9417, yes, you heard it right!
Our digital menu board customers created these many unique menu board templates with DotSignage in 2023.
And guess what, we designed only 15% of these templates. The rest were all created by our customers themselves.
The real star, you ask? Our menu board template editor, a crowd favorite, and we’re sure you’ll agree.
As we gear up for the next year, let’s reflect on the awesomeness of 2023.
We’ve been pushing boundaries, trying new things, and helping our clients succeed in the world of digital signage.
Our exploration led us to dive deep into how clients utilized our digital menu boards.
The insights gained from 2023 experiences guide us in providing the best digital menu board strategies for 2024.
The goal of this study is to help you decide which is the best restaurant digital signage at the moment, saving you time and efforts.
We’ve considered key factors that drive the design of menu boards.This analysis is based on the study of 5000+ menu board designs that our customers have created.
About 46% of our menu board template users prefer minimalist designs.
Restaurant owners prioritize simplicity because it makes menus easier for customers to read.
Multicolored Menu Board Template
Approximately 26% of our users favor menu templates with vibrant category boxes. These templates provide the freedom to emphasize menu specials or top-selling items.
Restaurant owners can easily highlight menu specials or best selling menu items using such templates.
Chalkboard Menu Board Template
Chalkboard menu boards for restaurants offer a nostalgic charm while seamlessly blending with the contemporary aesthetic.
They evoke those good old vibes while staying perfectly in sync with today’s trends.
About 13% of our menu board users specifically choose the delightful allure of chalkboard designs.
Image heavy digital menu board templates
Approximately 13% of our customers opt for visually striking digital menu board templates that let images do the talking.
This proves especially beneficial for newly added menu items or to accentuate ongoing specials.
The image-centric design not only captivates attention but also serves as an effective communication tool, instantly conveying the appeal of featured dishes.
Crafting an optimal menu board involves precision. Aim for a balanced selection, around 15 to 20 items, ensuring variety without overwhelming customers.
This range facilitates quicker decision-making and enhances overall customer satisfaction. Streamlining choices to the most popular and profitable items maximizes efficiency and customer experience.
A concise menu not only eases the decision process but also allows each item to shine, increasing the likelihood of customer engagement for restaurants and repeat visits.
1. Less than 13 menu items:
Around 22% of our customers display 13 menu items or less on digital menu boards.
While a lot of restaurants usually have many menu items, many go for a refined approach and decide to have less menu items.
Based on our research for the menu boards, we found that showcasing up to 13 items with medium sized food photos on the menu templates helped to create an impactful presentation.
2. 13-20 Menu Items:
Around 45% of our customers prefer to have menu items between 13-20 on their digital menu boards.
This gives your digital menu board enough space and flexibility to play around the menu board theme and design.
For menus containing up to 20 items, enhance engagement by providing detailed titles, descriptions, and prices. Highlight various food sizes to give customers a comprehensive view of your offerings.
3. 20 Menu Items or more:
Around 33% of our customers preferred to have 20 or more menu items since they had an extensive menu and usually employed 3 or more screens for it.
If you have 20 or more items, go for a straightforward menu format with small food photos next to each section, omitting item descriptions for simplicity.
A concise menu not only eases the decision process but also allows each item to shine, increasing the likelihood of quicker customer orders.
The key is to strike a harmonious balance that caters to diverse preferences while maintaining a manageable and visually appealing menu.
Fonts play a very important role on menu boards since they drive the readability of your menus.
So, it becomes important to choose the right font type for your menu board.
Based on our analysis, we found the below fonts that our restaurant clients preferred for their menus.
Here is the list of the font types that can be used:
These fonts have been favored for their visual appeal and readability, making them suitable choices to enhance the overall presentation of your menu on digital boards.
In the vibrant world of digital menu boards in 2023, certain colors emerged as culinary trendsetters.
White
It goes without saying that white came out on top. Known for its simplicity yet elegant look, it had to be the ideal choice as the most used color on the digital menu boards.
The versatility of white allowed for easy integration with various brand identities and menu styles at restaurants.
Around 60% of our clients used white on the menu boards where at a lot of places, it was used as a background.
Yellow
Yellow as a color exudes warmth. We observed that yellow strategically highlighted specials, draws focus, and subtly nudges customers toward particular menu items.
There are several shades of yellow that can be put to right use depending on the kind of vibe the restaurant is going for.
Many big brands like Mcdonald’s and Subway also use yellow not only on their logo but also at the center stage of their menu board.
Around 49% of the templates used in our system had yellow as a prominent color on them.
Black
Black is a bold color that naturally stands out. It provides a versatile background that makes menu items easy to read, especially when highlighting featured items.
Similar to white, black enhances readability on menu boards, making them more user-friendly.
Throughout the year, black was predominantly used as a background to improve readability, ensuring that customers can easily navigate and understand the menu.
Black was used in around 46% of our created templates, naturally justifying its dominating presence on the menus.
Orange
We observed that orange as a color was mostly used in the menu headers, to highlight specials or key elements on the menu.
Just like yellow, orange has the tendency to grab attention owing to its vibrant nature.
Restaurant owners put this effect to use by using orange as the key color to highlight on their menu.
Orange was used on around 32% of the menu templates with our digital signage template editor.
Red
Red is a popular choice on digital menus because it grabs attention and creates a sense of urgency.
Restaurants use red to make customers excited about limited-time deals and tempting menu items.
Its dynamic nature helps establishments stand out and encourages patrons to explore the menu offerings.
Around 26% of our customers preferred using red color on the templates making it one of our top used colors on digital menu boards.
Green
Green took center stage on digital menu boards for cannabis, becoming a prominent color choice in 2023.
From highlighting product categories to promoting organic or sustainable options, green played a pivotal role in creating visually cohesive and inviting digital menus tailored to the unique needs and preferences of cannabis consumers.
Around 13% of our digital menu boards, most of them being Cannabis templates, had green as the highlight of the menu board.
Choosing the right orientation for your digital menu boards involves considering several factors: available space, distance to the order counter, menu size, design preferences, franchise norms, and aesthetic appeal.
Landscape orientation normally is a prevalent choice across many locations for digital menu boards.
In our analysis, we discovered a clear preference among our customer base, with 60% opting for landscape digital menu boards and the remaining 40% choosing the portrait version.
This insight underscores the importance of catering to diverse preferences within our clientele. It not only influences the layout and readability but also impacts the overall visual impact and engagement levels.
Choosing the right TV size depends on the space between the order counter and the menu wall.
If you have 6-8 feet, we suggest a 50″ TV. If it’s more, consider going for 55″ or higher. Just keep in mind the available space and distance.
We observed 55” TV to be a crowd favorite for our clients. Around 30% of them used this size and most of them were QSR chains.
The second most preferred size was 50” TV screens. These were mostly used by restaurant chains that had around 5-6 outlets.
The third preferred size was 42” TV screens that were mostly used by small cafes who just started out as well as for food truck digital menu boards.
We checked what people like on digital menus, and here’s what we found:
Pizza (17%): Pizza is the big winner, around 17% of the templates created highlighted Pizza as the top category.
Chicken (13%): Chicken is also a favorite, getting 13% of the digital menu board occupancy.
Coffee (11%): This is a no brainer. Coffee took 11% of the spot on the menu boards, serving as a daily brew preference for everyone.
Cannabis-Infused Items (10%): Surprisingly, cannabis-infused items are popular, grabbing 10% of the attention.
Chalkboard Style (8%): Even though we’re in the digital age, the classic chalkboard style still has a place. Restaurants even to this day, prefer to use chalkboard style menus.
Burgers (7%): Last but not least, burgers are a classic favorite, with 7% of occupancy on digital menu boards.
We wanted to make digital menus awesome, so we added the ability to have QR codes on them. Our study with different clients showed that QR codes on digital menu boards do a lot to make customers more engaged.
27% of digital menus have QR codes that take you straight to the Online Ordering place. This makes ordering food super easy and quick, making dining more convenient for everyone.
But wait, there’s more! 13% of menus have QR codes for Restaurant Rewards. It’s a clever way to keep people coming back for more yummy experiences.
And hey, social media is a big deal too. About 7% of menus use QR codes to link you to their social media pages. This helps the restaurant be more popular online, and customers can share their experiences as well.
Adding gluten-free or vegan symbols on digital menu boards holds significant importance in catering to diverse dietary preferences and requirements.
Clear symbols for gluten-free or vegan options on digital menu boards provide instant recognition for customers seeking specific dietary choices.
Many people have dietary restrictions due to health conditions or lifestyle choices.
By prominently displaying gluten-free or vegan symbols, restaurants demonstrate their commitment to fostering inclusivity and expanding their customer base.
In some regions, there are legal requirements for restaurants to disclose allergen information, including gluten content.
Around 16% of the templates created in our system use these symbols to enhance customer experience.
Displaying nutritional information on digital menu boards holds crucial importance for several reasons.
Clear information on calorie counts, fat content, and other nutritional factors helps individuals align their food choices with their dietary preferences and health goals.
Including nutritional information on digital menu boards helps individuals with dietary restrictions, such as those managing diabetes, food allergies, or adhering to specific diets, to make choices that align with their needs.
In regions where there are legal requirements for cannabis-infused products, edibles, or other regulated items, displaying nutritional information becomes essential for compliance with industry standards.
Off late, we noticed a significant increase in the display of nutritional information on the digital menu boards.
Restaurants that have built their menu on healthy food options have majorly highlighted the nutritional information.
This specifically went on to be a highlight for menu sections like healthy smoothies, salads and cannabis menus.
At least 12% of our menu board users have created a healthy section on their menu boards to display nutritional information.
The decision to update a menu depends on factors such as the type of cuisine, customer preferences, and the restaurant’s overall business strategy.
Some restaurants update their menus seasonally, while others may make changes monthly, weekly, or even daily.
We observed that around 60% of our customers went on to make monthly updates to their menu while the remaining 40% preferred to make menu updates weekly or daily.
The percent of restaurants going for daily updates is comparatively lower to the weekly updates.
The factors that we have counted in and the results that we have found can be helpful for a new restaurant owner or anyone who is looking for a guide to design menu boards in 2024.
At DotSignage, we make sure to cater to the multifaceted needs of our clients. You will find all kinds of menu board templates in our menu board template editor.
We have around 550+ menu board templates that can be customized as needed by our customers and we keep adding more.
We are planning to add more features to our system in the coming months that will make it more intuitive and enhance the overall customer experience.
If you are looking for an easy-to-use digital menu board solution, give our 7-day free trial a go or schedule a quick demo with us.
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