

But the fixed menu definition is far different from that of the static menu.Ī fixed menu is also commonly called a set menu, and there are two common types. It can be confused with static menus because the words, outside of the context of menu names, are similar. What Is a Fixed Menu?Ī fixed menu is a menu with few options and a fixed total price. It also provides good strategies for boosting restaurant SEO when you can increase your online visibility around consistent menu offerings. This makes static menus particularly easy to navigate.

For drinks it may be shots, cocktails, beer, and wine. For food this may be appetizers, salads, entrees, etc. It may contain some a la carte ordering options, some meal options, some du jour options, and some cyclical options.Īnd, as we mentioned, food and beverage in a static menu are usually categorized into different groups. You can even leverage a restaurant menu bar code. Depending on whatever restaurant technology is being employed, it can be on digital display boards, or paper menus. A static menu typically presents everything a bar or restaurant offers.
RESTAURANT DISPLAY MENU FULL
But the fact that static menus are large makes that consistent experience full of possibility. The fact that a static menu doesn’t change very often means the customer experience is consistent. It's customer satisfaction in restaurant industry 101. They typically provide the best customer experience because of the amount of options they provide, their consistency, and their easy navigation. That’s because the majority of fine dining restaurants and bars out there utilize a static menu. It’s the most widely used menu today, and it’s what you likely think of when you think of menus. What Is a Static Menu?Ī static menu is a larger menu, typically divided into categories, that doesn’t change very often. That cycle menu showcases the same collection of special offers on the same days throughout the week. The second is for daily specials, like a happy hour menu.Ī bar or restaurant may have a static menu that anchors its offerings, but a cycle menu on top of it. One is that the cooking operation is relatively small and doesn’t have the resources to cook-to-order items off a larger menu. If they stick to those sandwiches on those days and repeat that week after week, it’s a cycle menu.Ĭycle menus are often used for two reasons. Think of a sandwich shop that offers a certain sandwich on Monday. The cycle menu definition is fairly intuitive given its name. Likewise, “soup du jour” is the soup that’s available today.ĭu jour is a French phrase that means “of the day.” What Is a Cycle Menu?Ī cycle menu is a menu or part of a menu that has repeated options over a specific period of time. So, “chicken du jour” means the chicken that’s available today. What Is a Du Jour Menu?ĭu jour menus change daily, depending on what’s available or what the chef prepared. Phrases like “from the menu” and “individually priced” communicate that a menu or section of a menu is a la carte. That means customers choose which channels they want individually instead of having a set channel package. For example, a subscription to a cable provider can have a la carte channel selection. Where Does a La Carte Come from?Ī la carte is a French phrase that translates literally as “by the card” and roughly as “according to the menu.” It began being used in the early 19th century and is not exclusive to food. They can even make up their own lamb wine pairing. Customers can choose individual items and combine them any way they want. While the prices tend to be higher, a la carte menus have more flexibility. What Is an a La Carte Menu?Īn a la carte menu lists the prices for each item separately.

The five types of menus most commonly used are a la carte menus, static menus, du jour menus, cycle menus, and fixed menus.
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Knowing the difference will help you know how to price a menu. Below is some information about them along with some more specific types of menus that aren’t considered primary menu types. Think of a dog groomer with a menu of services. There it usually refers to a navigable list of options a user can interact with.Īnd, of course, the meaning of menu can be applied in virtually any context where a list of services or options is presented to a customer or user. The word menu is also used frequently in the context of electronic devices and computer programs. While the majority of the time the meaning of menu is applied to food and beverages, that’s not always the case. That can be a seasonal menu, a fixed menu, or something in between. The traditional menu definition is a list of food or drink items available for purchase, or a list of food or drink items that will be served. Those basics boil down to the question of what is menu meaning for different restaurants and meals. Let’s get the very basics out of the way first, for the uninitiated.
