How to Put Your Restaurant Menu Online with Photos and Prices

1. 01

   Step 1: Take clear, well-lit photos of every dish

   

   Use your smartphone in a well-lit spot near a window during the day. Natural light works better than overhead fluorescents. Plate each dish the way you'd serve it to a customer, wipe the edges clean, and shoot from a 45-degree angle about two feet away. Take three or four shots of each item so you can pick the best one later. You don't need a professional photographer; you need honest photos that show what the food actually looks like. Avoid heavy filters. If a dish looks dark or blurry, reshoot it. Clear photos increase orders by showing customers exactly what they'll get.

2. 02

   Step 2: Write short, specific descriptions for each item

   

   Below each dish name, write two or three sentences that describe the ingredients, flavors, and size. Mention what's included: 'Served with fries and coleslaw' or 'Comes with rice, beans, and tortillas.' Call out anything people ask about often—spicy, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free. Use plain language: 'grilled chicken breast with garlic butter' beats 'succulent poultry with aromatic compound.' If a dish is popular, say so: 'Our most-ordered sandwich.' If it's big enough to share, mention that. Descriptions help customers decide and cut down on questions later.

3. 03

   Step 3: Set accurate prices and note any add-ons

   

   List the base price for each item, then add any optional extras below it: extra protein, side substitutions, drink upgrades. If you offer small and large sizes, list both with separate prices. Include combo deals if you have them. Check your prices against your in-house menu and your actual food costs; online pricing should match or be close to what walk-in customers pay. Some restaurants add a dollar or two to cover packaging for delivery orders, which is fine as long as it's clear. Don't surprise customers at checkout with hidden fees—list everything upfront so they know the total before they order.

4. 04

   Step 4: Organize your menu into clear categories

   

   Group items the way customers think: Appetizers, Salads, Sandwiches, Entrees, Sides, Desserts, Drinks. If you have a big menu, break it down further—Burgers, Tacos, Pasta, Seafood. Put your best-sellers or signature dishes at the top of each section. If you serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, separate those into different menus or mark the hours each is available. A clear structure makes it easy for first-time customers to find what they want and for regulars to reorder quickly. Avoid cluttering categories with too many items; 8–12 per section is a good target.

5. 05

   Step 5: Upload your menu to an online ordering platform

   

   Choose a platform that lets you add photos, prices, descriptions, and categories without charging a setup fee or taking a big cut of each order. Lumo, for example, lets restaurants open a free shop and pay just 5% when they make a sale—no monthly fees, no per-order delivery commission if customers pick up. Upload each photo, type in the name, description, and price, assign it to a category, and mark it in stock. If an item runs out, you can toggle it off so customers don't order it. Set your shop hours, pickup instructions, and whether you offer delivery. The whole process takes an hour or two for a typical menu.

6. 06

   Step 6: Test your menu by placing a practice order

   

   Before you go live, walk through the customer experience. Browse your menu, add a few items to the cart, go to checkout, and make sure prices, photos, and descriptions all look right. Check that your shop hours are correct and that pickup or delivery options appear as you intended. If something looks off—wrong photo, missing description, incorrect price—fix it now. Ask a friend or family member to try ordering on their phone so you see what customers will see. Testing catches mistakes before real orders come in and saves you from refunding confused customers or remaking wrong orders.

7. 07

   Step 7: Promote your online menu to your customers

   

   Print your ordering link or QR code on receipts, table tents, and your front window. Post it on your social media, your Google Business profile, and your website if you have one. Tell customers in person: 'You can order ahead online for pickup.' Send a text or email to your regulars with the link. Update your voicemail greeting to mention online ordering. The more you remind people, the more orders you'll get. Track which items sell best online and consider featuring them in posts or photos. Once customers know they can order directly from you and skip the phone or the big delivery apps, many will.

Photos are illustrative. Service prices are typical ranges and vary by city. How we write our guides.