Manually Build a Menu

Overview

Otter customers can choose to manually create a new menu within Otter Dashboard. This method also allows you to add each menu item and edit each setting individually. 

For more expedited menu building options, you can:

 

 

Creating a New Menu

To manually build a menu in the Otter Dashboard, you will first need to create a new menu to build onto. Follow the steps below to create a new menu.

  • Step Process Image
    1 From the Otter Dashboard, select Apps > Menus.
    Menus App
    2 Click [+ Add menu].
    Add Menu Button
    3

    Select the Brand this menu will belong to.

    Note: The menu will only be available to locations under the brand.

    Name the menu and click [Continue].
    Select Brand Menu
    4

    Select the Create from Other options drop down.

    Click [Continue].
    Create Menu Option
    5

    Select Location to import the menu from.

    Click [Continue].
    Import Location Select
    6

    Choose which locations to assign this imported menu to.

    Conflict Locations:

    If a location listed is flagged as Conflict, it means that location currently has a different menu assigned to it. 

    If you choose a location flagged as Conflict, the current menu will be unassigned and the new imported menu will be assigned.
    7 Menu has been created and is ready to build from.
    New Menu Created

Once a new menu has been created, you can now build the menu by adding categories, items, photos, etc. Learn more about the recommended order to build your menu and each step below.

 

 

Menu Building Recommended Task Order

When building a menu from scratch, there are a lot of items, entities, and settings to add. To keep the process as easy and organized as possible, here is the suggested task order to build your menu:

  • Create Menu
  • Create Categories
  • Upload Photos
  • Create Items
  • Create Modifier Groups
  • Add Menu Hours
  • Configure Menu Settings

Learn more about each task below.

Create Menu

Before you’re able to do any other task, you must first create a menu to build off of. Once you have a menu created, you’ll be able to add categories, items, photos, etc. 

Create Menu Option

Create Categories

Adding menu categories will help structure your menu— allowing you to keep organized when moving onto adding individual items to your menu.

Menu Categories

Upload Photos

Adding menu photos will help showcase your food and be helpful to eaters browsing your menu. Once you’ve uploaded photos to your menu’s photo collection in the Otter Dashboard, you’ll be able to assign these photos to individual menu items.

Menu Photo Collection

Check out Otter’s Menu Photo Guide for helpful tips on taking menu photos.

Create Items

Adding menu items allow you to provide information about your food offerings to eaters.

Menu Item Adding

Create Modifier Groups

Adding modifiers to your menu gives eaters the opportunity to customize their orders and adds option levels to your menu.

NestedModifiersEaterOrderView GIF

Add Menu Hours

Adding menu hours lets customers know and sets your menu’s availability. Keep in mind, your menu will not be able to publish to some platform without menu hours set.

Publish Menu Hours

Configure Menu Settings

Select the settings for your Menu— like allowing eaters to add special instructions or enabling photo enhancement.

Menu Settings Fields

 

 

FAQs

  • Yes— You can make edits to your menu as needed. Learn more about what edits you can make to your menu(s) and how, here.
  • Yes— You can create a menu without assigning it to a location. Whenever you’re ready, you can go back in and assign the menu to the location(s) you’d like it to be served.

 

 

Still need help? Reach out to our team:

Chat Icon in Otter Dashboard Live Chat   Text bubble Text/SMS Message
Chat with support by clicking the chat icon in the bottom right corner of the Otter Dashboard.  

+1 (888) 681-8837

Send us a text to the number above for assistance over text message.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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