Design Better Menus With a Wide Format Printer

If you want to design better menus with a wide format printer, you’re not alone. Restaurants, breweries, cafés, and bars are discovering that wide format printing can transform their menu boards and signage from ordinary to show-stopping. Instead of relying on expensive print shops or generic signage, imagine creating large, vibrant menus and posters in-house whenever inspiration strikes. It’s an exciting way to keep your branding fresh and entice customers with visuals that truly pop!

Great design isn’t just about looks—it’s also about results. Attractive menus and signs can directly boost customer engagement and even sales. In fact, one survey found 76% of people have entered a store because a sign caught their eye, and 68% have made a purchase thanks to compelling signage​. Another report notes that a well-designed menu reinforces your restaurant’s identity, improves service times, and can boost revenue. That means a large format printer isn’t just a tech gadget – it’s your secret weapon for better marketing in the food & beverage industry.

Wide format printers (also called large format printers) are essentially oversized inkjet printers that can produce big, bold prints on paper, vinyl, and other materials. Having one in your restaurant or brewery comes with some awesome benefits:

• Creative Freedom & Fast Updates: Print new specials, menu changes, or event posters on-demand. No more waiting weeks for a print shop—your menu board printer is right in the back office, ready to go.
• Cost Savings: While the initial investment in a wide format poster printer can seem high, it quickly pays off. You’ll save by printing only what you need, avoiding large minimum orders. Plus, you can update prices or offerings without wasting old stock.
• Consistent Branding: Keep all your signs and menus on-brand. Use the same colors, logos, and style across everything from table toppers to window posters. Consistency builds trust and recognition.
• Customer Engagement: Big, beautiful visuals grab attention. Bold menu boards and banners can draw people in off the street and get them excited about your offerings.
• In-House Control: Have a last-minute happy hour to promote? Or a seasonal beer release at your brewery? With wide format printing capabilities in-house, you’re always prepared. You control the timeline and the output.

A wide format inkjet printer opens up a world of possibilities for food and beverage businesses. Here are just a few ways restaurants and breweries are using these printers to elevate their marketing:

• Eye-Catching Menus & Specials Boards: Design better menus by printing them large and clear. Whether it’s a wall-mounted menu board, a tabletop sign, or a foldable poster, you can make menus that are easy to read from a distance and highlight your best items. Update daily specials or rotating taps at a brewery without fuss – simply print a new insert or poster.
• Promotional Posters & Event Flyers: Hosting a trivia night, live music, or seasonal festival? Whip up a vibrant poster in-house. Large format printing lets you create posters for your front window or community bulletin boards that get noticed. Breweries often print their own event flyers and beer release announcements to spread the word.
• Branded Signage & Décor: Give your space personality. Print banners with your café’s motto, signage for directions (like “Order Here” or “Restrooms ➜”), or even decorative art featuring your brand’s imagery. Large format printer machines can handle everything from banner vinyl to adhesive decals, so you can even make window clings or floor graphics.
• Point-of-Purchase Displays: Want to upsell merchandise or gift cards? Print your own POP displays on foam board or cardstock. For example, a bar can create a countertop display for new T-shirt merchandise, or a brewery can highlight to-go growler deals with a custom printed board.

Breweries Love It: Breweries especially benefit from in-house printing. Taproom beer lineups change frequently – one week it’s a new IPA, next a seasonal stout – so being able to print updated tap lists and menus on the fly is a huge plus. They can also whip up posters for beer release parties, banners for festivals, and even print big, decorative versions of their label artwork to liven up the taproom. With so many uses, it’s no surprise these machines have become must-have printers for breweries aiming to stand out.

Not all wide format printers are created equal. At Red Circle Solutions, we offer a range of models to fit different needs and budgets – from compact units perfect for cozy cafés, to production powerhouses for large breweries or print shops. Here’s a quick rundown of the options:

• Compact Series: These are affordable large format printers with a small footprint, ideal for tight spaces or smaller venues. Models like the HP DesignJet T230, T250, or T650 deliver professional-quality prints without taking up much room. They’re quiet, easy to use, and fast enough to crank out today’s menu or a stack of event flyers before dinner service. (Think of these as printers for restaurants that are just starting out with in-house printing.) Learn more about the Compact Series printers.
• Professional Series: Need a bit more muscle? The Professional line includes workhorses like the HP DesignJet Z6, T850, XT950, T1600, and T1700dr. These large format printer machines are built for higher volume and ultra-crisp detail. They’re perfect for bustling restaurants or bars that print frequently, and for those who might want to print high-resolution images (like drool-worthy food photos on a poster). If you’re after a versatile wide format poster printer that can handle heavier workloads, this is your go-to. Check out our Professional Series printers.
• Production Series: For the breweries, print shops, or restaurant chains that demand the fastest and highest-volume output, the Production series is king. This includes advanced models like the HP Latex 630, the HP Latex 700/800 series, and the HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro 64-inch printer. These machines can run almost nonstop, producing durable, weather-resistant prints (great for outdoor banners or signage) with stunning color. With a Production model as your in-house menu board printer, you could print an entire signage suite for a beer festival in a day. Explore the Production Series lineup.

The ability to design better menus with a wide format printer isn’t a futuristic fantasy — it’s here now and it’s surprisingly accessible. With the right printer in-house, you can respond to trends faster, experiment with creative marketing ideas, and keep your venue looking sharp and up-to-date.

No matter if you run a cozy coffee shop or a multi-location brewery, there are printers for restaurants and printers for breweries of every size. Wide format printing puts the power in your hands. Want to refresh your menu design? Go for it. Need a giant poster for an upcoming beer launch? Print it today.

In a world where visuals can make or break a first impression, having your own wide format printer means you’ll always put your best (and biggest) foot forward. So go ahead — dream big, print big, and watch your menus and signage transform your business!