Turn your UniLink page into a full digital menu with photos, prices, table reservations, and links to every delivery platform — all in one place.
Restaurants live and die on first impressions. When a hungry customer lands on your page — whether they clicked a link in your Instagram bio, scanned a QR code on the table, or found you through Google — they need to see your menu, know your hours, and book a table without bouncing to three different websites. UniLink lets you build that entire experience on a single page in under thirty minutes.
What the Restaurant Page Recipe Does
The restaurant page recipe combines four UniLink blocks into a seamless guest experience. The Menu block acts as your digital menu board: every dish gets its own card with a photo, name, description, price, and an optional "Order" button. Guests scroll through sections — Appetizers, Mains, Desserts, Drinks — exactly as they would on a printed menu, but with photos for every item and a direct path to ordering online.
The Appointment block turns your page into a reservation system. Guests pick a date, time, and party size; you get an instant notification and the booking appears in your UniLink dashboard. No third-party OpenTable subscription required. The Links block rounds things out: one tap to open Google Maps, one tap to order on DoorDash, one tap for Uber Eats — all styled consistently so the page looks intentional rather than cobbled together.
The Banner block sits at the top and functions as your daily chalkboard: today's hours, tonight's special, a holiday closure notice, or a happy-hour countdown. You update it in seconds from your phone, and every visitor sees the latest information immediately.
How to Get Started With Your Restaurant Page
- Open your UniLink dashboard — Go to unil.ink/signup and create an account, or log in and click "Edit Page" on your existing profile.
- Add a Banner block — Click "Add Block," select Banner, and enter your restaurant name, a short tagline (e.g., "Authentic Italian — Open Daily 11 am–10 pm"), and upload a hero photo of your dining room or signature dish. Set background color to match your brand.
- Add a Menu block — Click "Add Block" again and select Menu. Create your first category (e.g., "Starters"), then click "Add Item" to enter each dish: name, description, price, and a photo. Repeat for every category.
- Add an Appointment block — Select Appointment from the block library. Set your available time slots (lunch and dinner service windows), maximum party size, and a confirmation message guests will receive by email. Connect your calendar if you want automatic sync.
- Add a Links block — Select Links and add buttons for Google Maps (paste your Google Maps URL), DoorDash, Uber Eats, and any other platforms you use. Label each button clearly: "Find Us on Maps," "Order on DoorDash," and so on.
- Arrange block order — Drag blocks so the order is: Banner → Menu → Appointment → Links. This mirrors the natural guest journey: see who you are, explore food, book a table, or order delivery.
- Publish and generate a QR code — Hit Publish, then go to Settings → QR Code to download a printable QR code that points to your page. Print it on table tents, takeout bags, and receipts.
How to Use the Menu Block Effectively
- Create categories first — Inside the Menu block, add all your course categories before filling in items. Drag them into the order you want guests to encounter them (Starters, Mains, Sides, Desserts, Drinks).
- Add high-quality photos to every item — Dishes with photos convert at a dramatically higher rate. Use natural light, shoot from directly above, and keep backgrounds clean. Square or 4:3 crops look best in the card layout.
- Write short, appetizing descriptions — Two sentences max. Name the key ingredients, cooking method, and any allergen flags (GF, vegan, spicy). Skip filler phrases like "a wonderful blend of."
- Enable the Order button selectively — If you take direct orders through your own system, toggle the Order button on for each item and link it to your ordering URL. If you rely on third-party apps, leave it off and let the Links block handle ordering.
- Mark popular and new items — Use the "Badge" field on menu items to tag dishes as "Chef's Pick," "New," or "Seasonal." This draws the eye and increases average order value.
- Update prices without rebuilding — Edit any item's price in seconds from the dashboard. No need to reprint menus or update PDFs. Changes go live instantly.
- Hide out-of-stock items — Toggle an item's visibility to hide it temporarily when a dish is 86'd for the night. Toggle it back on tomorrow morning.
Key Settings Explained
| Setting | What it controls | Best practice |
|---|---|---|
| Menu category labels | Section headings guests see as they scroll (e.g., "Starters," "Mains") | Match your printed menu exactly so regulars orient themselves instantly |
| Appointment slot duration | How long each reservation block lasts; controls how many bookings you accept per hour | Set to your average table turn time (90 min for dinner, 60 min for lunch) |
| Banner visibility schedule | Lets you pre-schedule banners to appear and disappear at set times | Pre-create holiday banners and schedule them in advance so you never forget |
| Links block button style | Filled, outline, or icon-only button appearance | Use filled buttons for your most important action (Reserve a Table) and outline for secondary links |
| QR code destination URL | Where the QR code sends guests — your full page or a specific section anchor | For table QR codes, link directly to the Menu section so guests skip the hero banner |
How to Get the Most Out of Your Restaurant Page
The QR code on your tables is your highest-leverage tool. Guests who scan it are already sitting in your restaurant, so they are not researching competitors — they want to see the menu right now. Make sure the QR code links to the Menu block anchor specifically, not the top of the page, so they land directly on food instead of scrolling past your hero section. Print the QR code large enough to scan from across the table, laminate it, and refresh it only when your URL changes (which on UniLink it never does — your handle is permanent).
Use the Banner block as a daily communication channel. Train yourself to update it every morning: today's soup, tonight's special, weekend brunch hours, or a private event that means the dining room closes at 8 pm. Guests who follow you on Instagram see your posts, but guests who scan your QR code at the table see your Banner — these are often different people. A fresh banner signals that your page is actively maintained and builds trust.
Connect the Appointment block to your Google Calendar so reservation notifications arrive alongside your other alerts. Set a buffer between slots (15–20 minutes) to give your host time to turn a table. If you close for a private event, block out those slots in advance rather than scrambling to decline last-minute reservations.
Seasonal menu refreshes are much faster on UniLink than reprinting physical menus. Hide items that are out of season, add new ones with photos you already shot, and reorder categories if your emphasis shifts (a summer page might lead with Drinks and Salads). Because updates go live immediately, you can make changes between lunch and dinner service from your phone in the kitchen.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| QR code does not scan reliably | Printed too small or low contrast on busy background | Print at minimum 2 cm × 2 cm; use white background; test scan before laminating |
| Menu photos load slowly on mobile | Original image files are too large (over 2 MB) | Compress photos to under 500 KB before uploading; UniLink also applies automatic optimization |
| Appointment block shows no available times | No time slots configured, or all slots for the day are full | Go to Appointment settings → Availability and confirm at least one time window is enabled for today |
| Delivery app links open the wrong page | Copied the restaurant homepage URL instead of the ordering URL | Open the app, navigate to your menu, and copy the URL from the address bar on that specific page |
Pros
- One URL works for dine-in (QR code), delivery apps (Links block), and social media bio simultaneously
- Real-time updates — change hours, prices, or specials in seconds from any device
- Built-in reservations without paying for a third-party booking platform
- No technical skills required — drag-and-drop blocks, no code, no plugins
Cons
- Advanced POS integration (live inventory sync, direct in-app checkout) requires connecting an external ordering system
- Menu block is not a full kitchen display system — it displays items but does not route orders to kitchen printers
- Appointment block is optimized for simple reservations; large-event or multi-room booking logic needs a dedicated reservation tool
Frequently Asked Questions
Can guests order directly through my UniLink menu page?
The Menu block displays items with prices and photos and can include an "Order" button that links to any URL — your own ordering system, a third-party app, or a Google Form for pre-orders. UniLink does not process payments itself on the menu block, but the Shop block does if you want direct checkout for pre-packaged items or gift cards.
How do I update my menu for lunch vs. dinner service?
The simplest approach is to use Menu block categories to separate lunch and dinner items, then toggle the visibility of categories based on service time. Alternatively, create two separate UniLink pages (one for lunch, one for dinner) and switch which URL your QR codes point to at the changeover — though most restaurants find a single page with clearly labeled sections works well enough.
Does the Appointment block send reminder emails to guests?
Yes. When a guest books a reservation, they receive an automatic confirmation email. You can configure a reminder email to go out a set number of hours before the reservation time. Both messages include your restaurant name, the reservation details, and a cancellation link.
Can I use my own custom domain for the restaurant page?
Yes. In your UniLink settings, you can connect a custom domain (e.g., menu.yourrestaurant.com) so guests never see the unil.ink URL. This is especially useful for the QR code on tables, where a branded URL looks more professional.
What size should my menu item photos be?
Upload photos at 800 × 800 pixels (square) or 1200 × 900 pixels (4:3 landscape) for best results. UniLink compresses and serves them at the right size for each device. Avoid uploading images under 400 pixels wide — they will appear blurry on retina screens.
Key Takeaways
- The four-block recipe (Banner + Menu + Appointment + Links) covers every guest touchpoint: discovery, browsing, booking, and ordering.
- A QR code linked directly to the Menu block anchor eliminates friction for guests already seated in your restaurant.
- Update hours, specials, and prices in real time from your phone — no reprinting, no developer required.
- The Appointment block replaces third-party reservation tools for straightforward table booking needs.
- One UniLink URL works across all channels: Instagram bio, Google Business Profile, delivery app descriptions, and table QR codes.
Ready to launch your digital menu?
Set up your restaurant page on UniLink in under 30 minutes. No design skills, no monthly SaaS fees for basic reservations, no scattered links — everything your guests need in one place.
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