A QR code on the table lets customers read your menu on their own phone. The trouble starts when the menu changes: a dish sells out, prices move, the seasonal specials arrive. If the code was printed with the menu address inside it, you reprint every table card. A dynamic QR code avoids that, because the code stays the same and you change what it opens.
What the code should open
You have two sensible choices.
- A menu page on your own website. This is usually the better option. It loads quickly, reads well on a small screen and is easy for you to update. You choose the Link type and paste the page address.
- A file you upload. The File type takes an image or a PDF, and menus are one of its most common uses. It is the quickest route if all you have is a PDF. Keep the file small so it opens fast on a mobile connection, and check it is readable without zooming.
If you are not sure, start with the file and move to a web page later. You can switch the destination without reprinting anything.
How to set it up
- Create an account and open QR Codes, then choose Create QR.
- Give it a name you will recognise, such as "Menu, dining room".
- Choose Dynamic QR, then the Link or File type.
- Add the menu address or upload the file and save.
- Download the code. Use SVG or PDF for printing, because they stay sharp at any size.
- Scan the result with your own phone before it goes to the printer.
Updating the menu later
Open QR Codes, open the menu for your code and choose Edit QR. Replace the link or the file and save. The cards on your tables stay exactly as they are, and the next scan shows the new menu.
See what people actually scan
A dynamic code counts its scans and shows details such as location, browser and device. That is useful for more than curiosity:
- Check how many diners scan at lunch compared with the evening.
- Make a separate code for the bar, the terrace and the takeaway counter (the Duplicate option makes this quick) and see which area uses the menu most.
- If scans are low, the code is probably too small, too low on the card or in poor light. Fix the card, not the menu.
Making the card work
- Size. Make the code at least 2 cm wide, and bigger if people will scan from a seat further from the table edge.
- Contrast. Dark code on a light background. Avoid printing it on glossy card that reflects the room lights.
- Space. Leave a clear blank border around the code.
- Wording. Add a short line such as "Scan for the menu". Some customers will not know what the square is for.
- A backup. Keep a few printed menus for guests who would rather not use their phone.
- Test in real conditions. Try it on two different phones, in the lighting of your dining room.
Keep the code alive
Never delete the code from your account while the cards are in use, because that stops them working. If you retire a menu, edit the destination instead.
The same approach works for takeaway leaflets, delivery bags and window stickers. Make a dynamic QR code for your menu and update it as often as the kitchen changes.