Build your menu

Build a menu that works in the POS and online ordering. Import an existing menu to save typing, or create one yourself. Review the results before you begin taking orders.

Import an existing menu

If you have a menu file, you can import it yourself in the Back Office . Open Menu > Menus; Import Menu is at the top of the page.

1. Choose your PDF, menu images, CSV, or spreadsheet files and click Upload.
2. Wait while AI reads the files. Check the draft’s menu sections, dish names, descriptions, and prices.
3. Choose which dishes to apply. New dishes start selected; use New only, All, or None to change the selection. Select a dish marked Exists only if you want to update it.
4. Click the Apply button below the draft. It shows how many dishes you selected.

You can upload up to 10 files, with a 5 MB limit per file. PDFs and images are limited to five files and 12 MB combined. Do not mix PDFs or images with CSV or spreadsheet files in one import.

Edit your menu with a request

Use Edit Menu at the top of Menu > Menus for changes you can describe in plain words, such as “add an apple juice to Beverages, $3.50.”

1. Enter what you want to change and click Preview.
2. Review the proposed changes. Uncheck anything you do not want to apply.
3. Click the Apply button showing the number of selected changes.

Check names, prices, and the menu or course for each dish before applying. Some proposed changes start unchecked so you can review them more closely.

Proofread dish names and descriptions

Use Proofread Menu at the top of Menu > Menus to find typos or awkward wording.

1. Choose which dishes to check and click Proofread.
2. Review each suggestion. Click Accept or Reject; you can also click Accept all safe.
3. Click the Apply button showing the number of accepted suggestions.

If a dish needs details that are not in your menu, add those details yourself rather than accepting a guess.

Restore an earlier menu

Before any of these tools writes changes, Selflane saves a copy of your menu. An owner can open Sync Settings , click Restore Menu, and choose that copy within seven days.

Restoring replaces the current menu, so check the backup date before you confirm. See Sync for more about restoring.

Use the manual steps below when you are building a new menu or prefer to enter items yourself.

Menu hierarchy

Build a menu manually

Follow these steps if you are not using AI menu import.

Create a menu

1. Open Menu > Menus in the Back Office .
2. Click + to add a menu (Lunch, Dinner, Wine, etc.).
3. Enter the menu name and set special hours if needed.
4. Choose where the menu is available:
   • Online — turn on if customers can order this menu from your Selflane site.
   • Third Party — turn on if you publish this menu through Third-Party Ordering.
   • Run out (86'd) — turn on only when you need to make the menu temporarily unavailable.
5. Click Save.

Create courses

1. Go to Courses.
2. Click + to add a course.
3. Enter the course name and choose the Classification that fits its dishes.
4. Toggle course features and click Save.

Create dishes

1. Go to Dishes.
2. Click + to add a dish.
3. Enter the dish name and price.
   • Set Online Upcharge or 3rd Party Upcharge only if that channel needs a different price. A pricing strategy for that channel takes precedence over the dish’s upcharge.
4. Assign the dish to one or more menus and to a course.
5. Assign the dish to a kitchen printer.
6. Use tags to mark dishes as spicy, gluten-free, or vegan.
7. Toggle the dish features and click Save.

Create modifiers

Modifiers let customers customize a dish at order time.

1. Select Modifiers or Matrix Modifiers for the dish.
2. Click + to add a modifier group.
3. Enter the modifier title and the maximum number of selections a customer can make. Check Required if the dish must include a choice.
4. Select the dish (or dishes) the modifier applies to.
5. Enter the list of options, separated by commas.
6. Click Save.

When to use Matrix Modifiers. Matrix Modifiers customize each topping individually. Example — a poke bowl with three toppings (furikake, onion crisps, sesame seeds) where a customer wants extra furikake, onion crisps on the side, and lite sesame seeds.

Set up tax rates

You’ll need at least one tax rate before you can take orders.

1. Go to Settings > Profile.
2. In the horizontal navigation, select Tax Rates.
3. Click + to add a tax item.
4. Name the tax item, enter the rate, and choose inclusive or exclusive.
   • Use the on/off toggle to switch tax items on and off without deleting them.
5. Click Save.

Next step

Continue with Configuring your POS.

For deep-dive menu reference, see Back Office → Menu.