AR MENU FOR RESTAURANTS
Guests place every dish on their real table — at real size
One tap and the meal lands on the table in front of them, scaled to the exact plate diameter. Mealar ships AR built-in: Apple Quick Look on iPhone, Scene Viewer on Android, no app to install.
Why AR closes the gap between curiosity and order
Guests don't just see the dish. They see it on their table.
Real plate size, in AR
Every meal is anchored at the exact diameter or width you set. The guest sees a 28 cm pizza at 28 cm — not a guess.
Native AR on every modern phone
iOS uses Quick Look (built into Safari), Android uses Scene Viewer. No app, no setup, no QR-of-shame for guests with old phones.
Reduces 'too small / too big' returns
Portion confusion is the #1 silent return driver. AR settles it before the order — saving food cost and table turnover.
AR is the wow moment
Guests film their AR experience and post it. Free organic reach — every AR-ready meal becomes a tiny TikTok-able moment.
How AR menus work in four steps
Same flow as your QR menu — AR is just one extra tap for the guest.
- 01
Generate 3D for the dish
AI turns the dish photo into a 3D model. Real plate size is set automatically.
- 02
Guest scans the QR
Standard QR menu loads. They see your meal in 3D in the browser.
- 03
Tap 'View in AR'
Phone camera opens. The dish drops onto the table at the exact diameter you specified.
- 04
Order with full confidence
Guest knows portion size, look, and feel. They tap to add to cart or call the waiter.
AR menu vs photo-only menu
Where AR moves the needle vs traditional digital menus.
| Capability | Mealar AR menu | Photo / video menu |
|---|---|---|
| Real-size on guest table | Yes | No |
| iOS Quick Look | Yes | No |
| Android Scene Viewer | Yes | No |
| Works without an app | Yes | Yes |
| AR-shareable on TikTok / Reels | Yes | No |
| Cost per dish | Included in plan | Photo + video shoot |
Common questions about AR menus
- Do guests need to install an AR app?
- No. iPhones use Apple Quick Look (built into Safari). Android phones use Scene Viewer (built into Chrome). It's one tap from the browser.
- Will AR work on old phones?
- Most phones from 2018 onwards support AR natively. Older phones see the 3D viewer in-browser instead — they still get a great preview.
- Is the dish actually scaled to real size?
- Yes. You set the plate diameter (round) or width (rectangular) in cm. Mealar rewrites the 3D model at upload to make AR display exactly that size.
- How is AR different from 3D in the browser?
- 3D in the browser is a viewer you can spin. AR places the dish in the real world via your camera — the guest can walk around it on the table.
- Does AR cost extra?
- No. Every 3D meal is automatically AR-ready. If your plan includes 3D, AR is included for free.
- Can I disable AR on specific dishes?
- Yes. Toggle AR off per meal if a dish doesn't render well in AR (e.g. soup with steam — though most do look great).
Related capabilities
Let guests preview every dish on their actual table
AR is built into every 3D meal on Mealar — no extra setup, no app for guests. Generate one dish in 3D and try AR yourself.