One of the most popular activities in the world is going out for food and drinks, whether you are simply looking to relax or are on holiday in another country. However, aside from enjoying the local cuisine, this brings a bigger issue. What happens if the menu is not translated into the diner’s native language? This can easily become a bigger problem than you might first think if it leads to bad reviews on Google and a loss of international customers. But there is a solution: translate your restaurant menu. In this article, we explain how to do that.
What you need to translate your restaurant menu
Before you launch into the task of translating your restaurant menu, you should know that in the hospitality industry, translation needs proper planning. Yes, you read that right. It is not enough to just say: “I am going to translate my restaurant menu!” and grab any automatic translator to do the job. You need to plan it properly. Read on to find out how.
1. The restaurant menu
It may seem obvious, but many restaurants (yes, they do still exist) do not have a printed menu and simply recite the dishes on offer to their customers. In this case, translation becomes much more complicated unless the restaurant owner has a good command of languages and can interpret it on the spot. Normally, it is best to have the menu available on the restaurant’s website or in printed form.
2. Know your customer
Knowing who your customer is will help you translate the restaurant menu more effectively. If you are one of those places often visited by international tourists from many different countries, it is best to translate your restaurant menu into the most widely spoken languages, such as English and French. If you know you only receive tourists of one nationality, the best thing to do is translate the menu into their native language.
3. Avoid botched jobs
Always avoid botched translations. Whether you run a five-star restaurant or a modest bar, always offer your customers the quality they deserve, which is the very best. To do that, you will need to work with a translation company that offers a professional service and guarantees high-quality translations.
How to translate your restaurant menu
The first step is to choose a translation service. At Okodia, for example, we specialise in hospitality translation, so we would be a great asset to your business thanks to our experience in this field.
Next, get in touch with us at info@okodia.com. When you do, be sure to tell us what kind of translation you need, which languages you would like the menu translated into, and ideally attach the documents to be translated.
When preparing your quote, we consider the number of words in the document and the target language, so that information will be very helpful.
Once we have everything we need, we will send you estimated delivery dates, although you can also tell us your preferred deadlines. Bear in mind that urgent translations usually incur a small surcharge, so if you are not in a rush, it is better to plan ahead.
You will receive the translation ready to print in the languages you have chosen. Your customers will certainly appreciate it!
