Overview
Eating out in Germany
Eating out in Germany ranges from the weekday Mittagstisch and the bakery-cafe to beer gardens, Gasthäuser serving regional cooking and an international restaurant scene in the big cities. Seasons matter: Spargelzeit in spring, beer gardens in summer, game and goose in autumn, Christmas markets in December.
Each season means a new menu, and each menu has to carry the allergen and additive information German guests and inspectors expect. A QR menu lets you swap the seasonal dishes and keep the details right without a print run every few weeks.
Dining culture
Dining habits in Germany that shape the menu
Mittagstisch at lunch
Many restaurants run a weekly lunch menu at a fixed price for office workers. It changes every week, which makes it the first thing worth moving to a digital menu.
Seasonal menus
Asparagus, chanterelles, game and Christmas goose each get their own menu. A separate catalog per season can be prepared in advance and activated on the day.
Card and cash at the table
Guests usually pay at the table and round up by 5 to 10%. Cash is still common, so a clear menu with final prices including VAT avoids questions.
Menu rules
What a menu in Germany has to show
Germany applies the EU Food Information Regulation (LMIV) with the national LMIDV. For food sold loose, allergen information can be given verbally only if written documentation is available on request and guests are told where to ask. Many restaurants mark the 14 allergens directly on the menu instead. On top of that, certain additives such as colourings, preservatives, sweeteners and caffeine must be declared, usually as footnotes.
Under the Price Indication Ordinance (PAngV), restaurants must display a price list for their main dishes and drinks by the entrance, and prices on the menu must be final prices including VAT and service. A QR code by the door can link to the full menu, but the printed price list itself is still required.
Check the current rules
This is a practical summary, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the details with your local food safety authority before you publish.
Languages
Which menu languages to publish in Germany
German comes first for local guests, and English is the second language almost every visitor reads. For tourist areas and trade-fair cities, Dutch, French and Italian cover large groups of neighbouring visitors, and the menu languages in ListoQ include all of them.
Suggested order of menu languages
- 1
Deutsch - 2
English - 3
Nederlands - 4
Français - 5
Italiano
How languages work in ListoQ
Each menu has a default language plus any extra languages you add. You translate item names and descriptions per language; allergen labels and dietary tags come from built-in lists and appear translated automatically. Guests switch language on the menu page itself.
Cities
City guides in Germany
Berlin
An international crowd, late nights and some of Europe's most varied street food.
Open the city guideHamburg
Harbour seafood, cruise passengers and a busy calendar of musicals and events.
Open the city guideMunich
Beer gardens, Oktoberfest and a steady flow of trade-fair visitors.
Open the city guide
With ListoQ
How ListoQ runs your QR menu in Germany
One QR code that never needs reprinting
ListoQ gives each venue a permanent QR code and link. Change a price or a dish of the day and guests in Germany see it the moment you publish.
The 14 EU allergens on every dish
Tag allergens and vegetarian or vegan options per item in ListoQ, so the information guests ask about is on the menu instead of in a folder behind the bar.
Import the menu you already have
AI import in ListoQ reads a PDF, Excel, Word file or photo into a draft. You review it, add your languages and publish when it is ready.
FAQ
Questions from venues in Germany
- Does a QR menu replace the price list at the entrance?
- No. The PAngV still requires a visible price list by the entrance. The QR menu replaces the menu cards at the table and can sit next to the printed list.
- Can I mark additives on a ListoQ menu?
- The 14 allergens are built-in labels. Additives such as colourings or caffeine can be written into the item description or the ingredients field, the way footnotes work on a printed card.
- Can I run the menu in German and English?
- Yes. Set German as the default language, add English and translate item names and descriptions. Allergen labels translate automatically.
- How quickly can I move my menu to ListoQ?
- AI import reads your PDF, Excel or Word menu, or a photo of it, into a draft in a few minutes. You check it, add allergens and publish.
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