When might a PDF be enough?
If your menu is short, already designed and rarely changes, a PDF can be a practical starting point. Host the file at an accessible address and check that it is readable on a phone.
A multi-column PDF designed for print may require zooming on a small screen. If you choose PDF, prepare a mobile-friendly version and avoid presenting all text as a flat photograph.
The everyday differences
This comparison covers a file-based PDF and Quarmenu's product-based menu. How a PDF update behaves depends on where and how the file is hosted.
| Need | PDF menu | Quarmenu digital menu |
|---|---|---|
| Reading on a phone | May require zooming depending on the document layout. | Products and categories are presented for phone screens. |
| Updating prices | Edit the document and upload it again. | Edit product prices in the panel and publish. |
| Keeping the QR code | Possible if the file link stays the same. | Updates keep the menu link. |
| Languages | Prepare separate files or a multilingual document. | Translations appear through a language selector in one menu. |
| Table requests | A PDF file alone has no service-request function. | Table QR codes connect to waiter calls and bill requests. |
Product-based management for frequent changes
If you often change prices, hide sold-out items or manage several branches, returning to a document design for every edit may add work. A product-based panel lets you edit the relevant field, preview the result and publish.
Moving to a digital menu does not automatically make prices or descriptions correct. With either approach, check the published version on a phone and make sure staff are using current prices.
Check existing QR codes before switching
If your current QR code points directly to a PDF address, do not assume it will automatically open a Quarmenu menu. You may be able to preserve the code if you control redirects at the old address. Otherwise, new printed codes may be needed.
Once a menu is created in Quarmenu, subsequent product and price updates keep its QR link. Try the sample menu on your phone to compare the guest experience before deciding.
Common questions
Can my PDF be converted directly into products?
Quarmenu currently imports product data from Excel and CSV. Automatic extraction of products from a PDF is not part of this workflow.
Does a digital menu include online payment?
No. Quarmenu currently supports menu viewing, waiter calls and bill requests. Online ordering and payment are not offered.