QR Codes for Restaurants
QR codes have become standard kit for restaurants, cafés and pubs: a hygienic way to share a menu, take an order, hand over the WiFi password or collect a review without anyone queueing at the counter.
Digital menus that update themselves
Link a URL QR code to your online menu and you can change dishes and prices whenever you like — the printed code on the table stays exactly the same. That matters most for specials boards, seasonal menus and anywhere prices move faster than your print budget.
Table placement
Put the code where people already look: on the table tent, in the menu holder, next to the salt and pepper. It needs to be large enough to scan from a seated position — 2-3 cm is the practical minimum, larger on bigger tables.
- Avoid glossy laminates and candle-lit corners; reflections kill scans.
- One code per table, not one code for the whole room — you get cleaner data and a shorter walk.
- If your tables wobble, print the code on a rigid tent card rather than a paper insert.
Guest WiFi without the password lecture
A WiFi QR code connects a guest to your network in one tap. Put it on the table, at the counter and in the window if you get visitors who just want to sit with a coffee and their laptop.
Reviews while the meal is still fresh
A Google review QR code printed on the bill or handed over with the card machine converts far better than a follow-up email. Ask at the moment the customer has just said thank you.
Allergen information must not depend on a phone
A QR code is a great way to publish detailed allergen and ingredient information, but it should never be the only way to get it. Keep a printed allergen sheet behind the counter as well — that is what most councils expect, and it means a customer without a phone is still served properly.
Static or dynamic for a menu?
If your menu changes twice a year, a free static code is perfect. If you run daily specials, rotate guest beers or change prices with the seasons, a dynamic code pays for itself quickly — you edit the destination instead of reprinting every table tent. Compare the two options.
Test it the way a customer will
- Scan on an iPhone and an Android phone, in daylight and in your evening lighting.
- Scan sitting down, at the real distance, with the code flat on the table.
- Check the menu page loads on mobile data — restaurant WiFi is often the reason the page is slow.
- Re-test after every reprint or laminate change.
Frequently asked questions
Are QR menus still acceptable to customers?
They are widely accepted, but not universally liked. The restaurants that get the best reaction keep a few printed menus available and use the QR code as an option rather than a rule.
Can I use one QR code for several tables?
You can, but you lose the ability to tell which part of the room scans most. If you use dynamic codes, give each table or area its own code and label it — the scan counts are then genuinely useful.
How do I stop the code getting damaged?
Print on a rigid card or use a laminated table tent, and place it away from direct heat and wet glasses. Codes that sit in spill zones need replacing long before the rest of the table kit does.
Do I need to show the price on the QR landing page?
Yes — a menu page without prices sends customers back to the counter to ask, which defeats the point. Keep the online menu identical in content to what you would hand over on paper.
Can I track how many people scan the menu?
Only with a dynamic QR code. Each dynamic code keeps its own scan count, so you can compare a table tent against a window sticker and see which one is actually working.
Start creating
Free QR codes for your menu, WiFi and reviews — upgrade only if you need editable links.