Categories

Categories help you organise your menu into logical groups that make sense to your customers. Think of them as chapters in your menu book - grouping similar items together for easier browsing.

What Are Categories?

Categories are like sections in your menu. Instead of showing all your products in one long list, you can group them by type, course, or theme:

• Food types: Mains, Starters, Sides, Desserts
• Meal times: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Cuisines: Italian, Asian, Grill, Vegetarian
• Price levels: Classics, Premium, Chef’s Specials
• Dietary: Gluten-free, Vegan, Kids’ Menu

Why Use Categories?

Better Customer Experience

• Easier to browse - customers can quickly find what they’re looking for
• Logical flow - guide customers through their meal choice
• Less overwhelming - break up large menus into manageable sections

Better Business Management

• Organised inventory - track stock by category
• Targeted promotions - run specials on specific categories
• Menu analysis - see which categories perform best
• Staff training - easier to explain menu sections

Managing Categories

Viewing Your Categories

1. Go to Dashboard, then click Menu, then click Categories
2. See all your categories in a table with:
   • Category name and description
   • Status (active or inactive)
   • Number of products in each category
   • Position (display order)
3. Search and filter: Use the search box to find categories by name, or filter by active/inactive status

Creating a New Category

1. Click “Add Category” at the top right
2. A modal window opens with the category form
3. Fill in the details:
   • Name (required): How it appears to customers (e.g., “Main Courses”)
   • Description (optional): Extra information about this category
   • Active: Whether it shows on your public menu (toggle switch)
4. Click “Create Category” in the modal
5. The modal closes and your new category appears in the list

Editing a Category

1. Find the category you want to change in the list
2. Click the three dots (⋯) in the actions column next to the category
3. Select “Edit” from the dropdown menu
4. A modal window opens with the category form pre-filled
5. Make your changes and click “Update Category”
6. The modal closes and your changes are saved

Note: If the category has products assigned, you’ll see a warning in the edit modal showing how many products are affected.

Deleting a Category

1. Find the category you want to remove in the list
2. Click the three dots (⋯) in the actions column next to the category
3. Select “Delete” from the dropdown menu
4. A confirmation dialog appears asking you to confirm
5. Click “Delete” to confirm - this action cannot be undone

Important:

• Deleting a category doesn’t delete the products in it. Products will become “uncategorised” and you’ll need to assign them to new categories.
• Only Owners, Admins, and Managers can delete categories. Other roles won’t see the Delete option.

Reordering Categories

Your categories appear in a specific order on your menu. You can change this order by dragging and dropping.

How to Reorder

1. Click “Reorder” at the top right (next to “Add Category”)
2. Reorder mode activates - you’ll see:
   • A yellow banner at the top explaining reorder mode
   • Drag handles (≡) appear in the first column
   • Categories become draggable
3. Drag categories by clicking and holding the grip handle (≡) next to each name
4. Drop them in your preferred order by releasing over another category
5. Click “Save Order” in the yellow banner when finished, or “Cancel” to discard changes
6. Reorder mode exits automatically after saving

Note: Only users with edit permissions can reorder categories. The Reorder button only appears if you have permission to edit categories.

Tips for Good Category Order

• Logical flow: Starters → Mains → Sides → Desserts → Drinks
• Popular first: Put your best-selling categories near the top
• Customer journey: Think about how customers typically order
• Seasonal items: Move seasonal categories to the top when relevant

Category Status

Active Categories

• Appear on your public menu
• Customers can see and order from these categories
• Show the products assigned to them

Inactive Categories

• Hidden from customers
• Still exist in your admin for future use
• Useful for:
  • Seasonal items (show/hide as needed)
  • New menu sections (prepare in advance)
  • Limited-time offers

Assigning Products to Categories

When Creating Products

1. Go to Dashboard, then click Menu, then click Products
2. Create a new product (or edit an existing one)
3. Look for “Category” in the basic information section
4. Select a category from the dropdown (or choose “No category”)
5. Save the product

Bulk Management

• Categories are assigned per product
• You can change a product’s category at any time
• One product can only be in one category

Best Practices

Naming Categories

• Keep it simple - “Mains” not “Main Courses”
• Be consistent - Use similar naming styles
• Customer-focused - Use terms customers understand
• Not too long - Aim for 1-3 words

Organising Your Menu

• Start simple - Don’t create too many categories at first
• Group logically - Similar items together
• Consider portions - Separate sharing platters from individual dishes
• Think mobile - Categories should work well on phones

Seasonal and Special Categories

• Use active/inactive for seasonal items
• Create categories in advance for events or promotions
• Reorder frequently to highlight specials

Menu Flow

• Starters/Small Plates → Mains → Sides → Desserts
• Beverages often go at the end or have their own section
• Kids’ menus can be separate or integrated
• Dietary options (Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free) can be categories or tags

Searching and Filtering Categories

The categories list includes helpful tools to find what you need:

Search

• Type in the search box to find categories by name
• Results update automatically as you type
• Works in real-time - no need to press enter

Filter by Status

• All Categories: Shows both active and inactive categories
• Active Only: Shows only categories visible to customers
• Inactive Only: Shows only hidden categories

Use these tools together to quickly find and manage your categories.

Pagination

If you have many categories, they’ll be split across multiple pages:

• Use “Previous” and “Next” buttons at the bottom to navigate
• The page shows how many categories you’re viewing (e.g., “Showing 15 of 45 categories”)
• Filters and search work across all pages

Category Analytics

As you use categories, you’ll be able to see:

• Which categories sell best
• Popular items within categories
• Peak times for different categories
• Customer preferences by category

Use this data to optimise your menu and focus on what works.

Plan Availability

Categories are available on all plans. If you don’t see the Categories option in your menu, contact support to check your plan details.

Need Help?

If you’re unsure how to organise your categories or need help with menu structure, consider:

• Looking at other restaurants in your area
• Thinking about your customers’ ordering habits
• Starting simple and adding categories as needed
• Testing different arrangements and seeing what works

Remember, categories should make your menu easier for customers to use, not more complicated!