Pricing · US & Canada
The 15-Dish AR Menu: Why Most Independent Restaurants Stop Here
BeforeTable Starter plan covers 15 3D dishes for $20 a month. Which items to include first, how to rotate specials, and when to keep the rest flat.
2026-09-23 · 8 min read · BeforeTable
Why independent restaurants rarely need 100 dishes in 3D
When restaurant owners first hear about augmented reality menus, their immediate instinct is often to assume they need to digitize every item in their kitchen: twenty appetizers, forty entrees, fifteen side dishes, and every soft drink. That approach is costly, unnecessary, and actually counterproductive for diner decision-making.
In real dining rooms, the 80/20 rule applies universally. Roughly twenty percent of your menu generates eighty percent of your gross revenue and dining room praise. Modeling every single side of fries or plain soda overwhelms guests with visual clutter without adding margin.
The trap of trying to digitize the entire walk-in cooler
Guests already know what a side of steamed rice looks like. Spending time and budget on simple staple items creates zero visual surprise or margin lift.
The power of curated visual choice for dining room speed
Presenting guests with fifteen signature visual highlights speeds up ordering times and directs customer spend toward your most profitable plates.
How the BeforeTable Starter plan is structured for independent spots
BeforeTable designed the Starter plan specifically around this operational sweet spot. For just $20 per month, independent restaurants unlock 15 active 3D WebAR dish slots with priority model processing and full order flow capabilities.
Unlike enterprise solutions that demand multi-thousand dollar onboarding fees and expensive proprietary hardware, the Starter plan costs less than the profit from two sold entrees per month, making it accessible to single-location bistros and cafes.
Straightforward monthly pricing without hidden fees
At $20 a month with no long-term contracts, independent operators can test visual dining with minimal financial risk and complete freedom to cancel.
Priority processing for seasonal menu changes
Starter plan subscribers receive prioritized model reconstruction, turning new dish photography into live WebAR assets in as little as 24 hours.
The ideal 15-dish allocation formula for maximum check lift
To get the highest return from your 15 AR slots, follow a proven menu allocation formula that touches every stage of the meal. Do not dump all fifteen slots into one category.
A balanced allocation covers your three highest-margin appetizers, your top seven signature entrees, three photogenic desserts, and two high-end craft cocktails or specialty beverages. This structure ensures every diner encounters at least one captivating 3D model during each ordering round.
Three signature shareable appetizers
Highlight starters that encourage table sharing and set an exciting, participatory tone for the meal before entrees are chosen.
Seven hero entrees that define your culinary reputation
Feature your specialty cuts, artisan pasta dishes, or house burgers that command premium price points and deliver the strongest gross margin.
Three desserts and two specialty cocktails
Visual desserts directly overcome diner resistance when asked if they have room for sweets, while 3D drinks drive high-margin impulse orders.
Rotating seasonal specials without exceeding your 15 slots
Menus change with the seasons, and the Starter plan accommodates this seamlessly. If your chef introduces a summer seafood boil or a winter holiday braised short rib, you can easily swap models in your dashboard.
Simply toggle an existing dish off-menu and attach your new photography to the empty slot. The updated 3D special goes live across your existing tabletop QR codes instantly without needing any reprint.
One-click dish archiving in the merchant dashboard
Archived models remain safely stored in your account so you can reactivate them next season without re-uploading original photos.
Zero table tent reprints when swapping daily specials
Because table QR codes link to cloud-hosted menus, seasonal swaps appear immediately on diner phones without replacing physical table stands.
Keeping the rest of your menu clean with flat listings
What happens to the items that do not receive 3D models? They remain beautifully presented as standard text entries with dietary icons, prices, and clear descriptions.
Diners appreciate this balance. They enjoy inspecting the visual 3D heroes, while standard staples like side salads, extra sauces, and fountain drinks remain quick, text-based selections that do not clutter the screen.
Natural visual hierarchy between heroes and sides
Placing 3D cards at the top of category sections naturally guides guest attention toward your most lucrative and satisfying dishes.
Lightning-fast mobile menu scrolling performance
Limiting 3D WebGL renderers to fifteen hero items ensures your mobile menu loads instantly even on older smartphones and crowded dining room WiFi.
Comparing Starter plan economics to traditional print menus
Consider what independent restaurants spend on traditional menu maintenance. Re-laminating paper menus after price updates, printing seasonal inserts, and throwing away stained cards regularly costs between $50 and $150 per month.
At $20 per month, the BeforeTable Starter plan costs significantly less than recurring printing bills while providing an interactive experience paper can never match. If a single extra table orders a $14 dessert each week, the software is fully paid for.
Eliminating recurring paper reprint expenses
Updating ingredient descriptions or tweaking prices takes thirty seconds in the dashboard and updates instantly on all tables.
Measuring ROI in dessert and beverage uplift
A 15 percent increase in dessert sales easily generates several hundred dollars in extra monthly margin, dwarfing the $20 software subscription.
When to stay on Starter versus upgrading to Growth
For the vast majority of single-unit independent diners, bistros, and cafes, the 15-dish Starter plan is all they will ever need. It covers their core menu highlights and keeps operations simple.
Upgrading to the $200 per month Growth plan only becomes necessary when you expand to a large multi-page menu requiring 50 AR slots, need interactive floor plan table tracking, or want detailed customer analytics across a 150-seat dining room.
Signs that the Starter plan is the perfect permanent fit
If your menu has under 40 total items and your chef focuses on core neighborhood favorites, fifteen 3D dishes capture the full magic of your kitchen.
When high dining room volume calls for Growth
High-capacity venues running multiple dining zones and dedicated POS stations benefit from Growth plan floor plans and 50 AR models.
Taking the step from Free to Starter with confidence
The recommended path for any new restaurant is to start on the Free plan. Test 3 hero dishes on your tables for a couple of weeks at zero cost. Watch how your servers introduce the QR codes and observe how diners react to seeing food in 3D.
Once you see guests smiling, sharing photos, and ordering your hero dishes, upgrading to the $20 Starter plan to unlock 15 dishes is an easy, high-confidence decision that pays for itself immediately.
Testing the concept risk-free on three tables
Experience the full customer workflow on the Free tier before committing to the monthly Starter subscription.
Smooth one-click upgrade inside your dashboard
Upgrading takes seconds and unlocks twelve additional 3D model slots instantly without disrupting existing table QR codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BeforeTable Starter plan?
The Starter plan is BeforeTable entry subscription for independent restaurants, providing 15 active 3D WebAR dish slots for $20 per month.
Why do most independent restaurants only need 15 3D dishes?
Most dining room revenue comes from a core group of signature dishes. Modeling 15 hero items captures major margins without overwhelming guests with clutter.
Can I swap dishes on the Starter plan when my menu changes?
Yes. You can archive existing dishes and upload photography for new seasonal specials anytime within your 15 active slot limit.
Do I need to reprint QR table tents when I change dishes on Starter?
No. QR codes link dynamically to your cloud menu, so updates and new 3D models appear automatically on existing table tents.
What happens to the rest of my dishes that are not in 3D?
They appear as clear, elegant text listings with prices, dietary tags, and descriptions alongside your 3D visual hero dishes.
Is there a long-term contract or setup fee for the Starter plan?
No. The Starter plan is strictly month-to-month at $20 with no setup fees or cancellation penalties.
How fast are 3D models processed on the Starter plan?
Starter plan subscribers receive priority processing, with finished 3D models typically delivered within 24 to 48 hours.
Can customers order food directly through the Starter plan menu?
Yes. The Starter plan includes full mobile ordering, variant selections, modifiers, and cart checkout for dine-in and takeaway.
What is the best way to choose which 15 dishes to put in 3D?
Select your 3 best appetizers, 7 signature entrees, 3 desserts, and 2 craft cocktails to cover every stage of the dining experience.
How does the Starter plan compare to the Free plan?
The Free plan includes 3 active 3D dishes for $0, while the Starter plan expands your capacity to 15 dishes with priority processing for $20 per month.
Can I use Starter plan QR codes for takeout and delivery menus?
Yes. Starter plan menus can be placed on takeout bags, window standees, and social media bios for online and takeaway orders.
Does the Starter plan work on both iPhone and Android?
Yes. It uses WebAR across Safari Quick Look and Android Scene Viewer with zero app download required for any diner.
What happens if I need 16 or 20 dishes in 3D?
You can archive low-performing dishes to stay at 15 or upgrade to the Growth plan for $200 per month to unlock 50 dishes and floor plans.
Does the $20 price ever increase automatically?
No. Your subscription rate is locked in at $20 per month as long as your account remains in good standing.
How quickly does the Starter plan pay for itself?
Selling just one or two additional desserts or signature cocktails each week covers the entire $20 monthly subscription cost.
Can I downgrade back to the Free plan if I want to?
Yes. If you downgrade, your three oldest dishes remain live in 3D while the remaining items transition to flat text listings smoothly.