The divisive restaurant trend we hope goes away

Technology can be convenient, but pass the paper menu, please!

QR codes certainly aren’t a new convenience of the past few years, but we’ve been seeing—and forced to use—them more than ever since 2020. They’ve become a go-to for everything from customer surveys and payment methods to wedding RSVPs and menus. We’ll admit QR codes certainly come in handy and are an excellent solution in many cases—just not in lieu of a traditional menu, particularly in sit-down establishments.

"I understand their purpose and utility, but I don't like that they require you to take your phone out at a restaurant," says Meghan Overdeep, Senior News Writer. "I try to keep my phone out of my hands when I'm eating at a restaurant, and I don't need an excuse to be scrolling at the table."

While these barcodes were a welcome solution during the onset of COVID-19 as a way to help minimize physical contact and the spread, they gained a little too much popularity in the aftermath. It’s time to return to the old fashion menu that doesn’t require scanning anything with your phone. Whether you’re team printed menu or accepting of these grids of black and white squares, hear us out on why we’re over QR codes in restaurants.

Have We Gone Too Far With This Menu Trend? 

What was introduced as a problem-solving, temporary fix during a difficult time for businesses that relied on face-to-face interactions with consumers, has been adopted by many as a permanent solution.

I know I’m not the only one who has found themselves in a sit-down restaurant being directed by a server to a little card with a jumbled graphic, or worse, one adhered to the table, noting it's where the menu can be found. I’m then forced to pull out my phone and click from tab to tab to peruse food and drink options or zoom in on a tiny PDF to read each item. In these places, the QR code is typically presented as the only option, but you can always ask for a printed menu—they most likely have one.

But the thing that really burns my biscuits, is not just accessing the menu via the jumbled graphic, but when you have to fully place your order through it. Of course, some establishments are specifically designed to operate this way for everyone's benefit (we’ll let those slide), but others not exactly. What if I want to ask the waiter “Which do you recommend between these two dishes?” or “Can you tell me more about this pasta?”

Why We’re Over QR Codes

Detracts from human interaction.

While we can sometimes get past perusing the menu on our phone at a sit-down restaurant, if it’s a QR code that leads to online ordering too instead of from a human, you’ve lost us—especially whilst sitting at the bar with a bartender a foot in front of you. We prefer talking face to face and engaging with the staff who make the spot what it is.

Makes it impossible to have a phone-free zone.

Starting a dining experience by immediately putting your head in your phone sets the wrong tone. "The last thing I want to do when I'm out to dinner is interrupt conversation to stare at my phone. One person always ends up distracted by whatever notification pops up," says Betsy Cribb Watson, Senior Homes Editor. "I feel like a restaurant meal is one of the last social scenarios that still feels phone-free sacred, and a QR code disrupts that."

Suggests a lesser dining experience. 

Whether it’s true or not, customers often associate QR codes with a less refined dining experience. "The cognitive dissonance between a white-tablecloth place and a QR code for the menu is beyond me," says Katherine Polcari, Associate Editor. It’s typically a tell-tale sign that the spot is a chain restaurant, even if it’s not. Or worse…that it's just not that good.

Menus can be hard to read on a small phone screen.

I often find it difficult to get the “full picture” of the menu and it always takes me longer to decide what to order when I can’t easily see everything all together. It’s flustering to be continually switching tabs between appetizers, mains, and sides (plus drinks), scrolling down long pages, or zooming in and out to be able to fully read the options.

Poses technological challenges.

Several issues can arise with the reliance on these scannable images for menus. Many find it less approachable, especially those not as technologically advanced or unaccustomed to tech in everyday norms and may find it difficult to use. Poor service or lack of Wi-Fi can also hinder access to menus.

Assumes patrons have smart phones.

A QR code assumes everyone has a smartphone which excludes those who do not and can negatively impact one's experience with an establishment.

You lose the aesthetic. 

By digitizing everything, the restaurant loses a brand touchpoint with the customer. Hardcopy menus are typically thoughtfully designed, and while a digital version can still have beautiful graphics and typography, it still lacks the personal touch of menu design.

When QR Codes Are Beneficial

Overall, QR code menus are better for the establishment, but typically a worse experience for the customer. From an industry perspective, the technology certainly makes it easier to reflect menu changes, like seasonal specials, as needed. They're ideal great for quick updates too, especially if there’s a typo. It’s also more environmentally friendly and helps conserve the reprinting of menus. And obviously, help with the spread of germs, which is why they gained so much popularity during the pandemic and years that followed.

Exceptions To The Rule 

Beer Gardens and Food Halls 

For places where your company might be revolving, everyone is ordering at different times, or individuals are often paying for themselves, the self-ordering function is actually quite beneficial—not only for the servers, but also for you as the guest so you can just sit and enjoy your company without having to leave the table.

Fast Food 

Whether you’re dining in or ordering in a drive-thru, the whole premise of these spots is speed and convenience. Table service isn’t necessarily a part of your dining experience. Be it a QR code or in-app ordering, the tech is also helpful for busy parents. "It was useful when I had my niece who wanted to play in the Chick-fil-A play area, and I needed to order our lunch, so I was able to scan and order the food to be brought directly to our table," says Kimberly Holland, editorial director.