Exploring Menu Items: Categories and Interface in Food Service

What are Menu Items?

Menu items are the sale items that are available for customers to purchase. They are grouped into categories and can be represented as buttons or images on the system interface.
Each menu item must belong to a Category

To manage Menu Items, go to Control Panel > Menu management > Menu Items (Create / Edit)




Choose a Category and Select an empty Item slot.






Menu Item Editor
“Item name” – receipt/button description 

“Alternate name” – Will be shown on the order printer

“Item description” – This will show on the button when using the 

order function “Show Item Information”

This is a very useful feature and is not to be overlooked. It can be use                                                                                                                                             d for allergy information, recipes, a general description of the item or anything else you can think of 

“Ticket order” – The order the modifiers will print in. The lowest numbered modifier will print first

“Website position” – No longer used

“Button Color” - The Color of the button graphic for the POS

“Report category” – Reporting categories are groups used for reports. These need to be created prior to the item being created and cannot be done from the POS. Go to Backoffice > Menu > Report Categories 

“Auto Select Status” – If BO > Settings > POS > Table Service > Advanced Table Statuses is enabled then you can have the status change automatically when the item is rang through the till. The status will change every time an item with this setting enabled is rang through

“Font size” - size of the text on the button

“Text position” - location of the text on the button

“Timeset” – Timesets are objects that represent groups of time. They are created from Backoffice > Menu > Timesets


Once created they can be applied to multiple areas of the system. 

When applied to a “Menu Item” it will only available during the times defined in the “Timeset”


Item Price - Default selling price of the item

Taxcode 1-3 - From the drop-down list the user can select from any tax codes which have been set

Printer 1-3 - From the drop-down list the user can select a printer for the item to print to

Print to closest bar. The closest bar can be set from Table Section

KDS 1 - From the drop-down list the user can select a kitchen display screen to user for the item

KDS 2 - From the drop-down list the user can select a kitchen display screen to user for the item

Barcode - The barcode number for retail items

Sales Reference - Item reference is used when there are multiple buttons for the same item. 

It allows the user to put the same exact item in multiple locations. You could for example have bottled water, or Fries in every category. When you run your sales report, each menu item will report to the item selected in the sales reference.

“Order Method Availability” – if the method is ticked the item will display and be available to be sold when using that order method

Special Item Types

Appetizer – When this is checked and the item is sold the server will be presented with two options – appetizer or entrée. The item will then show under either Appetizer or "Entrée" on the order ticket. All other items rang through after this point will print under entrée unless they are also marked appetizer at which point you will be asked the same question

Drink – Used in conjunction with settings > POS > Table Service > Drinks Per Guest. This will prompt when number of drinks is not equal to the same number of guests

Don’t allow Modifiers – Will not allow modifiers to be used with this Menu Item

Doesn’t Print – Zero priced items will not print on the receipt

Open Item - When sold with this option enabled you will be presented with the following screen 

You will need to fill out a name for the item and a price as a minimum. This allows you to sell an open item. It is common to have one reporting to drink and one reporting to food for any items which need to be sold but are not on the menu.


Speed Mods - Displays all modifiers on the screen.
For more information on Speed Mods, visit the following link Speed Mods

Gift Card – If ticked then the button will sell a gift card and not an item

Discountable- Determines if a discount is allowed to be applied to an item

Hidden – Removes the button from the Pos. it will show as a blank square.

Open Option - Will present you with a screen that will allow you to sell a modifier (option) that you set up on the fly. This is the same as pressing Order Functions > Custom Modifier

Item Image – If an image is added it will show here. You can Delete or Add an image from this location. If an image is used then the “Item Name” will not be visible

Request Quantity - is a scalable item. You select a unit of measure from the list and when you sell the item you will be asked for the total weight

Item Has Sub-Items – When selected it turns the menu item into another category that can store up to 5 pages of additional items.
Item Is A Special – A way to sell items like modifiers.
For more information on Item Specials, visit the following link Item Is A Special
Print Label - Is used to be able to print to a label printer
Auto Select Status - These are the colors of the tables on the table Diagram
For more information on Auto Select Status, visit the following link  Auto Select Status
Course / Label - Sets the course or label for this item by changing the color indicator in the “Current Ticket” box
For more information on Coursing, visit the following link Course label
Price Levels
Counter
Counter Multiplier – The number you enter here is the number of that will be removed from the counter when the item is sold.
Inventory Item – When selected you will be asked for details to Crete an Inventory Product. This will create a Menu Item and an Inventory Item/Product but will not link one to the other. See Inventory Documentation for more information
Editing Menu Items

Along the bottom you have 6 large orange buttons. These allow you to modify the Menu Items 



Move Item
  1. Select “Move Item”. When selected (highlighted black), the system will stay in the “Move Item” mode until you de-select it.
  2. Select a button you wish to move
  3. Now select an empty location (grey) or an existing button for the buttons to switch positions
Merge Buttons
Allows you to increase the size of a button
  1. Select “Merge Buttons”. When selected (highlighted black), the system will stay in the mode “Merge Buttons” until you de-select it.
  2. Select a button you wish to enlarge
  3. Now select a grey button, the sale button will now stretch to the button you selected
Reset Size
Sets the size of a Menu Item back to 1 square
  1. Select “Reset Size” When selected (highlighted blue), the system will stay in the mode “Reset Size” until you de-select it.
  2. Select any Menu Item that is larger than 1 square
The menu item will now be set to occupy the space of 1 square
Alphabetize
Places all the buttons currently on the screen in alphabetical order. There is no undo so be sure you want to do this when confirming the change   
  1. Select the category you wish to alphabetize
  2. Select Alphabetize
  3. Agree to the warning
The Menu Items will now be in alphabetical order


Stand Alone Modifiers
Stand Alone Modifiers are Modifiers appear on the same screen as menu items. They allow you to modify the menu item after it has been rung though.
For more information, visit this article Stand Alone Modifiers
Copy Items
Allows you to duplicate the selected item
  1. Select an existing menu item
  2. Select an empty location for the new menu item
You will be asked if you wish to add a sales reference. This is asking if the item you are creating is the same as the item you just copied. It allows the user to put the same exact item in multiple locations. You could for example have bottled water, or Fries in every category. When you run your sales report, each menu item will report to the item selected in the sales reference.



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