How to Create a Daily Specials System That Does Not Require Reprinting

April 10, 2026Menu Management

Your specials change every day. Here is a system that updates instantly from your phone. No chalkboard, no inserts, no reprinting.

Last updated: April 2026

Your specials change every day. Maybe every service. You cannot reprint the menu each time, and rewriting the chalkboard is getting old. Customers who arrived five minutes after a special sold out are frustrated because the board still shows it.

Here is how to set up a daily specials system that updates instantly, costs nothing to change, and reaches customers before they even walk in the door.

The problem with current specials systems

Chalkboards: Look charming but only visible to customers already inside. Cannot be updated remotely. Limited space for descriptions. Hard to read from across the room. Someone with nice handwriting needs to be there. Paper inserts: Printed sheets tucked into the menu. Better than chalkboards for detail, but still need to be printed, and any change during service means reprinting mid-shift. Usually end up crumpled or lost. Verbal announcements: Server tells each table the specials. Inconsistent delivery. Servers forget items. Customers forget what was said by the time they order. No photos, no prices visible. Social media posts: Reach people before they visit, but not visible to customers already seated. Buried in feeds within hours. No permanent link customers can check on demand.

The better approach: digital specials on your existing menu

Add a "Today's Specials" section to your digital menu. Update it from your phone before each service. Customers who scan the QR code on the table see the current specials alongside the regular menu.

This works because:

Updates take seconds. Open the app, add the special (name, description, price), save. It is live for every customer who scans the QR code from that moment forward. Sold-out items disappear immediately. When the kitchen runs out, mark the item as sold out or remove it. No more customers ordering something that is gone. Customers see specials before arriving. The same link you share on Instagram and Google shows the specials. A customer checking your menu at 5 PM sees what is available for dinner tonight. No printing, no handwriting, no server memorization. The specials are on every customer's phone. Servers can focus on recommendations rather than reciting a list from memory.

How to set it up

Step 1: Create a "Specials" section in your digital menu

Most digital menu tools (including EasyMenus) let you create custom categories. Add a section called "Today's Specials" or "Chef's Specials" or "Daily Features." Place it at the top of your menu so it is the first thing customers see.

Step 2: Add today's specials before service

Before lunch or dinner service, enter the items for today. Include:

Item name
Short description (ingredients, preparation)
Price
A photo if you have one (even a quick phone photo helps)

Step 3: Update during service as needed

If an item sells out, mark it as sold out or remove it. If the kitchen adds a last-minute special, add it. Changes are live immediately.

Step 4: Clear and reset for the next day

At the end of service (or before the next one), remove today's specials and add tomorrow's. This takes 2 to 3 minutes.

Making it work for different restaurant types

Fine dining with a tasting menu or prix fixe: Add the evening's menu to the specials section each afternoon. Customers who check your menu online see what tonight's experience includes before making a reservation. Casual lunch spot with rotating soups and sandwiches: Update the specials section each morning with today's offerings. Share the link on Instagram stories for the lunchtime rush. Brunch restaurant with weekend-only specials: Add a "Weekend Brunch Specials" section that is only visible on Saturday and Sunday. Hide it during the week. Bar with rotating cocktails: Add a "Featured Cocktails" section. Update when a new cocktail goes on or off the list.

Combining digital specials with physical signage

You do not have to choose one or the other. The most effective approach for many restaurants is:

A small chalkboard or printed sign at the entrance with one or two featured specials (drives curiosity)
A QR code on the table that links to the full specials list with descriptions, photos, and prices (drives orders)
A social media post with the day's highlights and a link to the full menu (drives traffic before customers arrive)

The digital specials are the source of truth. The chalkboard and the social post are teasers that point back to it.

Cost comparison

Chalkboard: $30 to $100 for the board. Free to update, but requires staff time and good handwriting. Printed inserts: $20 to $50 per print run if done at a copy shop. More if you use a designer. Multiplied by however many times per week you change specials. Digital specials on your menu: $0 on a free plan. Updated from your phone in under a minute.

Get started

EasyMenus free plan includes one daily special. Paid plans include unlimited specials. Add a "Specials" section to your menu, update it before each service, and share the link.

Add daily specials to your menu free

Related reading:

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