You've successfully added your core menu items, descriptions, and photos to menu.url.rw – your digital menu is looking great! But to provide the best experience for your customers and accurately reflect your offerings, diving into detailed pricing, item variations (like sizes), optional add-ons, and essential dietary information is the next crucial step.
Properly configuring these details does more than just inform; it empowers customers to make clear choices, accommodates vital dietary needs, reduces ordering confusion for your staff, and can even increase your average check size through smart upsells. A menu that anticipates customer questions about sizes, extras, or ingredients builds trust and satisfaction.
This guide will walk you through managing prices, setting up item variations like sizes, configuring optional extras or add-ons, and clearly displaying important allergen and dietary information using the menu.url.rw platform.
Reviewing and Editing Basic Pricing
First, let's ensure your base prices are correct. When you initially added your items (as covered in our guide "Building Your Menu"), you entered a price.
- To Edit: Log in to your menu.url.rw dashboard, navigate to your Store and Menu, find the item you want to edit, and click the "Edit" icon or button. You should see the price field you entered previously. Simply update the numerical value and save your changes.
- Accuracy is Key: Regularly review your prices on the digital menu to ensure they match your current pricing structure. The beauty of digital is that updates are instant! (We cover updates in detail in Guide #7).
Handling Item Variations (e.g., Sizes, Styles)
Do you offer pizzas in Small, Medium, and Large? Soup by the Cup or Bowl? Coffee in different sizes? The "Options" or "Variants" feature in menu.url.rw allows you to handle this seamlessly without creating separate menu items for each variation.
- Find Item Options: While editing a menu item, look for a section labeled "Options," "Variants," "Choices," or similar.
- Create an Option Group: You'll typically start by creating a group for the options. Click "Add Option Group" or similar. Group Name: Give it a clear name that the customer will see, like "Size" or "Choose Size".Settings (Examples): You might see options like: Minimum/Maximum Selections: Can the customer select only one size (Min 1, Max 1) or multiple? (Usually 1 for size).Required: Is selecting a size mandatory? (Usually yes).
- Group Name: Give it a clear name that the customer will see, like "Size" or "Choose Size".
- Settings (Examples): You might see options like: Minimum/Maximum Selections: Can the customer select only one size (Min 1, Max 1) or multiple? (Usually 1 for size).Required: Is selecting a size mandatory? (Usually yes).
- Minimum/Maximum Selections: Can the customer select only one size (Min 1, Max 1) or multiple? (Usually 1 for size).
- Required: Is selecting a size mandatory? (Usually yes).
- Add Individual Options within the Group: Now, add the actual choices. Click "Add Option" within the "Size" group. Option Name: Enter the choice name (e.g., "Small," "Medium," "Large," "Cup," "Bowl").Price: This is key! Enter the specific price for this specific option. For example, Small Pizza: 12.99, Medium Pizza: 15.99, Large Pizza: 18.99. Some platforms might use a base item price and ask for price adjustments (+ $3.00 for Medium, + $6.00 for Large) – follow the interface guidance.Save: Save each option. Repeat for all variations in the group.
- Option Name: Enter the choice name (e.g., "Small," "Medium," "Large," "Cup," "Bowl").
- Price: This is key! Enter the specific price for this specific option. For example, Small Pizza: 12.99, Medium Pizza: 15.99, Large Pizza: 18.99. Some platforms might use a base item price and ask for price adjustments (+ $3.00 for Medium, + $6.00 for Large) – follow the interface guidance.
- Save: Save each option. Repeat for all variations in the group.
- Save the Item: Once all options for the group are added, save the main menu item. Customers viewing the menu will now be prompted to select a size before adding the item to their order (if ordering is enabled) or simply see the price variations.
Upselling with Add-ons & Extras
Want to offer extra cheese, bacon on a burger, a side salad upgrade, or different sauces? Item Options can also be used effectively for optional add-ons, helping increase order value.
- Create an Add-on Group: Follow the same process as above, but create a new Option Group named something like "Add-Ons," "Make it Extra," or "Customize Your Burger."
- Settings: For add-ons, you might set the Minimum Selection to 0 (making them optional) and the Maximum Selection to a higher number or unlimited if customers can choose multiple extras.
- Add Individual Add-on Options: Add each extra as an option. Option Name: (e.g., "Extra Cheese," "Add Bacon," "Avocado Slices," "Side Salad Upgrade").Price: Enter the additional charge for this specific add-on (e.g., 1.50, 2.00, 0.75). This price will be added to the item's base price or size price when selected.
- Option Name: (e.g., "Extra Cheese," "Add Bacon," "Avocado Slices," "Side Salad Upgrade").
- Price: Enter the additional charge for this specific add-on (e.g., 1.50, 2.00, 0.75). This price will be added to the item's base price or size price when selected.
- Save: Save each add-on option and then save the main menu item.
Now customers can easily customize their order with profitable extras directly from the digital menu!
Communicating Dietary & Allergen Information
This is crucial for customer safety and building trust. Clearly indicating allergens and dietary suitability helps customers make informed decisions.
- Find Dedicated Fields: When editing a menu item, look for specific sections or checkboxes related to: Allergens: Common allergens like "Contains Nuts," "Contains Dairy," "Contains Gluten," "Contains Soy," "Shellfish," etc. Check the boxes that apply to the item based on its ingredients and preparation.Dietary Tags/Labels: Options like "Vegetarian," "Vegan," "Gluten-Free," "Spicy," "Halal," "Kosher," etc. Select the relevant tags.
- Allergens: Common allergens like "Contains Nuts," "Contains Dairy," "Contains Gluten," "Contains Soy," "Shellfish," etc. Check the boxes that apply to the item based on its ingredients and preparation.
- Dietary Tags/Labels: Options like "Vegetarian," "Vegan," "Gluten-Free," "Spicy," "Halal," "Kosher," etc. Select the relevant tags.
- How it Displays: The platform will typically display this information clearly near the item name or description, often using standardized icons or text labels, making it easy for customers to see at a glance.
- Accuracy is Paramount: Ensure this information is completely accurate. If unsure, always consult with your kitchen staff or chef. Misinformation about allergens can have serious consequences. Use both specific allergen warnings and general dietary tags where appropriate.
Putting It All Together: Example
Imagine configuring a "Build Your Own Burger":
- Add the item "Craft Burger" with a base price (e.g., for the patty and bun).
- Create an Option Group "Choose Your Temperature" (Required, Min 1, Max 1) with options like "Medium Rare," "Medium," "Well Done" (Price: 0.00 for each).
- Create an Option Group "Add Cheese" (Optional, Min 0, Max 1) with options like "Cheddar," "Swiss," "Pepper Jack" (Price: e.g., 1.00 each).
- Create an Option Group "Premium Toppings" (Optional, Min 0, Max ?) with options like "Bacon," "Avocado," "Fried Egg" (Price: e.g., 1.50, 2.00, 1.75 respectively).
- Check the "Contains Gluten" allergen box (for the bun) and potentially others based on sauces.
A More Informative Menu Awaits
By effectively managing pricing, offering variations like sizes, suggesting profitable add-ons, and clearly communicating dietary information, you elevate your menu.url.rw digital menu from a simple list to a powerful tool. It enhances the customer experience, caters to diverse needs, streamlines ordering, and can even boost your bottom line.
Take the time to review your menu items and configure these important details. Your customers (and potentially your revenue) will thank you! Next, explore our guides on customizing your menu's overall appearance or generating the perfect branded QR code.