Overview
Modifiers allow eaters to make their order even more customizable while ordering from your menu— they provide diners with a wide range of options and combinations.
Modifier Group VS Nested Modifier
Modifier groups and nested modifiers are created by adding existing menu items to form a common group. The purpose of the group is to add additional options to another menu item for the eater to choose from to customize their order.
Nested modifiers can be used to create a hierarchical structure of different choices for one menu item.
Modifier + Nested Modifier Example
For your menu item Cheeseburger, you want to display the option for Add Ons (contains Fries) for eaters to add their Cheeseburger order— Add Ons is the modifier group.
When an eater selects Add Ons > Fries, they will need to select from Fry Type (contains sweet potato fries or cheese fries)— the Fry Type is the nested modifier.
Nested Modifiers Supported Platforms
Keep in mind, not all delivery platforms support nested modifiers. Platforms that do support nested modifiers may also have a limit on that modifier levels supported.
In these cases, you’ll need to make adjustments to your menu prior to publishing. To view what platforms currently support nested modifiers and modifier level limitations, check here.
Creating a Modifier + Nested Modifier Group
Be sure all menu items are created as a single menu item before creating the modifier and nested modifier groups.
Modifier Menu Item Creation Example:
You want to make a modifier group for Sides. You’d first create menu items for side dish options you offer:
- Curly Fries
- Onion Rings
- Cheese Fries
You want to make a nested modifier group to add to Sides modifier group that allows eaters to choose what size of a side they’d like. You’d first create menu items:
- Small side
- Medium side
- Large side
Modifier Item Category Selection
When adding items that will only be used as a modifier or nested modifier and you do not wish for them to appear individually on your menu, when creating the item leave Appears in > Category selection blank.
Modifier Group Creation
The first level of choices that can be added to a main menu item is a modifier group. A Modifier Group must be created before creating a correlating Nested Modifier group.
Steps to create a Modifier Group:
Step | Process | Image |
---|---|---|
1 | From the Otter Dashboard, click Apps > Menus. | |
2 |
Select the menu you’d like to edit. Go to the Modifier Groups tab and click [+ Add modifier group]. |
|
3 |
Add modifier group name & description. Example: |
|
4 |
Set the Modifier group settings. Select menu items to add in this modifier group under Modifier group options. Example: For my Sides modifier group, I will select fries, cheese fries, and curly fries for the Modifier group options section. |
|
5 |
Select what menu items you’d like to use this modifier group. Example: I want eaters to be shown Sides as an option to add to their Burgers. I will select all the burger options from the drop-down. |
|
6 | Select Assigned locations to edit the item for. | |
7 | Click [Save] to save edits. | |
8 |
Click [Publish] to publish menu updates. Select all locations and delivery channels you'd like to apply changes, then click [Publish menu]. |
Nested Modifier Group Creation
To create a nested modifier group, you will follow the same steps as creating a modifier group. The difference is that instead of creating an option for the main menu item (like a Burger), you’re creating another layer of options for the existing modifier group (like Sides).
Nested Modifier Group Creation Example:
For modifier group Sides, I want to create another layer of options for the eater to choose the size of the side. I’m going to create Side Size nested modifier group. For this group, I add the following under Modifier group options:
- Small side
- Medium side
- Large side
For the Items using this modifier group, I will add the menu items that are already within the modifier group Sides. So, I will select the following to attach this nested modifier to:
- Cheese fries
- Curly fries
-
Fries
Now, when an eater selects a Burger, they will see the option to add a Side. When they select a Side, they will then be able to choose the Side Size.
Default Modifiers
When an item within a modifier group is checked as a Default modifier— when the cashier or eater selects the main menu item with that modifier, that item within the modifier group will be automatically selected.
To set Default modifiers, while creating or editing a modifier groups, just check the item listed within the modifier group under Default modifier column.
Changing Modifier Selection
The modifier default choices can be changed if the eater would like a different item within the modifier group. While ordering, the eater can select another choice within the modifier groups instead.
Default Modifier Example:
For the menu item Cafe Latte, it has the modifier group Milk. Within the Milk modifier group, the options are:
- Whole Milk
- Non-fat Milk
- Oat Milk
Whole Milk is set as the Default modifier. When the eater selects Cafe Latte to order, Whole Milk will automatically show as the Milk selection.
Not Support Alert
If there are any items within the modifier group that may cause an issue with Default modifier settings, it will be flagged with a warning icon.
Negative Modifiers
Negative modifiers allow the user to remove ingredients or choose options that when selected, adjust the price of the main menu item accordingly. This helps ensure more accurate pricing and an easier ordering experience for eaters.
Negative Modifier Example:
For the Smash Cheeseburger Combo ($11.95), you must select a Drink option— since the modifier choice of Water is priced at -$1.00, if the eater chooses Water, the price of the Smash Cheeseburger Combo is deducted by $1.00.
Steps to add a negative modifier:
When creating the single menu item to add as a modifier— when setting the price for the item, you will set the price as a negative price.
Once you have created the menu item with a negative price, you can continue the steps to add it to a modifier group.
Negative Modifiers Supported Channels
Negative modifier prices are supported for direct orders (like website and kiosk ordering) and may be supported on some delivery partner platforms as well.
Currently negative modifiers are not supported on Otter POS and may not be supported on some delivery partner platforms.
If you receive a negative price error while trying to publish your menu, check out how to resolve it here.
Adding a Modifier to a Menu Item
You can add a modifier group to a menu item while creating a new or editing an existing menu item. Keep in mind, you can add more that one modifier group to a menu item.
For this menu item below, Cheeseburger, there are two modifiers added: Add Ons option and Cheese selection.
Steps to adding modifier to a menu item:
Step | Process | Image |
---|---|---|
1 | From the Otter Dashboard, click Apps > Menus. | |
2 |
Select the menu you’d like to edit. Select a menu item to edit or click [+Add item] to create a new item. |
|
3 | Scroll to Customize item section. | |
4 | Select the modifier group to add to the menu item. | |
5 | Select Assigned locations to edit the item for. | |
6 | Click [Save] to save edits. | |
7 |
Click [Publish] to publish menu updates. Select all locations and delivery channels you'd like to apply changes, then click [Publish menu]. |
Troubleshooting
-
Nested modifiers are not currently supported on all platforms. If you see this error message while editing your menu, this means one of the delivery platforms you’re connected to does not support nested modifiers.
In this case, you will not be able to publish your menu with a nested modifier structure. You will need to have flat menu— meaning each a menu item can only have 1 layer of modifiers.
Example:
You want eaters to be able to choose a Side when ordering a Burger. Your Sides, however, come in different sizes— instead of using a nested modifier option (Sides Sides Size), you’d need to create 1 modifier group of “Sides” and list every item & size option, like this:
Small fries
Medium fries
Small curly fries
Medium curly fries
Small cheese fries
Medium cheese fries
FAQs
- Different platforms/channels may support a different level of Nested Modifiers. Here is a list of currently supported levels:
Nested Modifier Levels Platform/Channels 0 BentoBox
ChowNow
Ritual
Caviar
Phone
1 Skip the Dishes
Google Food Services
Zuppler
5 Allset 6 UberEats
DoorDash
GrubHub
Direct Orders
Direct Orders- Kitchens
Otter POS
7 Owner.com
Related to
Updated