Catering Menu Template

You’ve been tasked with developing an elegant new catering menu idea for your business but don’t know where to start. If that’s the case, it might delight you to know that Menuzen has the perfect solution to help you get professional results quickly and easily. With our vast array of free menu templates, you can create a beautiful and functional menu that will help you stand out from the other catering service providers.

Catering Menu Template

The most versatile catering menu template for all events

Choose your menu design from one of our popular templates

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Save over $1000 and 30 hours per year with a Menuzen menu.

As a catering business owner, you know that the menu is one of the most critical aspects of your operation. It will offer potential and current clients an idea of the type of food and services you offer. That’s why it’s essential to put considerable thought into the design and layout of your catering menu. With the Menuzen catering menu maker, you can customise a catering menu template that will wow your clients and potential customers. Not only is our menu design software easy to use, but it also offers a wide range of features that will help you craft an incredible menu design. For example, you can manage your digital menu right from your mobile phone, making changes and updates on the go. Other unique features our platform offers include the QR code feature that anyone can use to access your range of menu options just with a camera scan.

The catering business world is continually evolving, and you need a menu software provider that adapts in tandem with such a revolution. As a menu design platform, Menuzen is always at the top of its game, introducing new changes as they materialise. One such development is the ability to have several menus tailored to different events. As a catering company owner, this would undoubtedly come in handy since you’re likely to receive requests to cater to events with different themes. With this feature, you can build individual catering menu designs for birthdays, weddings, etc.

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Whether you’re a food truck or stall, a multi-location restaurant, cafe or caterer - Menuzen will work for you.

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Choose from one of our professional designs

Our menu template designs have been professionally created across a wide variety of restaurant types. Use one of ours or edit one to suit your branding.

Add your menu items, pricing and more

Add items fast with our mobile based item manager. Add your items, categories, sizes and prices added in minutes. Editing on the go is just as fast!

Publish your menu and link it everywhere!

When ready, publish your menu to receive your menu link. Share this link everywhere your customers are active. Menuzen handles all hosting and costs.

Menuzen grows with your restaurant

Our robust free tier is suitable for many businesses. Need more features? We’ve got you covered with our Grow plan.

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Free Forever

Get started for free and unleash the power of your menu!

Includes limited features on:

Easily create, manage and share menus online and on socials.

Create a simple linking website that customers love!

Grow

Designed to help you grow your businesses and attract new customers!

Includes all features on:

Easily create, manage and share menus online and on socials.

Create a simple linking website that customers love!

You can easily link any of the free menu templates you select on Menuzen to a menuzen.site storefront that’s equally free. This means that your customers can browse the different live menus for different occasions on your online storefront, depending on their needs — weddings, social events, buffets, social gatherings, etc. They can see your prices, access your social media, read testimonials from other happy customers, and even view those dates when you’re free to take up a catering request from your site. Such menu access and sharing flexibility is a great way to boost your business and increase customers. Additionally, the ability to include brief menu item descriptions in your chosen catering menu template can come in handy if your food isn’t widely known and can help people make quick decisions on dietary compatibility — especially with unique dietary needs like gluten-free, etc.

As a catering manager, the low-priced paid plan of $5/month is a better fit for your business’s growing needs. For example, it offers you access to unlimited live menus (for different occasions), compared to the free plan that affords you only one. You can also add endless dishes and food images to your designed menus. This variety can help your business stand out because it allows you to draw attention to specific items that are unique or special. You can also create separate categories for different types of dishes, which can help showcase a range of options on any of our catering free menu templates. One great advantage to using our professionally designed templates is that you can then customise the design further, and keep everything organised. Each item has its dedicated description box, which is excellent if you have any specials or have a preferred way of preparing something you want to highlight. That way, customers know what they’re getting with each dish.

Questions? We've got answers.

How to design a catering menu?

Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling visual design for your catering menu:

• Colours can influence mood and evoke memories, so choose wisely depending on what type of catering service you’re offering.
• Visual elements like headings, subheadings and images should contrast to be easily recognisable as part of the menu.
• The font combination and typeface of your text will help give your menu a certain feel, so pick one that best suits the atmosphere you’re trying to create.
• Images can capture people’s attention, so it’s worth adding them to your menu if you have any visuals to work with.

What are the 3 most common catering dishes?

When it comes to catering, some dishes are simply more popular than others, partly due to the relative ease of preparing them.

Here’s our selection of those top three catering dishes that are both versatile and can be tailored to fit any event or occasion:

1. Charcuterie Boards

A charcuterie board is a platter of cured meats (usually prosciutto, salami, etc.), cheeses, crackers, fruits, and other accompaniments. It’s typically prepared by arranging the meats and cheeses on a board or platter and adding crackers, fruits, and other accompaniments around them. The meats and cheeses can be sliced or left whole, and the accompaniments can be arranged decoratively or functionally. The goal is to create a visually appealing and delicious selection of flavours and textures.

2. Hog Roast

Hog roast is a traditional method of cooking a whole pig over an open fire or spit. The pig is seasoned and then slowly cooked for several hours until it’s tender and juicy. The pig is first cleaned and seasoned with various herbs and spices to prepare. It’s then placed on a spit and cooked over an open fire or in a roasting pit. The cooking process is slow and requires constant attention to ensure the pig is cooked evenly and thoroughly.

3. Chicken Skewers

This dish is made by marinating chunks of chicken in various seasonings and herbs, then threading them onto skewers and grilling or broiling them until cooked. To prepare, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or overnight, thread the chicken onto skewers, grill or broil to cook, and serve with a side of your choice.

What is the most authentic dish at a catering event?

There’s no particular authentic dish(es) among catering meal options. Rather, if you create a catering menu, your overall goal should include a mix of appetisers, desserts, and entrees, as well as sides, salads, and soups.

Let’s examine three of those dishes that have proven to be consistent across catering menus:

1. Sandwich Platters

You can make sandwich platters with various meat, cheeses, fresh vegetables, and spreads. To prepare sandwich platters, start by selecting a variety of bread, such as white, wheat, sourdough and rye. Next, choose a variety of meats, cheeses, and vegetables to fill the sandwiches. Spread condiments such as mayonnaise and mustard on the bread before adding the fillings. Arrange the sandwiches on a platter and garnish them with lettuce or other greens for presentation.

2. Arancini

Arancini are made with a classic risotto recipe, which can be filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables. To prepare this dish, start by cooking arborio rice in a mixture of chicken or vegetable broth and white wine. Once cooked, add grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley; allow the mixture to cool. Form the mixture into balls and then coat them in breadcrumbs. Finally, deep fry the balls until they’re golden brown.

3. Smoothie Bowl Bar

A smoothie bowl bar—comprising various fresh fruits and vegetables—is a perfect catering menu inclusion for health-conscious guests. To prepare one, gather various fruits and toppings such as berries, bananas, nuts, seeds, and granola and blend to create the base of the smoothie bowls. Set the toppings in separate bowls for guests and let them create their own desired smoothie bowls based on their preferences.

What are the key flavours of catering food?

Here’s a short list of some of the flavours that you can find in catering menu options, alongside examples of foods that contain them:

• Sweet: Desserts such as cakes, cookies, pastries, and pies.
• Savoury: Entrees such as roast beef, chicken, fish, and vegetables.
• Spicy: Dishes containing curries, chilli, and Mexican or Thai cuisine.
• Sour: Foods such as pickles, sauerkraut, and many fruits.
• Umami: Savoury and hearty dishes like grilled meats, mushrooms, fermented foods, etc.
• Herby: Dishes containing fresh or dried herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, basil, and parsley.

What is a typical catering meal?

Aside from the six discussed above, matcha tea is another typical recipe on most catering menu ideas. This traditional Japanese green tea is made by grinding whole tea leaves into a fine powder. It’s typically served as a hot tea but can also be used in cooking and baking.

As a catering dish, it’s often served in small cups or bowls, with a tea whisk and a small container of hot water for guests to prepare their tea. Matcha tea is known for its unique flavour and bright green colour and is often served as a refreshing beverage or a complement to sushi or other traditional Japanese dishes.

How do I create a catering menu layout?

Designing a befitting menu layout can be daunting, but you can achieve professional-looking results with these catering menu design ideas and tips.

Here are our top tips for designing the perfect layout from any custom catering menu after you choose a template:

• Use an easy-to-read font and ensure it’s large enough to read easily.
• Consider adding images of your dishes to make the menu look more attractive.
• Use colour to create a visual hierarchy when laying out your menu design.
• Incorporate white space to break up the menu and draw the reader’s eye towards critical sections.
• Ensure all essential information is included, like allergens, names and descriptions of dishes, and any necessary disclaimers or pricing structures.

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