> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.mesobordering.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Manage Your Hotel Menu with MesobOrdering
> Add, edit, and organize your digital menu items and categories in MesobOrdering. Control availability, dietary tags, pricing, and departments.
The Menu Manager is your central hub for building and maintaining the digital menu your guests see when they scan your QR code. Navigate to `/admin/menu` to add new dishes and drinks, organise them into categories, set prices, flag dietary information, and toggle items in or out of availability — all without touching a line of code.
## Stats Overview
At the top of the Menu Manager, four summary cards give you an at-a-glance snapshot of your current menu health.
| Card | What it shows |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Total Items** | The total number of menu items you have created, regardless of status |
| **Categories** | The number of active categories used to group your items |
| **Live / Available** | Items that are currently marked as available and visible to guests |
| **Popular Items** | Items you have flagged with the "Is Popular" toggle |
***
## Managing Categories
Categories let you group related items — for example *Starters*, *Main Course*, *Cocktails*, or *Soft Drinks* — so guests can browse your menu with ease.
### Creating a Category
Click the **+ Categories** button on the Menu Manager page.
Complete the fields in the **New Category** modal:
| Field | Required | Notes |
| ------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Category Name | ✅ Yes | Displayed on the guest menu |
| Description | No | Optional context shown beneath the category name |
| Active | No | Toggle on to make the category visible; off to hide it from guests |
Click **Create**. The new category appears immediately in the category list and becomes available when adding menu items.
### Editing a Category
Click the **pencil icon** next to any category to open the **Edit Category** modal. Update the name, description, or active status, then click **Update** to save your changes.
### Deleting a Category
Click the **trash icon** next to a category to delete it.
The delete button is disabled if the category still contains menu items. Move or delete all items within a category before you can remove it.
***
## Managing Menu Items
All your menu items are displayed in a table with the following columns:
| Column | Description |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Menu Items** | Thumbnail image, item name, and assigned department (Kitchen or Bar) |
| **Price (ETB)** | The item price in Ethiopian Birr |
| **Categories** | Pill badges showing which category or categories the item belongs to |
| **Status** | Either **Available** or **Sold Out** |
| **Actions** | Edit (pencil) and Delete (trash) icons |
### Adding a Menu Item
Click the **+ Add Item** button at the top of the menu table.
Complete the form using the fields described below:
| Field | Required | Notes |
| ------------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Item Name | ✅ Yes | The name guests see on the menu |
| Price (ETB) | ✅ Yes | Enter the price in Ethiopian Birr |
| Description | No | A short description of the dish or drink |
| Category | ✅ Yes | Select from your existing categories |
| Department | No | Choose **Kitchen** or **Bar** to route orders correctly |
| Image URL | No | A publicly accessible URL for the item thumbnail |
| Prep Time (minutes) | No | Estimated preparation time shown to guests |
| Dietary Info | No | Check any that apply: **Vegetarian**, **Vegan**, **Gluten-Free**, **Dairy-Free**, **Spicy** |
| Is Available | No | Toggle on to make the item orderable; toggle off to mark it as sold out |
| Is Popular | No | Toggle on to feature the item in the Popular section of the guest menu |
Click **Create**. The item is added to the table and immediately reflects its availability status on the guest-facing menu.
### Editing a Menu Item
Click the **pencil icon** in the Actions column for the item you want to change. The **Edit Item** modal opens with all existing values pre-filled. Make your changes and click **Save Changes**.
### Deleting a Menu Item
Click the **trash icon** in the Actions column, then confirm the deletion in the prompt that appears.
Deleting a menu item is permanent and cannot be undone. Any guest who had the item in their cart will no longer be able to order it. Consider toggling **Is Available** off instead of deleting if you plan to bring the item back later.
***
## Searching and Filtering
Use the **search box** at the top of the items table to filter items by name or description in real time. Use the **category dropdown** next to the search box to narrow the list down to a single category. You can combine both controls to quickly locate any item in a large menu.
Use the **Is Popular** toggle to highlight your best dishes on the guest menu. Popular items are surfaced prominently, making it easier for guests to discover your most-loved offerings without scrolling through the full list.