Menu in the window and at the entrance: Turning passersby into guests

Why the poster matters

A menu display at the entrance is often the first contact for passersby with your establishment. Anyone who wants to eat in an unfamiliar place quickly looks at what is available and what it costs. If they find nothing or only a yellowed menu from last summer, they move on.

In Germany, the Price Indication Ordinance additionally requires restaurants to display a price list at the entrance. You can find out exactly what it must contain from your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce. In Austria and Switzerland, separate rules apply to price marking; the Chamber of Commerce or the industry association provide information.

What goes in

The sign does not need to show the entire menu. It should create interest and provide orientation:

• A selection of typical dishes with prices, so that passersby can assess the price level.
• The daily special or lunch menu, if there is one.
• The opening and kitchen hours.
• Notes such as "vegetarian dishes," "children's menu," or "beer garden," if they are important for guests.
• A QR code for the complete, current menu.

QR code for passersby

The code in the window has a different audience than the one at the table. Passers-by scan it as they go by, sometimes also in the evening when the establishment is already closed. They want to know whether it is worth coming back tomorrow.

• Print the code slightly larger than at the table, because it is scanned from a greater distance.
• Mount at eye level, not in the bottom corner.
• Behind glass: Check for reflections in sunlight and do not apply the code to tinted glass.
• Add a short note, such as "Full menu & opening hours".

With a dynamic code from Same-QR, you can change the destination later without reprinting the sign – for example, to a page with opening hours during business closure. Scans are counted, so you can see whether the code is actually being used at the window.

Install weather-resistant

An outdoor display must withstand rain, sun, and frost. Glass display cases, laminated prints, and stickers made from outdoor film have proven effective. Sunlight bleaches colors, especially red and blue, so the code should be printed in a dark, vibrant tone. Check it regularly with your mobile phone.

Currently hold

The most common mistake at the entrance is an outdated menu. Old prices, a dish that has not been available for months, or incorrect opening hours appear negligent. Determine who will replace the display each time the menu changes.

It becomes easier if the notice itself contains little that changes frequently and refers to the digital menu for all current information. Then only rarely does something need to be exchanged at the window.

Common mistakes in the display

• The menu is hung so low that you have to bend down.
• Font so small that it is only legible from close up.
• Faded pages in the sun.
• A QR code without any indication of where it leads.
• Old prices or opening hours that are no longer correct.

Go to your local place yourself, like a foreign guest. What do you see first, what is missing to you? This outside view is often the best test.

Frequently asked questions