Start with a published, working menu
Before printing, publish your restaurant menu and open its public link on a phone. Check that the restaurant name and dishes load without an owner login. If you are still setting up the menu, start with the restaurant QR menu setup guide.
A QR code stores the menu URL, not a permanent copy of the dishes. Your website must remain accessible and guests need internet to open it. Downloading a QR does not make an undeployed website live.
PNG vs SVG: which file should you use?
| Format | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | A straightforward image file for a document, sign or table card. The dashboard exports a 1200 × 1200 image. | Enlarging beyond its pixel resolution can blur edges. Use the original download rather than a screenshot. |
| SVG | Scalable artwork for a designer or print shop. | Check that the software preserves the complete QR and its white border. |
| Print table card | A prepared layout containing your restaurant name, QR and scanning instruction. | Review print preview, paper size and scale before printing. |
In the owner dashboard, open Share menu and choose Download PNG, Download SVG or Print table card. Downloads are enabled after the menu is published.
Choose a size guests can use comfortably
For a tabletop card, start with a QR at least 3 cm wide, then test the physical print at the distance a guest will scan it. This is a practical starting point, not a guarantee: URL length, printer quality, camera, lighting and placement affect results.
Keep the empty white border around the code. Do not crop it to make the code fit, stretch it into a rectangle or cover the centre with a logo. The dashboard download already includes a white margin.
Use high contrast and a clear instruction
Black on white is the simplest choice. Put restaurant branding outside the QR rather than recolouring the code with a pale brand colour. Add a clear label: “Scan to view our menu.” Guests should know where the QR leads before opening it.
Choose a flat, clean placement. Reflective lamination, curved bottles, folded paper and dim corners can make scanning less reliable. If you use a protective stand, test through that stand rather than only scanning the loose sheet.
Test one finished card before printing more
- Print one card at the intended size using the paper and finish you plan to use.
- Place it in the actual stand or table location.
- Scan it on more than one phone, including a phone not signed into the owner dashboard.
- Open the link using a normal guest connection, such as mobile data or guest Wi-Fi.
- Check the restaurant name, prices, photos and sold-out labels.
- Move the camera a little closer and farther away to check that scanning is comfortable.
Download the original QR again if a shared image has been compressed or blurred. Ask the print shop to preserve the code’s square proportions and border.
Where can you place your menu QR?
Table stands, counter cards and entrance signage can work when guests can comfortably point a phone at the code. Avoid placing a small code behind glass far from the guest. Staff should still be able to offer a printed menu.
If the code scans but the menu does not open
- Menu is still a draft: publish it in Restaurant settings and save.
- The website is not live: a QR with the production domain requires the site and backend to be deployed and reachable.
- The menu link name changed: download the new QR and replace cards using the old URL.
- No connection: check mobile data or guest Wi-Fi and try opening the menu URL directly.
If the camera cannot recognise the code
Check that the QR has not been cropped, distorted, damaged or printed too small. Try better lighting, remove glare and use the original PNG or SVG. If a direct menu link works but the card does not scan, the physical print or its placement needs attention.
When do you need to print a new QR?
Changing dishes, prices, descriptions, photos and availability does not require a new QR when the menu link stays the same. Changing the menu link name does. Keep that URL stable after printing and test your cards periodically.
Want to see the guest view first? Open the sample café menu to try category browsing, dish search and the vegetarian filter.