages do not disappear, but they can be effectively mitigated.

When a digital menu does not fit

Honestly, there are local establishments where a digital menu at the table is of little use:

• A small guesthouse with a fixed menu and predominantly older regular customers.
• Fine dining, where the menu is part of the staging.
• Places without reception and without the possibility of a guest Wi-Fi.

A QR code can also be useful there – not at the table, but in the shop window, on flyers, or in the Google profile, so that guests can see in advance what to expect.

Frequently asked questions