Walk into almost any café or restaurant today and you’ll spot a QR code somewhere. On the table, in the window, printed on a takeaway bag — they’ve quickly become part of everyday dining. But why do restaurants love them so much, and what’s the real benefit? So today, I am going to break it all down, on the why, when and who for qr codes for restaurants.
For restaurants, QR codes were pushed into the restaurant world during the covid pandemic and since then has been a real game-changer. No more re-printing menus every time there’s a price change. No more clutter on tables. Just one scan and your customer has the most up-to-date menu in their hand. Simple, cheap, and quick.
Recently when visiting cafes, restaurants, I’ve started noticing more and more places using the power of QR codes. Pricing, menus and special boards need updating, so why not just host the menu on a PDF that customers can scan qr code and view on their phones. You can even say the menu in your browser for a later date, so you can view and decide before you turn up.
Table menus are probably the most common use. A small QR sticker on the table replaces a big, bulky folder. The customer scans and reads the full menu — job done. But here’s the clever part: with LinkShortener.io, those QR codes don’t have to look boring. You can add your logo, brand colours, even a cheeky line like “Scan for Today’s Specials.” That little touch makes the experience feel on-brand, not generic.
Some restaurants have taken things a step further. QR codes don’t just show menus — they let customers place orders and even pay without waiting for staff. That means less queueing, fewer bottlenecks, and happier customers. And for managers? It’s easy to track how many tables are using the QR option compared to traditional ordering.
I, like many, are a big fan of ordering at and to the table rather than standing in a queue and ordering with a member of staff. I can sit in my chair, view all my options of what I want to eat without any pressure or holding up the person behind me. Wetherspoons is a leader in this area in the UK, with qr codes on the tables or table numbers to order your drinks or food to your table. Which do you prefer?
Think about the last time you ordered food to go. QR codes are brilliant for driving repeat orders. A restaurant might pop a QR on the receipt bag or a flyer with the message “Order again in 2 clicks.” With LinkShortener.io templates, you can create QR codes that link directly to your JustEat, Deliveroo, or Uber Eats page — all branded to your business.
Plain black-and-white codes work fine, but they don’t exactly scream “trust me.” With LinkShortener.io, you can tweak almost everything:
- Foreground and background colours
- Rounded or dotted styles instead of square blocks
- A logo dropped right in the middle
- Call-to-action text like “Scan Me Now”
These design tweaks not only look better but also reassure customers that the QR belongs to your brand
Here’s something many restaurant owners don’t think about: every scan tells you something. With LinkShortener.io, you can see when and where customers are scanning. Did more people use the QR on the table or the poster in the window? That data helps restaurants decide what’s working — and what needs changing.
Now this where it can get really interesting! You coud in a restaurant generator a unique qr code for placement around the restaurant. One for each table, door and window. Then within the reporting with LinkShortener.io, you could see exactly which tables are getting orders, do people order if close to the front desk. Do your customers use the outside qr codes more than inside tables. All this data an open lots of questions as it where and when you display qr codes
QR codes aren’t going anywhere. They’ve gone from being a quick fix during the COVID era to a normal part of eating out. For restaurants, they’re flexible, cheap, and give real insight into customer behaviour. For diners, they’re convenient. It’s a win-win.
Written by: Shaun Reynolds
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