How to Create and Manage Menus in Orion's Plan

This comprehensive guide explains how to build, organize, and manage menus in Orion's Plan.

Understanding Menu Structure

Orion's Plan supports a hierarchical menu system:

1. Menu Items - Individual dishes (e.g., "Grilled Salmon")
2. Categories - Groups of items (e.g., "Main Courses", "Starters")
3. Menus - Complete menu collections (e.g., "Dinner Menu", "Christmas Set Menu")

Prerequisites

• You must be logged in as a restaurant administrator
• Your restaurant profile must be set up

Part 1: Creating Menu Items

Menu items are the building blocks of your menus. Create these first.

Step-by-Step: Create a Menu Item

1. Navigate to Menu Management - Click "Menu" in the left sidebar, select "Menu Items" tab
2. Click "Add New Item" - Look for "+ Add New Item" or "Create Item" button
3. Enter Basic Information - Item Name, Description, Price, Currency
4. Select Category - Starters, Mains, Desserts, Drinks, Sides, etc.
5. Add Photo (Recommended) - Upload photo, supported formats JPG/PNG, recommended 500x500px
6. Add Allergen Information - Nuts, Dairy, Gluten, Eggs, Fish, Shellfish, Soy, etc.
7. Add Dietary Information (Optional) - Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free
8. Save Menu Item - Click "Create Item" or "Save" button

Managing Existing Menu Items

• Edit: Go to Menu > Menu Items, find item, click edit icon, modify, save
• Delete: Find item, click delete icon, confirm deletion
• Search and Filter: Use search bar, filter by category, dietary options, sort by name or price

Part 2: Creating Complete Menus

After creating menu items, combine them into complete menus.

Step-by-Step: Create a Menu

1. Navigate to Menus - Go to Menu section, click on "Menus" tab
2. Click "Create New Menu" - Look for "+ New Menu" button
3. Enter Menu Information - Menu Name, Description, Price, Currency
4. Select Menu Type - A la carte, Set Menu, or Multi-course
5. Add Menu Items - Click "Add Items", choose from your created menu items
6. Arrange Items - Drag and drop to reorder, group by course or category
7. Set Menu Availability - Start Date, End Date, Available Days, Time Slots
8. Configure Pre-ordering - Toggle "Allow Pre-orders", set deadline
9. Add Photos (Optional) - Upload menu cover photo
10. Save Menu - Click "Create Menu" or "Save"

Managing Menus

• Edit: Click on menu name or edit icon, modify, save
• Activate/Deactivate: Toggle "Active" switch
• Duplicate: Click "Duplicate" icon, edit name and dates, save as new menu

Part 3: Assigning Menus to Bookings

• When Creating Booking: Find "Menu" dropdown, select appropriate menu
• For Existing Booking: Click on booking, "Edit Booking", select menu, save

Best Practices

Menu Items

• Use clear, appetizing descriptions
• Include all allergen information
• Upload high-quality photos
• Keep prices up to date
• Review and update seasonally

Menu Organization

• Group items logically by course
• Use consistent naming
• Keep descriptions concise but enticing
• Remove unavailable items promptly

Pre-ordering

• Enable for set menu events
• Give reasonable deadlines (24-48 hours)
• Send reminders before deadline
• Allow modifications up to deadline
• Generate kitchen prep reports

Tips for Success

1. Start Simple: Begin with your core menu items, expand later
2. Professional Photos: Invest in good food photography
3. Update Regularly: Keep menus current and seasonal
4. Guest Feedback: Listen to what guests order most
5. Test Pre-orders: Try pre-ordering for special events first
6. Clear Descriptions: Help guests make informed choices
7. Allergen Accuracy: Double-check all allergen information
8. Price Consistency: Ensure prices match physical menus