A brushed metal look with an embossed logo and text.
The different finishes include both texturing effects as well as engraving, cutting, embossing, and chemical finishes that can produce unique patinas. Texturing finishes would look like brushed aluminum or swirls ground into the steel, just as an example. Logos and other images or text can be cut into the metal itself or embossed onto the metal creating a brand for your restaurant. Finishes are more common with the copper and brass metal choices and include agents that produce a nice patina that enhances the look and uniqueness of each cover.
Keep in mind that when we talk about metal covers, we must understand that this requires some type of backing or base upon which the metal is attached. Unless you have a café menu that doesn’t require a folded design, odds are the weight of your menu will be a concern if you were to use all metal. For this reason, the base would consist of some type of wood or fiber layer over which the thin metal sheet is wrapped and attached.
The same theory or concept applies to all types of menu covers, not just metal ones. For example, consider the leather menu cover. This one will also require some type of base or backing to which the leather is wrapped and then fastened. Leather can be glued using a variety of applications or can be stitched to the base for an entirely different look.
Likewise, the thin metal sheet – whether aluminum, stainless steel, copper or brass – can be made to ‘wrap’ around the base and then be attached in a variety of ways. The most popular and durable way is by using a special tape reinforced by rivets. Sometimes, the look calls for a simple cloth-taped edge. With any application, the choice you make will be guaranteed to be capable of normal use and withstand the regular opening and closing a menu obviously endures. Check out some great brass covers here.
Your restaurant menu cover speaks volumes about your taste and food choices long before your server even comes into the picture. In order to give your guests the impression you want to convey, consider the other elements of your restaurant. In other words, how would a menu cover that is made of metal reflect your other style elements? Is metal the appropriate material to use? After all, there are other options like the leather mentioned above. Also, there are the custom styles that involve materials like cork, wood, and even fabric elements. Considering other ecologically-minded trends, there are also ‘green’ menu cover choices like bamboo. The main point to consider is to maintain a look that is consistent in the minds of your guests.
]]>If your restaurant or café is trying to position itself as a fixture in the community or attract a well-traveled or refined taste, then you only have a few choices as far as menu covers are concerned. Well, let’s rephrase that. You can choose what ever you like, but there are only a few styles that will be a best fit if you want your menu to be regarded well in the eyes of your guests.
Are Leather Menu Covers The Only Way To Go?
As we’ve mentioned, leather is an obvious and more common and easily found way to go. However, you also have unlimited choices if you go with more of a custom menu cover. In this category, you have more options as far as sizes, materials, and mixed ‘media’ as well. For example, if you are wanting to get a unique look, then you could opt for a style that is made with metal. There are a variety of metal menu cover choices.
These would include things like brushed aluminum, stainless steels and even metals like copper and brass. Copper has some interesting options as well. A popular style of copper cover is one that is treated with a chemical agent that causes the copper to develop a very unique patina to it. This will give each menu cover a unique look of its own. This is certainly a nice touch for the discriminating guest.
This type of leather is not as sophisticated looking as aged, Italian leather.
Back to the topic at hand, a leather menu cover can be made unique in its own right. Keep in mind that we are also talking about real leather here. There are also faux leather styles, sometimes called leatherette, that are very common. We are not discussing these types. With a real leather, you can get the unique grain characteristics and wear that comes with age. Nothing can replace this look and feel of real leather. In addition, you can get an image or the name of your restaurant embossed on the menu cover itself for that added sense of identity and branding.
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An old menu in need of some new menu cover ideas.
What you will notice of dining establishments that stick around long enough to be profitable for long periods of time is that they are consistent. You’ve probably heard the saying that a huge part of success is just showing up. In our case, this means showing up and being reliable and consistent. Being reliable in many respects means that your restaurant’s design is consistent with your guest’s expectations. Notice we haven’t even talked about food yet. When your menu covers reflect a certain personality that is also present in the food choices, you’ve just achieved another level of consistency. What you will notice is that over time, maintaining this level of consistency breeds loyalty from your guests as well.
When people know what to expect from you – or your restaurant – they can be more free to recommend it to others. If your style, service, food and other aspects are inconsistent, people get uncomfortable. This can even mean changes that are designed to improve your establishment. This doesn’t mean don’t improve, it means change with feedback and notice. Allow your loyal guests to participate in the process where possible.
Have A Custom Menu Cover Contest
This is an example of something that can get your guests involved and also earn you some free press in the local media. In this case, you could put the word out that your restaurant is holding a contest to design their new menu covers. The winner of the custom menu cover contest will win a free dinner for four or something like that. You could set the parameters such as material choices or even just have a place on the cover where the winning logo or text would appear. This way, you could still maintain control over the main aspects of your design.
This is important because if you are set on getting leather menu covers with an elegant looking embossed image, you will not be inundated with metal designs or inserts for those simple plastic menu cover styles. Something that has worked for some is to have a metal menu cover with a circle, oval or square space cut out of the center of the cover itself. While certainly not a cheap menu cover choice, it will give you a considerably unique appearance. This can then be fitted with a holder on the rear aspect of the main cover and can be made to hold an image or some sort of logo, shape or other design.
In the end, it is really a matter of choice as to how you will keep the covers for your menu consistent with the overall theme of your restaurant and food choices. This is one of those things that seems very trivial to someone who has a hard time visualizing the details. However, when all the little things work properly, it is much easier to work on larger aspects such as service and public relations. After all, if the guests aren’t coming or returning, more importantly, then you don’t need any type of menu cover in the first place.
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