Key takeaway: Upload your menu as a PDF or photos and Vara, Varastiq's assistant, reads every dish, drafts a recipe for about a dozen of them and estimates their plate costs from public typical prices, in about a minute, free, with no account. The result is an estimate, clearly labelled. Add one invoice and the dishes that use those items re-price from what you actually pay.
How does See your menu work?
- Upload your menu. A PDF, or a phone photo of each page (JPG, PNG or HEIC), up to 6 pages. Pages that list dishes and prices work best.
- Vara reads the dishes. Every item on the menu is pulled out as a dish.
- Vara drafts recipes for a dozen. Typical ingredients and quantities for each, as a starting point.
- Vara prices them from typical prices. Ingredient costs come from public typical prices, not your vendors. Each cost is marked as an estimate.
- You keep it, or not. Leave an email and your costed menu is waiting in your account when you start. Or just close the tab.
Want help getting set up? Setting up your own workspace has no extra setup fee, and Guided Setup is optional at $299 one-time.
How accurate is a typical-price estimate?
It's a fair first look, not your real cost. Typical prices are averages. Your vendors, pack sizes, region and specs will differ, and so will your portions. Treat the result as a way to spot dishes worth a closer look: a plate that looks expensive even at typical prices, or a price that looks low for what's on the plate. For decisions, use your own invoice prices.
How do I make the numbers mine?
Add an invoice. After your menu is read, you can snap up to three recent delivery invoices (up to four pictures or pages each). Every dish that uses those items re-prices from what you actually paid. Invoices keep feeding live plate cost from then on.
What happens to my menu and data?
Your menu is used to cost your dishes and, if you leave an email, to set up your account. Nothing else, and no spam. Inside Varastiq, your menu, prices and counts are never shared with anyone without your permission.
What can I do next with a costed menu?
- Check prices dish by dish with the menu pricing calculator.
- Cost a single plate in detail with the plate cost calculator or recipe cost calculator.
- Turn it into theoretical food cost. Plate costs × items sold from your POS give what your food should cost. See theoretical vs actual food cost.
- Keep it live in Varastiq, with counts, invoices and variance flags. See pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is See your menu free?
Yes. It's free, takes about a minute and needs no account.
What file types can I upload?
PDF, JPG, PNG or HEIC, up to 6 pages. A phone photo of each page works fine.
How many dishes get recipes?
Vara reads every dish on the menu and drafts recipes for about a dozen of them.
Where do the prices come from?
The first estimate uses public typical prices, not your vendors' prices. Each cost is labelled as an estimate.
Can I use my own prices?
Yes. Add up to three recent invoices and every dish that uses those items re-prices from what you actually paid.
Do I need to sign up?
No. You only leave an email if you want to keep the menu and have the rest of it costed from your own invoices.
What is Vara?
Vara is Varastiq's AI assistant. It reads menus, drafts recipes and answers questions about your numbers.
Ready for the real numbers?
Request a demo → · See pricing → · Try the free calculators →