HandyQRCode

QR codes for restaurants and cafés

A practical guide for menus, Wi-Fi, reviews and table service, with what to put on the table and what to avoid.

The five codes most restaurants need

  1. Menu: a link to your online menu. Make one code for all tables, or one per table if you want to know where guests sit (see below). Make a link QR code
  2. Wi-Fi: guests join without asking the staff. Use a separate guest network. Wi-Fi QR code
  3. Reviews: your Google review link at the till, on the receipt or on the bill folder. Ask happy guests in person; the code just makes it easy. Link QR code
  4. Bookings: on the door, takeaway bags and business cards, opening a WhatsApp chat with a ready-made message. WhatsApp QR code
  5. Directions: on flyers and the website, opening your location in maps. Location QR code

Per-table codes in five minutes

Giving every table its own code lets you see which tables order or ask for help, without any app:

  1. Make a spreadsheet with one row per table: the link (for example your menu link with ?table=4 at the end) and the description “Table 4”.
  2. Drop it on the bulk generator. The table number is printed under each code.
  3. Print on label sheets and stick them on the table tents.

For a “call the waiter” button, use the SMS QR code with the message “Table 4 needs help” per table.

Design tips

  • Say what the code does: “Menu”, “Free Wi-Fi”, “Rate us”.
  • Add your logo in the middle of the code (generator options → Logo) so it looks like yours.
  • Laminate table codes or use waterproof stickers. Tables get wiped many times a day.
  • Test every code with an iPhone and an Android phone before printing a batch.

What to avoid

  • Codes from “free” sites that expire: some QR services make codes that stop working after a trial unless you pay. Codes made here contain the link directly and never expire.
  • Linking to a huge PDF: guests on mobile data won’t wait. Keep the menu light or use a web page.
  • Changing the menu address: keep the same link and update what’s behind it, so printed codes keep working.

More inspiration: 50 QR code ideas.

Why do some QR codes expire? Read static vs dynamic QR codes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a QR code for my menu?

Put the menu online first: a page on your website, an online menu service, or a PDF in Google Drive or Dropbox shared as “anyone with the link”. Then make a QR code of that link. If you update the menu at the same address, the printed codes keep working.

Should I replace paper menus completely?

Many guests still prefer paper, especially older guests and anyone with a flat phone battery. A common compromise: QR code on the table, a few paper menus on request.

How big should the code on a table tent be?

3–4 cm wide is plenty for a code read from the table. Add a short line like “Scan for the menu” so guests know what it does.

Can I see how many guests scan the menu?

Yes, if the menu is on your website: switch on link tracking (UTM) when making the code and check your website analytics.

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Guides & ideas