Restaurant menu boards: readable choices at the counter
Plan a blackboard, counter board or food-truck menu around viewing distance, clear combinations and a QR link to the full menu.
SeEat editorial · Reviewed ·
In brief
A restaurant menu board should let a guest choose from the place where they wait. Keep the main choices, prices and included items readable at that distance. Use a QR menu for extra detail, while keeping enough information on the board to order without a phone.
Studio currently uses an English interface.
Design for the actual viewing position
Stand where the queue begins, not directly under the board. Ask whether you can read a dish name and its price under the busiest lighting conditions. For a food truck, also consider daylight, reflections and whether people block the lower edge.
Limit the board to information needed at the counter. Move long explanations to a separate readable menu, rather than shrinking every line. Keep a printed alternative or let staff explain options to guests who cannot read from that distance.
Group complete choices before extras
Original layout example: show “Rice bowl — grilled chicken, rice, vegetables” as one choice, then “Add egg” beneath the optional extras. State what the base price includes. A combo needs its drink and side options in the same visual group.
Keep sold-out items understandable with a clear temporary note. Avoid marks that can be mistaken for a new price. Choose a staff routine for checking the board against the menu used at the counter.
Keep lettering and contrast practical
Use a consistent lettering style with space between sections. Strong contrast helps text stand out; W3C specifies 4.5:1 for ordinary web text and 3:1 for large web text.[1] A physical board still needs an on-site distance test.
On a blackboard, clean away old prices before rewriting. On a printed board, check the real print rather than the file on a bright laptop. These suggestions concern content and legibility, not installation or screen-control software.
Use QR as a supplement
Put the QR where someone can approach it safely and label it “View the full menu.” Keep key prices on the board so scanning is optional. A full online menu can explain dishes that do not fit a short counter display.
Do not call the QR an order terminal when it only opens a menu. SeEat Studio provides a public visual menu and a QR sticker; it does not manage television menu screens.
A practical workflow
- List the choices and prices a guest needs before reaching the counter.
- Test a full-size sample from the actual queue position and revise what is hard to read.
- Add an optional link to the full menu, then check board and online content for consistency.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a digital signage product?
No. This guide covers menu-board content and readability; Studio does not control television screens.
How small can I make the lettering?
There is no single size that works for every distance and lighting condition. Test a full-size sample from where your guests stand.
Can the QR replace the board?
Keep the essential choices and prices visible. The QR adds detail for guests who want to browse further.
Sources
- W3C WAI. Understanding SC 1.4.3: Contrast (Minimum). Accessed
Studio currently uses an English interface.