Photograph your menu once. Get the details right.

Start with the version you actually sell

Put aside old leaflets and drafts before taking photos. Choose the current menu, including drinks, sides, meal deals and any separate page for extras. If your online prices or availability will differ, write those changes down clearly rather than expecting someone to infer them.

Check the information customers need to make a choice: dish name, description, size, price and the options that change the price. For a pizza, that could mean size, base, extra toppings and which choices are included. For a meal deal, explain exactly how many items can be selected from each group.

A five-minute photo checklist

1. Flatten the page. Open folded menus fully. Make sure the fold does not hide a digit or item name.
2. Use even light. Move away from glare on laminated menus. A bright window can work well without flash.
3. Keep your phone above the page. A straight-on photograph is easier to read than a sharp angle across a table.
4. Include every edge. Do not crop the last price column or the small print at the bottom.
5. Zoom in before sending. Check the smallest text and the difference between similar prices such as £6.50 and £8.50.

For a large menu, take one overview and then clear photographs of each section. Use a consistent order so it is obvious which parts belong together. Avoid including customers, receipts or private information in the background.

Send the details a photograph cannot explain

A menu image may not show whether a choice is required, whether two extras can be combined, or when a particular dish is available. Keep a short accompanying list of those rules and have it ready for the setup conversation.

The application form on tastie. accepts up to five JPG, PNG, WebP or PDF files, with a maximum of 5 MB each and 10 MB in total. If your original photos are larger, export smaller copies and check that the prices remain readable. You can also supply a menu link, or apply first and send the menu later.

Review the prepared menu before it goes live

Work through the prepared version as if you were placing an order. Check every price, option, deal and description against your current menu. Confirm sold-out dishes have not slipped through from an old photograph. Keep one named person responsible for approving the final version.

Allergen information needs its own careful review; it must not be guessed from a dish name or photograph. Check the Food Standards Agency’s allergen guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or the relevant guidance for your location, and make sure your information is current.

Finish by testing one simple order, one order with extras and one meal deal. A readable photo starts the process; your final check makes the menu yours.

Start your application with a menu upload.