Quick answer
Classify stars, puzzles, plowhorses, and dogs so your digital menu highlights the items that deserve attention.
What this template helps you do
Menu engineering helps you decide which items to feature, rewrite, reprice, or remove. The worksheet combines item popularity with contribution margin so layout decisions are based on evidence.
Best use case
Use it before redesigning a menu, launching a seasonal section, or changing the order of items in a QR menu. It is especially useful when popular items are not the most profitable items.
Menu engineering classification
| Item | Popularity | Margin | Classification | QR menu action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truffle burger | High | High | Star | Feature near top with photo |
| Seafood risotto | Low | High | Puzzle | Rewrite description and test placement |
| Classic fries | High | Low | Plowhorse | Bundle or reprice carefully |
| Turkey wrap | Low | Low | Dog | Remove or replace next cycle |
| Chocolate lava cake | Medium | High | Growth item | Add image and dessert prompt |
Data to gather before classifying items
Run the engineering review
Export item performance
Collect sales count, gross margin, and guest-view data for each menu item.
Classify every item
Place items into star, puzzle, plowhorse, or dog groups.
Choose layout changes
Promote stars, improve puzzles, manage plowhorses, and remove weak items.
Publish and compare
Update the QR menu layout and compare views before and after the change.
Do not optimize from sales alone
An item can sell well and still hurt margin. Pair popularity with contribution margin before deciding what deserves the best menu placement.
How this connects to your QR menu
FlipMenu analytics can help you see what guests view, while the worksheet helps you decide what to move, rewrite, or feature on the live QR menu.
Use the worksheet first, then publish the guest-facing result only after the manager review is complete. That keeps the digital menu useful without turning it into an unapproved operations notebook.
Related FlipMenu workflows
Use the menu engineering analyzer
Run a quick item classification before editing the live menu.
Create a free QR menu
Publish menu changes from the template without reprinting.
Track guest menu analytics
See which items guests view most after your updates go live.
Translate menu updates
Keep descriptions clear for international guests.