topic Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price in Restaurant Operations

MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:35:14 GMT

MENU as MOD = great idea.

MODS: each modifier has a unique price - OK

add chimichuri $4
add truffle $5
add Lobster Tail $39

MODS: use Menu as Mod - only works if each mod is same price. 😞
greyed out: each modifier has a unique price = cannot do

This solves a problem for us, if it wasn't grey'd out.

Why would you do that anyway, you ask? We are special, thanks for asking!

In a Banquette situation the chef does not want each steak to have a MOD. Why you ask? He's the chef. Need I say more?

Kitchen printer: - tiny example

Steak Med
Steak Med
Steak Med - add Lobster
Steak Med - add butter

Will print to the kitchen:

Steak Med (2)
Chicken
Salmon
Steak Med - Add Lobster (1)
Steak Med - Add butter (1)

So the chef has to grab 2 steaks for medium, oops one more, oops one more.. "3 steak medium add day! grrrr!" 4, 5 all day!

but with 30 steak MR, 10 New York.. when you have add-ons, the printer schema will separate Steak medium, from, Streak medium with add-on. Unless it's fixed already. I thought I would post this because it's been on my mind.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EDIT
The modifier needs to identify what it's modifying. I just want my STEAKS Ribeye MR (5) to be Ribeye MR (5)

and not
Ribeye MR Add butter (1),
Ribeye MR (1) Add Tail,
Ribeye MR (3).

but rather

Ribeye MR (5):
-- + butter (1)
---+ tail (1)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are items menu on Dinner -> STEAKS

And the TOPPERS modifier Group:

Random Modifier item: Lobster Tail

MOD - Item [EDIT]

And for the sake of completeness, to expound on other possibilities. I tried to create a Menu "Add Mod" as a menu item. And then use this as a "mod" for my steaks. But "use menu as mod" works, but only if you want all the mods to be the exact same price. Add butter isn't the same as Add Shrimp, so there's that. And the photo below illustrates that you cannot, but it was thought of (they greyed it out and blocked it, but they show you that it's there, but you just can't use it). That's evil?

photo

Why might this be a good idea? "Well sir, NY steak Medium Rare, super!" 5 minutes later, "Can I add a lobster tail for my NY?". Well you gotta have a Menu item now. But wait, "Lobster tail" is a modifier. Oh!!! I can make a menu of all of the add ons! then use the menu as a modifier list. Look at previous paragraph again and the photo above.

Or I can make 5 menus for all my add-ons and maintain 5 menus just for add-ons? Butter $3.00 Menu Mod1. Sauce type A $4 on Menu Mod2... later Butter now $4.00. Archive butter from Menu Mod1. Add butter to Menu Mod2... see? No bueno!

😞

BEFORE: USING A MOD GROUP - UNIQUE PRICES - DOES NOT FIT THE SOLUTION OF DESIRED GROUPING EFFORTS DESCRIBED ABOVE AD NAUSEUM

AFTER: USING A NEW MENU - AND USING THAT MENU "AS A MODIFIER GROUP USING AN EXISTING MENU" - ALSO DOES NOT WORK AS ALREADY EXPLAINED AD NAUSEAM. DOES'T FIT THE MODEL i AM SEEKING IN GROUPING EFFORTS AND DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO USE UNIQUE PRICING - AS BELABORED AGAIN HERE.

AS OF THIS DATE ON THIS UPDATE 2025-10-26

The solution was a team effort and I want to add it below for a glance.
SOLUTION as given:

Taking modifiers from Group Mod with mod-items; with prices:

AND then replacing them with a new menu (a menu I called ITEM MODIFIERS - with each "Item" named as "ADD item Truffle Butter" and renaming my old mods with prices to "ADD MOD Truffle Butter" and archiving them.

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

au79teahouse — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 22:09:49 GMT

I think it's doable by assigning your modifiers to be printed at a different "prep station" from the menu item "Steak" (in your example) is printed at.

One ticket will print out all the Steak Med/menu items while there will be a separate ticket printed out with all the modifiers.

You can also set it up to have a "Expediter ticket" printed so your chef knows which modifier goes to which steak.

You may need to add one more printer just for the additional prep station. Or you could possibly use the same existing printer- I need to test to confirm.

I’d like to provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for setting it up, but it’s been some time since I last explore all the configurations in detail. But I found two articles that share more information on the topic. (as long as you don't mind reading).

https://central.toasttab.com/s/article/Prep-Stations-Basics
https://doc.toasttab.com/doc/platformguide/adminMonitoringTicketsOtherPrepStations.html

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 02:50:45 GMT

We have 5 printers in the kitchen. "Grill" for steaks. There is a printer setup too that I already did, which groups like items, but not group ( keep mods separate grouped but separate *option* ).

the thing is that it does what I stated. Chef wants to SEE all Steak Med once.

The only solution thus far has been to add an extra MOD button as a menu to send MODS as a menu item so that during a Banquette Dinner, 20 mediums, 5 mediums with butter, 1 medium with blue cheese, 3 medium sliced.... I hope that clears it up. Thx

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

au79teahouse — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 03:37:47 GMT

I assume this is how you want an menu item shown on the ticket when multiple ordered?

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:18:21 GMT

Hi, sorry. I haven't been in here for a while. Exhausted with it all. Seems your screen shot is gone. And I reviewed what you stated earlier. I'll talk with Chef and GM to see if MODS on the EXPO printer works --- not sure though because what if it's "Chicken - no potatoes mod" . Basically I only want the Steak MODS to be separate. It's a MOD named "TOPPERS". I think i can set TOPPERS to be the only MOD that is sent to a separate printer? Like that? I'll have to investigate. Thx

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:38:32 GMT

I pulled up the TOPPERS MOD and there is nowhere that allows me to modify an item and print separately. That would be NOT a MOD but instead a Menu Item. I have already added this, but nobody likes it because you have to go to a separate menu. And so I explored the print options for a MOD MENU and there is no Option to "send these mods to this printer". This seems DNE (Does not exist)

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

au79teahouse — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:55:17 GMT

I believe there is an option for assigning a modifier item to be sent to a different printer. The setup page looks exactly the same as a menu item. Depending on how your menus is set up. It may or may not work. I can't see your menu structure so I can't say much.

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 23:42:58 GMT

I added photos. It's a modifier, what's to see? Maybe you can shed light.

Menu -> items (STEAKS)
STEAKS -> Modifier Group ->

TOPPERS (modifier)

A modifier, by it's design goes directly beneath the ITEMS

A STEAK: Ribeye with MOD + Tail looks like this:

Ribeye
-MR
-Add Tail

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

au79teahouse — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 04:01:27 GMT

Click "edit item" and scroll down to the section when it says "prep station". Choose "No, specify prep station here" and then check the prep station you want the mod item to be sent to.

However, this will not work if you set up your modifier item referencing an menu item.

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

rcmck — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 23:56:21 GMT

I think you are on the right track, as far as I understand you just want the proteins at the grill that are the same grouped together, so like @au79teahouse mentioned route them to the grill, then route the add on mods to only the stations involved with them. You would need to enable the kitchen setting to only print or show modifier only so that it does not include the menu item. I'll see if I can build an example later to better explain it.

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:03:33 GMT

Yes, I already do this. But this doesn't change the fact that MOD's are not a separate item. A MOD is a modifier to an item in the Item DB and will always print below the item it's modifying. "see photos" for another look, look at the red outlines and the bullet points.

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:12:22 GMT

Yes I have done this. I added photo to reveal this. What I seek isn't possible. A MOD will always print below the item it's modifying. I don't think that un-checking a box will delete the modifier. The modifier needs to identify what it's modifying. I just want my STEAKS Ribeye MR (5) to be Ribeye MR (5)

and not
Ribeye MR Add butter (1),
Ribeye MR (1) Add Tail,
Ribeye MR (3).

but rather

Ribeye MR (5):
-- + butter (1)
---+ tail (1)

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

rcmck — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:46:18 GMT

I did some testing, I was able to get the steak with just temp, and the toppers at another prep station, but because the original item is not technically identical (because they have different topping mods) it will not auto consolidate the menu items to
2 Steak
Medium
3 Steak
Rare etc
just individual items on each line, I don't know if that will suffice or not, it may be possible to at least make sure the steaks with the same temp are grouped together.

Example, as you can see the ones that are the same grouped but others did not

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 22:58:23 GMT

Yeah, I guess it's wishful thinking. I tried using "use Menu Items as MOD", but it forces you to use "all mods have same price" and the "use each mod as unique price" is grayed out (why even list it them? LOL!")

-- so what I did to satisfy our chef is:
remove MOD (toppers) from the Banquet menu.

We use a "Banquet menu" when a group of 20-100 have a set menu and set price and sending 20 Medium steaks, with 10 different mods and not grouped.... all over the map is going to get a "What in the living hell is going on with this order!!!!" from the chef.

So I removed mods from this specific menu. And I added it as a "Add mod menu" then "MOD" then choose mod.. But, wait, what, why, who, and why?

Well another caveat of this system is that you can/can't use "menu items as mods" and also "use each mod unique price" see above photo -- gosh this is a book already...

And I explained that already. And so to add "modifiers" I i have to create a menu fiction option "Add Mod" button/menu, then Mod the Add Mod-Menu-item. SHEESH! Because who in their right mind wants to update two sections when updating the prices?!

I think I need to declare waste on a broken bottle of wine now.

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

rcmck — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:05:55 GMT

Yeah you have to either set a blanket price or no price at all when using existing menu (why it's greyed out), either way you would still have the same issue of not being able to completely separate the mods and consolidate the items.

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:14:31 GMT

Right. But the idea would be to add a menu item (my mods) to a seat position and not as a MOD. to keep the sanity of 20 steaks at a single temp and grouped. I added this as an edit to my original post. It's something I think should not be "greyed" out. It was my AHA! moment when I first noticed the option to "use a menu as modifiers". I created a whole menu with correct prep stations... and then the big GREY out for "each mod uses unique price". ARCHIVE! ARCHIVE! ARCHIVE! yet again. I'm even gun-shy now over creating test menu's because of the cleanup I'll have to do later. So painstakingly yucky!

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

rcmck — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:58:53 GMT

Sorry it is hard to keep up with previous replies. So you just want to treat the toppers as individual menu items that are added to the seat with the steak? I don't see why that wouldn't work, you wouldn't create them as mods though, you would just add them as menu items in a menu group, you could then use those items as modifiers as well elsewhere, so you would only need to worry about changing prices/stock on one item and it would update in any menu group or mod group it is used in, you also have the option to keep its set price or override it if needed. Couple helpful articles https://central.toasttab.com/s/article/Creating-Modifiers-from-Items also the modifier item reference, helpful to understand how that works https://doc.toasttab.com/doc/platformguide/adminPricingModifierOptions.html

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:16:43 GMT

@rcmck wrote:
Sorry it is hard to keep up with previous replies. So you just want to treat the toppers as individual menu items that are added to the seat with the steak? I don't see why that wouldn't work, you wouldn't create them as mods though, you would just add them as menu items in a menu group, you could then use those items as modifiers as well elsewhere, so you would only need to worry about changing prices/stock on one item and it would update in any menu group or mod group it is used in, you also have the option to keep its set price or override it if needed. Couple helpful articles https://central.toasttab.com/s/article/Creating-Modifiers-from-Items also the modifier item reference, helpful to understand how that works https://doc.toasttab.com/doc/platformguide/adminPricingModifierOptions.html

Yes, that's exactly what I did, tried... "the greyed out option"
I think you missed it. I know it's a lot. Menu items (toppers) + Mod Group (toppers) = maintaining two prices and 2 menus. -- remember that convo? See above added comments in OG and also my other reply. This doesn't work as wished once

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:23:31 GMT

"you could then use those items as modifiers as well elsewhere" -- exactly what I stated I did. "Greyed out option" for different prices. We discussed this already. Now it's just belaboring the point. Whipping the old dead horse so to speak.

Re: MENU as MOD - each item as a unique price

ejbytes — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:45:36 GMT

@rcmck wrote:
Sorry it is hard to keep up with previous replies. So you just want to treat the toppers as individual menu items that are added to the seat with the steak? I don't see why that wouldn't work, you wouldn't create them as mods though, you would just add them as menu items in a menu group, you could then use those items as modifiers as well elsewhere, so you would only need to worry about changing prices/stock on one item and it would update in any menu group or mod group it is used in, you also have the option to keep its set price or override it if needed. Couple helpful articles https://central.toasttab.com/s/article/Creating-Modifiers-from-Items also the modifier item reference, helpful to understand how that works https://doc.toasttab.com/doc/platformguide/adminPricingModifierOptions.html

Here's a picture again: Modifiers, using a "Mod Group"

Here is another picture: Using a Menu "Add Ons Menu", using it as a mod. Can't use Unique Prices