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Add a Menu Item

Add a Menu Item

Summary

Menu items are any items that appear on menus and can be ordered. These can include food items and non-food items, such as gift cards, non-revenue* items (i.e., donations) and open-value items. Deposits and deposit refunds also appear as menu items on menus. 

*Non-revenue items are not taxable. 

Note:

Menu items cannot be deleted after they have been created.

Configuration

Basic steps to add a menu item: 

  • Go to Menu Items
  • Click Add Menu Item
  • Select menu item type
  • Complete fields on the appropriate Add Menu Item form (general, combo or PLU/Barcode)
  • Save changes 

Detailed steps to add a menu item:

Path: Products > Menu Items

 

  • Click Add Menu Item


  • Select the menu item type from the drop-down list on Creating a menu item pop-up.

Menu item types

TypeDescription
Sales  Item for sale (usually a food item)
Misc Item Sales Open value; manual entry (can be used when an item is priced incorrectly or not on the menu)
Gift Card Open Value SaleActivate a gift card and apply any amount of value; manual entry
Gift Card Preset Value Sale Activate a gift card and apply a preset value 
Gift Card ReloadApply additional value to an existing active gift card
Gift Card Cash OutIn some states, the merchant is required to redeem the balance of a store-issued gift card for cash upon request if the balance falls below a certain threshold.
In California, for example, a card under $10 can be refunded. 
Non-RevenueItems for sale that do not generate revenue (e.g., money collected for charity); these do not appear as revenue on reports. (Non-revenue items are not taxable.)
DepositMoney paid toward a future order; not a sale. (Use a Deposit key on the menu.)
Deposit RefundUse to refund a deposit. Since a deposit is not a sale, it cannot be refunded through Adjustments > Refund.
Ticket SaleType used to sell tickets, e.g., a carnival ride. 
Combo Standard combo item; multiple items on an order are combined as a single menu item as defined by the restaurant. See Add a Combo Menu Item.
Open Value Non-Revenue 

A value is manually entered for an open value non-revenue item. (Non-revenue items are not taxable.)

PLU/Barcode Entry Used to create a menu item for PLU lookup (manual entry or barcode scan) on the OE app. 
Link to ... 

Used to link a menu item to a menu item category. When the linked menu item is clicked, the ordering menu will display the menu items that exist in the linked menu item category.

Since discounts cannot be applied to a menu item's components and serving options, this workflow was created to allow discounts by linking a menu item to a menu item category and allowing discounts to be applied to the menu items in the linked menu item category. 

Example: 

  • Menu item: Sourdough Bread 
  • Menu item category: Bread types
  • In the Bread Types category are menu items, such as: 
    Bowl
    Full Loaf
    Half Loaf
    Rolls
  • Menu item Sourdough Bread is linked to the menu item category Bread Types
  • Result: When menu item Sourdough Bread is ordered, the Bread Types are displayed. The user can select Bowl, for example, and can apply a discount because it is a menu item, not a component or serving option. 

Note: Link to ... menu item types can be added to a combo. 

  • If a combo has a Link to qualifier and

  • The Link to qualifier contains menu items that are not specified regular qualifiers in the combo then

  • Allow the menu items in the Linked to qualifier to be added to the combo

Menu item item types 

The menu item form shown will depend on the menu item type selected from the drop-down:

  • General form (For all types except Combo, PLU/Barcode Entry and Link to ...) 


  • Link to ...  form 

    Optional feature - Account feature toggle required

    An account feature toggle must be enabled for your account to use this feature: 
    4.8 Enable “Link to” menu item type

    Please contact your NorthStar representative to have this feature enabled for your account.

    The Link to ... menu item type is used to link a menu item to a menu item category. 

    • When the linked menu item is clicked on the app, the ordering menu will display the menu items that exist in the linked menu item category. (Linking a menu item to a menu item category allows discounts to be applied to the menu items in that linked menu item category.) 

    • Select "Link to" type (currently Menu Item Category)
    • Select "Link to" destination (the menu item category to link the menu item to)


General field descriptions 

Complete the appropriate fields on the Add Menu Item form (Fields below are for the general form for all types except Combo, PLU/Barcode Entry and Link to ...) 

Item

Description

NameMenu item name
Button Name

Optional feature - Account feature toggle required

An account feature toggle must be enabled for your account to use this feature: 
Menu Item Button Name

Please contact your NorthStar representative to have this feature enabled for your account.

Text in this field appears on the button on the POS ordering menu. (Button text differs from kitchen label and item name printed on the guest check.) If this field is blank, the button name will be inherited from the item name.

Description Item description. Long-press (touch and hold) the menu item on the app ordering screen to display the description. This is also displayed to the guest on the guest UI. 
Require Age VerificationItem requires that age be verified for the item ordered (e.g., alcohol).
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