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Menu Management

Learn how to add, edit, and organize your menu items for accurate cost tracking.

~30 minutes
Mobile-friendly

Managing Your Menu

Add Menu Items

Create new menu items with prices and categories

  • Click the 'Add Item' button in your menu
  • Enter the item name and description
  • Set the selling price
  • Choose a category (Appetizers, Mains, Desserts, etc.)
  • Add any special notes or dietary information

Edit Existing Items

Update prices, descriptions, and categories

  • Find the item in your menu list
  • Click the edit button (pencil icon)
  • Update any fields you need to change
  • Save your changes
  • The new price will be reflected in all cost calculations

Organize with Categories

Group items for better organization

  • Create categories that match your menu structure
  • Assign items to appropriate categories
  • Use categories to filter and sort your menu
  • Categories help with reporting and analysis

Archive Old Items

Remove items you no longer serve

  • Find the item you want to remove
  • Click the archive button (trash icon)
  • Confirm the action
  • Archived items won't appear in active menus
  • You can restore archived items if needed

Best Practices

Keep prices current

Update menu prices immediately when they change to maintain accurate profit calculations.

Use clear descriptions

Detailed descriptions help with recipe costing and customer communication.

Organize by service periods

Create categories for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner to track costs by meal period.

Mark seasonal items

Use special notes to identify seasonal or limited-time items for better planning.

Common Issues & Solutions

Can't find a menu item

Use the search bar at the top of your menu. You can search by name, category, or description.

Price changes not reflecting in costs

Make sure you've saved the price change. Cost calculations update automatically when you save.

Items showing in wrong category

Click edit on the item and change the category. You can also drag and drop items between categories.

Can't delete a menu item

Items with active recipes can't be deleted. Archive them instead, or remove the recipe first.

Mobile Menu Management

Tally is designed for mobile-first use. Here are some tips for managing your menu on the go:

Quick Price Updates

Update prices instantly from your phone when suppliers change their rates.

Voice Descriptions

Use voice-to-text to quickly add detailed item descriptions.

Photo Menu Upload

Take photos of your physical menu and let AI extract the items automatically.

Offline Editing

Make changes offline and sync when you're back online.

Ready for Recipe Costing?

Now that your menu is set up, learn how to build recipes and see your true costs.