Delivery vs. Dine-In Menus: Should Your Restaurant Keep Them Separate? Takeout menu tips
- Social Media Media Productions Fan
- Oct 1
- 4 min read
Benefits of Having a Separate Delivery Menu - takeout menu tips
1. You Can Focus on Travel-Friendly Dishes
Some food just doesn’t travel well. Think crispy fries, over-easy eggs, ice cream, or delicate plating.
By curating a separate delivery menu, you can:
Avoid soggy or ruined items
Highlight meals that reheat well
Control the customer experience better
Example: Instead of offering eggs benedict for delivery (hello, sauce nightmare), offer a hearty breakfast burrito that travels like a champ.
2. Simplifies Kitchen Operations During Rush for your Takeout menu
Having too many items available for both dine-in and delivery can overwhelm your kitchen staff, especially during peak hours.
With a limited delivery menu:
Line cooks know exactly what’s going out the door
You reduce ticket times and mistakes
It’s easier to prep and portion
3. Lets You Adjust Pricing for Delivery Apps
Third-party apps take a huge chunk (sometimes 20–30%) of your sales. A delivery-only menu allows you to:
Raise prices slightly for delivery items
Offer bundled deals to boost value
Adjust portions to reduce costs
This strategy protects your margins without confusing your dine-in guests.
4. Improves Brand Perception when your take out menu is thoughtful
A well-crafted delivery menu shows customers you care about their off-premise experience. Clean design, clear categories, good photos, and food that arrives intact = happy (repeat) customers.
💡 Bonus: You can design this menu specifically for platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, or your own website.
❌ Risks of Keeping One Menu for Both
1. Inconsistent Quality tips for your take out menu
Dine-in menus are made for... well, dining in. The second that food gets packed in a box, your control over quality drops. If customers get a sad, soggy version of your signature dish, they might not come back.
2. Packaging Nightmares
Not all dishes are pack-friendly. Complex meals often require more containers, which means:
Higher packaging costs
More risk of spills or messes
Slower packaging during rush hours
3. Operational Slowdown
If everything is available for delivery, your kitchen might get crushed with complex, high-maintenance orders during busy dine-in service.
This can lead to:
Slower service for both dine-in and delivery
More mistakes or refunds
Frustrated staff and poor reviews
All of these things could lead to your takeout menu taking a huge loss of customers.
Need more takeout menu tips? Let's keep going. (:
📦 What Should Be on Your Delivery Menu?
Here’s a quick checklist of what makes a great delivery item:
✅ Holds up for at least 30–45 minutes
✅ Easy to pack with minimal mess
✅ Doesn’t rely on fancy plating
✅ Reheats well (if needed)
✅ High profit margin
Examples:✔️ Burritos✔️ Grain bowls✔️ Pastas with thick sauces✔️ Toasted sandwiches✔️ Boxed desserts
📉 What NOT to Put on a Delivery Menu
❌ Ice cream, whipped cream desserts
❌ Dishes that rely on crunch (unless packed separately)
❌ Raw seafood (like oysters or tartare)
❌ Complicated cocktails or layered drinks
❌ Anything served “immediately” from the grill or fryer
💬 What Do Big Brands Do?
Many large chains already separate their menus by channel:
Chipotle has a delivery-exclusive “Build Your Own” bundle
McDonald’s prices items higher on delivery apps
Sweetgreen simplifies bowls for off-site orders
Even small cafés are getting smart by offering delivery-only specials like family packs or grab-and-go breakfast boxes.
📲 Dine-In vs. Delivery Menus: When to Keep Them the Same
There are scenarios where it’s okay to keep the same menu:
You run a very limited menu (5–8 core items)
Everything you offer is naturally delivery-friendly
You do very little delivery volume
You’re using your own delivery system and want to keep pricing identical
Just make sure to review customer feedback often—if people complain about quality or packaging, it’s time to rethink the approach.
💡 Final Takeaway: Separate or Same?
If you’re doing regular delivery volume (especially through third-party apps), yes, you should have a separate delivery menu. It will save your kitchen, protect your brand, and ensure your food actually tastes as good at home as it does in-house.
Not ready to rewrite your menu from scratch? Start simple:
Pick 8–10 solid delivery items
Test them for packaging and customer feedback
Add beautiful, optimized photos (hey, I can help with that 😉)
We hope you enjoyed this takeout menu tips blog post! Here are some other companies that will further your education as a Food Brand:
Check out NSFVA.COM for some great information from the one and only Bill Moore.
Are you interested in buying a new food trailer and starting your dreams as a small business owner? We highly recommend CustomTrailerPros.com for a free quote.
they work with food inspectors all over the United States to make sure your food vendor experience is seamless, no matter what town you take your food truck or food trailer to.
Don't forget to submit an application to SocialMediaMediaProductions.com if you're interested in a menu re-do. (:
Much love,
Social Media, Media Productions.
