# Menu catalog

> Menus, categories, items, modifier groups and per-channel prices.

Source: https://sofra.tablixai.com/docs/menu-catalog

Section: Set up your restaurant

You build your menu once, in the **global catalog**, and every branch can use it. The catalog has four building blocks: **menus**, **categories**, **menu items** and **modifier groups**.

_Screenshot: Catalog overview: menus, categories and items._

## Menus

A **menu** is a top-level collection such as *All Day*, *Breakfast* or *Ramadan Specials*. Go to **Catalog → Menus** and choose **New Menu**: give it a name and description. Branches are then assigned the menus they sell (see [Branch menu customization](https://sofra.tablixai.com/docs/branch-menu)). Without branch customization, every active menu is shown.

## Categories

Open a menu and choose **Add Category** to organise it into sections such as Starters, Mains or Drinks. A category has a name, description, image and sort order. Categories belong to one menu.

## Menu items

Go to **Catalog → Menu Items** and choose **Add Item**.

| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Name, description, images | Shown on the POS and tickets. |
| Category | Required. |
| Base price | The selling price. Required. |
| Cost price | What the item costs you. |
| SKU | Your own stock-keeping code. |
| Type | Food, drink, combo or other. |
| Prep time (min) and calories | Informational. |
| Tags and allergens | Free-text lists. |
| Modifier groups | Which option groups apply to this item. |
| Default taxes | Tax definitions attached to the item. |
| Per-channel prices | Separate Dine-in, Takeaway, Delivery, Online and QR prices (set through branch configuration). |

_Screenshot: The Add Item form._

> **Menu item limits:** Plans cap the number of menu items: Free 20, Basic 100, Pro 500, Pro Plus unlimited.

## Modifier groups and modifiers

A **modifier group** is a set of options a guest chooses from: for example *Size*, *Cheese*, *Cooking temperature*. Each option inside is a **modifier** with its own price (which may be zero).

| Group setting | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Selection type | Single (pick one) or multiple. |
| Required | Whether the guest must choose. |
| Min select / Max select | How many options may be picked. |

Attach groups to the items that need them. At the POS, choosing an item with groups opens a picker, and the order will not be placed until required groups are satisfied.

### Modifiers that change preparation

A modifier can also change how the kitchen prepares the item: it can **inject extra prep steps** after a given step (a quality check, a packing step, a hold) or **override the station** for the whole item. See [Prep stations & workflows](https://sofra.tablixai.com/docs/prep-workflows).

## Recipes

From a menu item you can open its **Recipe** to link ingredients so stock is deducted when it sells. See [Recipes](https://sofra.tablixai.com/docs/recipes).

## Who can edit the catalog

Reading the catalog needs `catalog:read`; creating and editing needs `catalog:write`; deleting needs `catalog:delete`. By default owners and managers have all three.