Overview

Menus control which items are available for ordering in CaterZen. All menus are created and managed in Menu Manager, but not all menus are visible to the same audience.

Menus follow a simple hierarchy:

• Create a Menu

• Each menu can contain one or multiple categories

• Each category can contain unlimited menu items

Menus can also be configured for different visibility and use cases:

• Customer-facing menus that appear in Online Ordering

• Internal menus that are only available to logged-in employees during order entry

• Permission-based menus that are only visible to selected Customers

This flexibility allows you to manage public menus, internal-only offerings, and restricted menus from one central place.

A menu must be created and assigned before it can be used in Order Entry or Online Ordering.

Accessing Menu Manager

• Go to Admin

• Select Menu Manager

Creating a New Menu

• Click Add Menu

• Complete the menu details:

  • Menu Display Name: Use clear, descriptive names, especially if you manage multiple menus. This name is what appears to Customers and employees unless hidden.
    Examples: Corporate Catering Menu, BBQ Menu, Holiday Menu

  • Description or HTML Editor: Add details or a short description for the menu here. You can type your own text or paste in HTML code.

  • Create Menu Date/Time Rules: Use date and time rules to control when this menu is available. This is commonly used for holiday menus, limited-time offerings, or menus that should only appear on certain days.
    Refer to the related Date and Time Rules article for setup details.

  • Currently Shown At: Select the location(s) where this menu should be available.
    If a location is not checked, the menu will not appear for that location. 

  • Is shown to Customers:

    Controls whether the category is visible in Online Ordering:

    • Shown: Customers will see this category
    • Hidden: Category is internal-only for logged-in employees
    • Permission Based Menu: Refer to Permission Based Menus for more details

  • Enable This Menu for These Order Types: Check the order types that should have access to this menu. Order types control where the menu appears, such as Catering, Pickup, or Delivery.

  • Hide “Display Name” on Page: Enable this option if you want only the menu image to display without showing the menu name text. This is commonly used for image-based menu buttons.

  • Image: Click Choose File to upload an image that will display as the menu banner or button.

    • Image requirements: Minimum size: 912 px x 256 px. Use a clean, wide image that crops well on different screens

  • Click Save This Information

Assigning the Menu

Creating a menu does not automatically make it available for ordering. Menus must be assigned to the appropriate:

• Order types

• Locations (if applicable)

Assignment determines where and when the menu can be used. If a menu is not assigned, it will not appear during order entry or online ordering.

Next Steps

After creating your menu, follow these steps in order:

1. Create menu categories
   Categories must be created before menu items can be added. Categories control how items are grouped and displayed during order entry and online ordering.
   → Menu Manager: Create Menu Categories

2. Add items to the menu
   Once categories exist, you can begin adding items to the menu.
   → Menu Manager: Add a Menu Item
   

3. Confirm menu assignment
   Make sure the menu is assigned to the correct order types and locations.

4. Set inventory limits if needed
   Use inventory levels to prevent overselling items on busy days.
   → Item Inventory Levels: Limit How Many Items Can Be Sold Per Day

Support

If a menu item isn’t appearing or you’re unsure which fields to use, CaterZen Support Center can help review your setup. 

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