The Complete Guide to Outfitting a New Restaurant — Everything You Need Before Opening Day

A practical checklist for new restaurant owners from the team at Menu Designs

Opening a restaurant is one of the most exciting — and overwhelming — things you can do. There are a thousand details competing for your attention, and it's easy for table and menu products to end up at the bottom of the list until suddenly opening day is two weeks away.

We've helped hundreds of restaurants get ready to open. Here's a practical guide to everything you need from a menu and tabletop perspective.

Step 1: Figure Out Your Menu Format

Before you can order a single cover, you need to know what you're putting inside it. What paper size will your menu be printed on? How many pages? Will you have separate menus for drinks, desserts, or wine? These decisions drive every product decision that follows.

Step 2: Choose Your Menu Covers

This is where the fun starts. Think about your concept and your space. Are you fine dining, casual, fast casual, or somewhere in between? Your material and decoration should match your atmosphere. If you're not sure where to start, call our team — we'll ask the right questions and point you in the right direction. We recommend requesting a physical swatch kit and a virtual proof before committing to a production run.

Step 3: Don't Forget the Ancillary Products

Most new restaurant owners think about menu covers and forget everything else. Here's what you also need: check presenters for delivering the bill, table stands or tent cards for promoting specials and QR codes, placemats if your concept uses them, and reserved signs if you take reservations. For bars, drink books and wine lists are separate products from your main menu covers and should match.

Step 4: Think About Signage

From your entrance to your restrooms to your specials board, signage is part of your brand experience. Menu Designs offers custom signs and displays that can be matched to your table products for a fully cohesive look throughout your space.

Step 5: Plan Your Timeline

Custom orders have lead times — typically longer for quantities over 100 pieces. Don't wait until the week before opening to place your order. As soon as your menu format and brand direction are locked, reach out. Rush production is available for an additional fee, but nobody wants to pay rush fees on opening week.

The Bottom Line

Opening a restaurant is a team effort. Let Menu Designs be part of yours. One call to our team and we'll walk you through everything you need from menus to tabletop — so you can focus on what you do best.

Call us at 1-800-889-6368 or visit menudesigns.com to get started. We're here to help you open strong.