Categories are the top-level organizational structure of your digital menu. They group related products together and help customers navigate your menu efficiently. Think of categories as the sections of a traditional paper menu.
Common examples of categories include:
- Starters
- Soups and Salads
- Main Courses
- Seafood
- Pasta
- Desserts
- Hot Beverages
- Cold Drinks
- Alcoholic Beverages
Adding a New Category
- Go to Branches in the sidebar
- Select the branch you want to manage
- Click the Menu tab
Step 2: Create the Category
- Look for the Add Category button in the menu editor
- Click it to open the category creation form
- Enter the category name in the text field
- Click Save or Create to add the category
Step 3: Verify the Category
After creation, the new category will appear in your menu structure. You can now start adding products to it.
Choose descriptive, clear category names. Your customers will use these to navigate your menu, so they should be instantly understandable.
Editing a Category
To update an existing category:
- Find the category in the menu editor
- Click on the Edit button or pencil icon next to the category name
- Modify the category name as needed
- Click Save to apply the changes
When to Edit a Category
- Renaming a category to better describe its contents
- Correcting a typo in the category name
- Adjusting the name for seasonal changes (e.g., "Summer Specials" to "Winter Specials")
Editing a category name does not affect the products inside it. All products remain assigned to the category.
Reordering Categories
The order of categories in your menu matters. Customers will see categories in the order you set, so arrange them logically.
How to Reorder
- In the menu editor, hover over the category you want to move
- Click and hold the drag handle (usually shown as dots or lines on the left side)
- Drag the category up or down to the desired position
- Release to drop it into place
- The new order saves automatically
Recommended Category Order
A natural category flow for most restaurants:
- Starters and appetizers
- Soups and salads
- Main courses (meat, fish, vegetarian)
- Side dishes
- Desserts
- Hot drinks
- Cold drinks
- Alcoholic beverages
Put your most popular or highest-margin categories near the top where they get the most visibility.
Deleting a Category
If you no longer need a category, you can remove it:
- Find the category in the menu editor
- Click the Delete button or trash icon
- A confirmation dialog will appear warning you about the deletion
- Confirm the deletion
Important Considerations Before Deleting
- Deleting a category will also remove all products within it
- This action cannot be undone
- Make sure you have moved any products you want to keep to another category before deleting
If you want to temporarily hide a category rather than delete it, consider removing the products instead and keeping the empty category for future use.
When customers scan your QR code and view your digital menu, categories serve as the primary navigation:
Navigation Display
- Categories may appear as tabs at the top of the menu
- Alternatively, they may display as section headers with products listed below
- Customers can tap a category to jump directly to that section
Category Count
- Too few categories can make the menu feel cluttered within each section
- Too many categories can overwhelm customers with options
- Aim for 5-10 categories for most restaurants
- Larger restaurants with extensive menus may have up to 15 categories
Tips for Effective Categories
Be Specific but Not Too Narrow
- "Main Courses" is good if you have a moderate number of mains
- If you have many items, consider splitting into "Meat Dishes", "Seafood", "Vegetarian Mains"
- Avoid categories with only 1-2 items unless they are premium or featured
Use Customer-Friendly Language
- Use terms your customers understand
- "Starters" or "Appetizers" instead of internal kitchen terms
- Match the language and style of your restaurant's brand
Consider Seasonal Categories
- Add seasonal categories for limited-time offerings
- "Summer Specials" or "Holiday Menu" can drive interest
- Remove seasonal categories when they are no longer relevant
Keep It Updated
- Review your categories regularly
- Remove categories for discontinued menu sections
- Add new categories when you expand your offerings
Next Steps
With your categories set up, it is time to add products. Learn how to create menu items in the next section.
See also: Adding and Editing Products to start populating your categories with items.