AR menu (augmented reality): how guests see the dish on their table
Augmented reality (AR) places the 3D model of a dish over the camera image, so guests see it on their own table, next to their glass and cutlery. Here is how it works, on which phones, and what matters for it to look good.
What “See it on your table” means
In the digital menu, under a 3D dish, guests have a “See it on your table (AR)” button. The phone opens the camera, detects the table surface and places the dish on it. Guests can lean in, walk around it and look at it from any angle, like a real one.
Which phones support it
- iPhone and iPad: through AR Quick Look, built into iOS and opened from Safari.
- Android: through Scene Viewer, on ARCore-compatible phones (Google Play Services for AR).
- Computers: no AR; the menu shows a QR code that opens the dish on a phone.
On phones without AR support, guests still see the 3D model and can rotate it in the menu. Nothing breaks — the AR button simply explains that the phone does not support it.
Real size
A dish in AR is convincing when its size is right. In Menu3D, if you enter the plate diameter in centimetres, the model is scaled exactly and appears on the table at its real size. Without it, guests can pinch to scale the dish up or down.
Where the 3D model comes from
AR looks as good as the model. The best source is scanning the dish with your phone: portion and texture are the real ones. A preview created with AI from a photo or text is useful to start with, but it is an approximation (see the photo / 3D / AI comparison).
What the restaurant prepares
- Scan the dishes you want guests to see in AR.
- Enter the plate diameter for real size.
- Choose the angle used as the menu picture (in the dashboard, “Use this angle as photo”).
- Put the QR codes on the tables — the QR menu guide.
- Tell your staff the menu has AR: a suggestion at the table (“try the dessert on your table, from the menu”) helps a lot.
Privacy
The camera is used by the phone’s operating system (Quick Look or Scene Viewer) only while the guest looks at the dish. The menu does not record any images from guests.
Frequently asked questions
Do guests need to install anything for AR?
No. iPhone uses AR Quick Look built into iOS, and Android uses Scene Viewer on ARCore-compatible phones. Both start from the browser.
Why does the dish appear too big or too small?
Without the plate diameter, the size cannot be guaranteed. Enter the diameter in cm and the dish will appear at its real size.
Does AR work on a computer?
No. On a computer the menu shows a QR code that opens the dish on a phone, where AR works.
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Read →Try it on your own dish
The first 3D dish costs €1 and includes 30 days of Menu3D.