How to boost your sales with an optimized menu

A menu isn’t just a list of dishes, it’s a strategic sales tool. On delivery platforms, competition is fierce. Gone are the days when your only rival was the restaurant next door.

Now, you’re competing with all similar restaurants on the platform. Standing out has never been more important.

Think of your menu as a storefront: what you highlight grabs attention, guides decisions, and stimulates appetite. A complete and well-designed menu becomes a powerful tool to grow your revenue.

To be effective, your menu must be complete, clear, and include high-quality photos for every dish.

1. What makes the difference

High-quality visuals:

“We eat with our eyes first.”

Even more so on delivery platforms! The image is the only sensory factor: customers can’t smell or taste the food.

There’s no room for error, the image is what sells.

Dishes with photos sell better, that's why photos must stick to reality. Use natural lighting whenever possible!

Tempting descriptions:

Don’t just list ingredients, make people crave your food.

Highlight origin and texture. Avoid vague labels like “daily special” or “mixed salad.”

Examples:

“24h marinated chicken, crispy breading, homemade coriander sauce and jasmine rice”

“Naturally leavened Neapolitan pizza, baked in a wood-fired oven”

💡Tip: Use an AI tools to quickly generate your descriptions (Chat GPT, Gemini etc.).

Example of a Chicken Burger Crunchy description:

"Crispy homemade breaded chicken filet, toasted brioche bun, fresh lettuce, pickles, and mildly spicy mayo-mustard sauce. A bold twist on a timeless classic!"

The right words are your dish’s first bite!

Clear categories for smooth navigation:

For long menus (like Asian cuisine), organize dishes into categories (starters, noodles, curries, etc.). It helps customers navigate and make faster choices.

Sides & combos are also interesting, they are small extras with big returns. Customers are often willing to spend more if given the option.

Offer complete menus:

Main dish & drink; poke bowl & dessert; burger & fries.

Add sides and extras (sauces, toppings, etc.).

2. Analyze your menu

Price consistency: a small detail that builds trust

Transparency is key, both online and in-restaurant.

If your delivery prices are higher, customers will likely go elsewhere. Try to align with your in-house prices.

Take inventory of your dishes:

Popularity: Is the dish frequently ordered?

Profitability: Does it generate sufficient margin?

💡Tip: Use Smood Manager to view your top 3 orders and analyze performance.

3. Categorize your dishes

Stars: Popular & profitable → highlight & ensure availability

Workhorses: Popular but less profitable → optimize

Hidden gems: Profitable but not popular → improve photo & description

Underperformers: Neither profitable nor popular → remove or rethink

In short, a complete, well-presented menu is your best ally to boost sales, without changing a single recipe.

Update your menu today in the Smood Manager.

Need help? Check out the Partner FAQ for detailed guidance.