When a guest reaches the till or sits down, they scan for the most stable object that answers three questions fast: what’s on offer, how much, what’s the quick add-on? If they must unlock a phone, chase weak Wi-Fi, or squint at a glossy screen, attention drains and average check falls. A printed, well-placed menu holder wins those first 10 seconds: it fixes height and angle, reduces glare, and keeps copy readable while hands and eyes share a tight counter.
This is exactly the service problem Inko Horeca designs for. If you’re sourcing durable, wipe-clean menu holders for restaurants that hold paper flat through rush hours and damp bar tops, consider their acrylic, wood, and metal options matched to different light and cleaning routines. One reliable anchor is all you need; keep the rest of the brand mentions plain for a natural read.
Make the core offer win the first glance
Visibility is a placement job before it’s a graphic job. At host stands, raise the headline above terminals and tip jars so copy wins the very first glance. At bars, a mid-height stand with a gentle tilt (~20°) lets guests read naturally as a pint slides across. On tight two-tops, a low tent keeps glassware clear while the sheet stays steady during wipes. Test at opening light, lunch glare, and evening bulbs; if the headline fades or the price column sits in shadow, move the holder – not the guest. A 2–3 cm shift or a few degrees of tilt often beats any type change.
Inko Horeca bases are engineered not to wobble when sleeves brush past, and anti-glare faces keep pricing legible under hard downlights. That stability matters: when the restaurant menu holder doesn’t “dance,” the eye trusts it and the order flows.
Design that reads premium
Type should speed a decision, not show off. Set a clear base size for mains and a smaller, still-readable size for modifiers. Keep line spacing even; use short section heads and a clean price column so value is judged in one scan. Push long notes to a footer; keep icons few and consistent. Most cafés see higher attachment rates when the printed core has three to five tight sections rather than a dense block.
Materials do brand work, too. Inko Horeca offers recycled acrylic (crystal-clear, anti-fog), sealed wood (warmth without swelling), and brushed metal (ultra-durable) with quick-swap clips or magnetic faces for daily specials. Matte finishes hide fingerprints and glare; glossy faces pop in moody rooms but can reflect over a bar – choose to fit your light. Because operators asked, inserts slide in without bending corners, and seams are sealed so cleaners don’t cloud the face over time.
- Practical spec snapshot: stable base; anti-glare face; quick-swap insert; A5/A4 vertical & tent formats; acrylic/wood/metal finishes; optional custom branding.
Team flow and the hybrid guest
Guests accept QR when it adds depth – extended wine lists, translations, live specials – after they’ve made the first choice. Treat print as the core, QR as optional depth parked in the footer. Staff script stays simple: offer the printed set, point to the code only if more detail is needed. This order keeps attention on items you want to move and avoids stalls while a heavy page loads on a tired phone. Inko Horeca menu holders include discreet QR zones so codes never compete with the headline or price column.
Upkeep is part of the brand cue. Wipe on the hour at peak; rotate inserts before edges curl; bin stained sheets instead of “saving” them. If your room shifts from day to night, fix stand positions for both states and mark counters underneath – new staff reset in seconds, and the guest sees the same clear path every day.
One-week playbook you can run now
Walk the space at opening, mid-lunch, and pre-dinner. Do a 10-second scan test from guest height: can you spot the lunch set, a top soft drink, and one add-on without touching the sheet? If not, raise the holder, change the angle, or slide it out of glare. Keep a clear lane from card machine to holder so hands and eyes aren’t fighting the same square of counter. Mid-week, standardized by zone: taller stands at host, mid-height at bar, low tents on tables; one type scale for all sheets so muscle memory works across shifts. By week’s end, compare first-order time and “repeat question” rate. If both drop, your path is working – now tune copy length and angles, not the whole system.
Why operators pick Inko Horeca
Three plain reasons: the hardware stays put, the face stays clear, and inserts swap in seconds during rush. The range covers A-frame tents, vertical stands, magnetic faces, and waterproof sleeves for sticky spots near espresso and taps. Custom logo marks and tone-matched materials turn hardware into a quiet brand touchpoint. Guests reward a clean path from glance to choice; a good holder gives that path a home – steady, readable, and exactly where the decision happens.