Digital menus for restaurants — a complete guide

Why digital menus?

Digital menus are no longer a trend — they are standard in modern restaurants. According to industry studies, restaurants that switch to digital menus see an average increase in sales of 10–20%, thanks to the ability to update prices quickly, highlight high-margin products and show appetising images.

Benefits at a glance

• Quick updates — change prices or dishes on every screen at once, with no printing costs
• Increased sales — visual prompts and images of dishes boost conversion
• Shorter waiting times — clear menus reduce the time customers spend queuing
• Seasonal adaptation — switch menus with the seasons without rewriting them
• Lower printing costs — no physical menus to replace when things change

Getting started with digital menus

Implementing digital menus is easier than many people think. You need three things:

1. A TV or monitor — any size, but 43–55 inches is most common for menu walls
2. A media player — a Raspberry Pi, a mini PC or a smart TV with a web browser
3. A digital signage CMS — such as DisplayFlow, to manage content and scheduling

Choose the right hardware

In restaurant environments it is important to consider:

• Brightness — a restaurant with large windows needs a screen of at least 400 nits
• Viewing angles — IPS panels give better viewing angles than VA, which matters when customers see the menu from different directions
• Dust protection — in areas close to the kitchen, choose a screen with an IP54 rating or place it behind protective glass

Installation with DisplayFlow

With DisplayFlow you can get started in under 10 minutes:

1. Create a free DisplayFlow account
2. Add a screen using the pairing code (shown automatically on your TV)
3. Create a playlist with your menu images or videos
4. Schedule different menus for lunch and dinner

You can use our one-line installer to turn a Linux computer or Raspberry Pi into a kiosk display:

curl -fsSL https://displayflow.app/install | sudo sh

Scheduling for restaurants

One of the most powerful features of digital signage is scheduling. For a restaurant, this means:

• Lunch menu shown 11:00–14:00 Monday–Friday
• Dinner menu shown 14:00–23:00 every day
• Brunch menu shown 10:00–15:00 Saturday–Sunday
• Dessert menu can be rotated during the evening to increase sales

With DisplayFlow you schedule weekdays and times per playlist — everything is handled automatically.

Content tips

Use images

Dishes with high-quality images sell 30% better than dishes with text alone. Invest in professional photos of your most profitable dishes.

Keep it simple

Show no more than 5–7 dishes per screen. Too many options overwhelm customers and lengthen queuing times.

Use video sparingly

Short video clips (5–10 seconds) of dishes being prepared can whet the appetite, but avoid long videos that distract from ordering.

Update regularly

Customers tire of seeing the same content. Swap out images and highlight seasonal dishes to keep the menu fresh.

Summary

Digital menus are one of the most cost-effective investments a restaurant can make. With the right tools — such as DisplayFlow — you can get started quickly, save money on printing and increase your sales through visually appealing menus and smart scheduling.

Ready to give it a try? Start for free at displayflow.app — no credit card required.