Is takeout menu print part of the to-do list that you must cross out for your food business? If yes, then you do have your work cut out for you. If you have a long, boring, too-short, or ineffective menu, customers may very well walk out of your diner or restaurant even before trying out your supposedly delicious dishes. Just like the sumptuousness of the food that you serve, the words used on your menu must be enticing enough to tempt a hungry diner to order a full course meal, or as many items off the menu as their stomachs can handle.
Top Tips for Writing Good Food Descriptions
So how are you supposed to come up with a good menu? It’s all about having good copy, and here are a few tips on how you can accomplish such a challenging feat:
- Don’t hire a professional copywriter.
If you have a mom-and-pop diner, the recipes are probably handed down to your family from previous generations. A copywriter won’t do the dishes justice, so come up with the descriptions yourself. The words should evoke nostalgia while tempting the customer’s palate at the same time.
- Know which words to use in the first place.
There’s really no list of correct or incorrect words that you can use when creating a menu, but knowing which ones are pleasing to the eyes and the palate helps. Start with terms like: aromatic, tasty, drizzled, organic, home-grown, pan-seared, grass-fed, infused, encrusted, broiled or grilled to perfection, juicy, moist, locally-sourced, fresh, zesty, yummy – the list is practically endless!
- Vary the length of the food descriptions.
Focus on the ingredients. If you need to print pizza menus, for example, give the customer a list of what’s in the pizza that makes it different from the rest. Also vary the length of the food descriptions so the reader won’t get bored. Give lengthier descriptions to house specialties, and use shorter sentences for the more straightforward dishes.
- Make sure to print good quality menus.
Finally, look for a to go menu printing company that specializes in printing menus and similar advertising material. Offset printing is always a better option than digital printing because of the professional results provided by the former. With offset printing using state-of-the-art printing presses, you can impress customers with one glimpse at your takeout or dine-in menu.
No matter which dishes you specialize in, it is important to describe the items in detail through your menu, so follow the above tips when creating one for your food establishment.
