How to Add and Manage Menu Items in Openleet

Openleet menu items help restaurants, cafés, caterers, and other suitable businesses present individual offerings in a structured menu. Each item can include a description, category, price variants, availability, ingredients, dietary details, and an image.

This guide explains how to build and maintain a menu that is clear for visitors and practical for the business owner to update.

1. Open the menu-items library

1. Sign in to Openleet.
2. Select the business you want to manage.
3. Open Content.
4. Choose Menu items.
5. Select Add item, or choose Edit beside an existing item.

The library groups items by category and provides quick controls for publishing, availability, category placement, ordering, editing, and deletion.

2. Create useful categories first

Categories make a longer menu easier to browse. Examples include:

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Main dishes
• Drinks
• Desserts
• Catering packages
• Seasonal items

Select Add category and enter a short name customers will recognize. You can later rename, reorder, activate, or deactivate a category.

An inactive category is not intended for public display. Items without a category remain in Uncategorized. You can move an item to another category from the library without opening the full editor.

Before deleting a category, move its items to another category or to Uncategorized. Deleting a category should not be used as a shortcut for deleting its items.

3. Add the main item details

Item name

The item name is required. Use the name customers would naturally ask for, such as Chicken Alfredo, Family Taco Kit, or Small Event Coffee Service.

Category

Select the most appropriate category. Avoid placing the same item in an unrelated category just to make it appear more often.

Description

Write a short description that helps customers understand what the item includes. Mention the most useful distinguishing details without turning the description into a long advertisement.

Serving size

Add a recognizable serving size when it helps customers compare options, such as 1 plate, serves 4, 12 oz, or 500 ml.

4. Set current availability

Choose the status that reflects whether customers can currently obtain the item:

• Available
• Limited
• Seasonal
• Sold out
• Discontinued

Availability and publication are different. A published item marked Sold out can still explain that the item exists but is temporarily unavailable. A draft item is not displayed publicly, regardless of its availability status.

You can update availability quickly from the menu-items library when stock or the season changes.

5. Add prices and variants

Every menu item has at least one price variant. A new item begins with a Regular variant priced at 0 CAD, so replace that default with the correct information before publishing.

Each variant can include:

• a label, such as Small, Regular, Large, Single, Family, or Half tray;
• a non-negative price;
• a three-letter currency code, such as CAD;
• an optional numeric size; and
• an optional size unit, such as oz, g, or ml.

Use Add variant for additional sizes or options. Use separate variants only when customers are choosing between versions of the same item. Create separate menu items when the ingredients, description, or identity of the offering is substantially different.

6. Add dietary and structured details

The editor lets you record:

• calories;
• spice level;
• tags;
• ingredients;
• allergens; and
• Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten free, and Halal labels.

Use comma-separated, consistent names for tags, ingredients, and allergens. Tags such as Popular, New, or Chef special should describe the item rather than repeat its category.

Dietary labels require particular care. For example, an item without gluten-containing ingredients is not necessarily safe for a person with celiac disease if cross-contact is possible. A Halal, vegan, or allergen-related claim should reflect the ingredients, preparation process, and information available from suppliers.

When information is uncertain, leave the claim off and invite customers to contact the business. Openleet organizes the information you enter; it does not independently certify dietary or allergen claims.

7. Add an item image and alternative text

The hero image is optional. Upload a clear photo that represents the actual item. If no custom photo is supplied, the editor can use a generated placeholder based on the item and business names.

Add concise alternative text describing what is visible, such as Chicken Alfredo with grilled chicken and parmesan. Alternative text should describe the image rather than list promotional keywords.

Before publishing an image:

• confirm that you own it or have permission to use it;
• avoid misleading stock photography;
• crop it so the item remains clear on smaller screens; and
• check that no private customer or staff information is visible.

8. Save as a draft or publish

New menu items begin as Drafts. Draft items are visible to authorized dashboard users but do not appear on the public menu.

Turn on Publish only after checking the name, description, category, variants, price, currency, availability, dietary details, and image. You can also publish or unpublish an existing item directly from the library.

Publishing makes the item eligible to appear on enabled Openleet surfaces. It does not guarantee visits, search placement, or use by an external service.

9. Arrange the public menu

From the menu-items library, you can:

• reorder categories;
• reorder items within a category;
• move an item to a different category;
• activate or deactivate a category;
• update an item's availability; and
• publish or unpublish an item.

Place the categories customers use most near the beginning. Within each category, prioritize a small number of common or representative items instead of changing the order frequently without a clear reason.

10. Save and inspect the result

Select Save changes, return to the menu-items library, and inspect the item in its category. Then review the public menu on both a phone and a larger screen.

Where published menu items appear

Published menu items can appear in the menu area of the Openleet business profile, including individual item pages where available.

Businesses using an eligible Openleet website can also show the menu on their tenant domain. The website's Menu navigation entry must be active for visitors to reach it easily from the navbar.

Only published items in active public menu structures should be treated as currently presented offerings. Availability labels give visitors additional status information without requiring you to delete an item whenever it is temporarily unavailable.

Edit, unpublish, move, or delete an item

Use the quick controls in Content → Menu items for common changes, or select Edit to update all details.

• Use Draft or unpublish when an item needs review.
• Use Sold out or Seasonal when the item should remain visible with accurate availability.
• Use Discontinued when it is no longer offered but you intentionally retain the record.
• Delete an item only when you no longer need it; deletion cannot be undone from the editor.

Review prices, availability, and ingredient information regularly. A smaller accurate menu is more useful than a large outdated one.

FAQ