How Metaxa Replaced Paper Menus with a Digital Menu to Speed Up Service and Improve Guest Experience

The challenge

Metaxa relied on traditional paper menus.

At first glance, that seems normal. But in a busy mall setting, it created several problems:

1. Slow start at the table
Guests had to wait for a waiter just to receive a menu. During peak hours, this delay was noticeable.

2. Overloaded decision-making
A large menu without visuals made it harder for guests to:

• quickly understand options

• compare dishes

• make confident choices

As a result, ordering took longer than it should.

3. Pressure on staff
Waiters had to:

• distribute menus

• explain dishes repeatedly

• manage multiple tables waiting at once

Even small delays started to stack up.

4. Limited ability to influence choices
Paper menus are static:

• no highlights

• no visual guidance

• no flexibility to promote specific dishes

This meant missed opportunities to steer guests toward higher-value items.

The solution

Metaxa introduced a digital QR menu using Oto, replacing the traditional paper menu.

Guests now access the menu instantly by scanning a QR code at the table.

View their digital menu here: Metaxa digital menu

The goal was clear: simplify access to the menu and speed up the ordering process without changing the overall service style.

What changed

1. Instant access to the menu

Guests no longer wait for a menu.

• scan QR → menu opens immediately

• browsing starts within seconds of sitting down

This removes the initial friction at the table.

2. Faster and easier decisions

The digital menu allows:

• clearer structure

• better organization of categories

• visual support (where applicable)

Guests spend less time figuring things out and more time choosing.

3. Reduced pressure on waiters

Without the need to handle physical menus, staff can:

• focus on taking orders

• respond faster to active tables

• manage more guests efficiently

This is especially important during peak hours inside a mall environment.

4. More control over how dishes are presented

Unlike paper menus, the digital format allows Metaxa to:

• highlight specific dishes

• adjust menu structure anytime

• guide attention to key items

Even without additional features, this creates a more intentional menu experience.

The result

By replacing paper menus with a digital QR menu, Metaxa achieved:

• faster table start times

• quicker decision-making from guests

• less operational pressure on staff

• a more modern and comfortable guest experience

All of this without changing their service model or adding complexity.

Conclusion

For a high-traffic restaurant like Metaxa, even small delays at the start of the guest journey matter.

Switching from paper to digital menus helped remove those delays.

No radical transformation. No heavy automation.

Just a simple change that made the entire flow smoother, for both guests and staff.