Editorial. Like a magazine.

A magazine page

Editorial lays out your menu like a food magazine. At the top, an issue line with the subtitle on the left and the month in red on the right, under a heavy black rule. Then comes the venue’s name in Instrument Serif at a huge size, aligned left and tightly set, like a masthead.

Each section opens with a fine rule, its small red number on the right (01, 02, 03…) and the title in large italics. Dishes are set in Inter, a neutral sans serif, with prices on the right. A fine vertical line separates the two columns.

The menu it suits

Bistros, modern produce-led restaurants, cafés with a kitchen and contemporary gastropubs. It suits mid-sized menus with short, specific descriptions, almost photo captions: produce, origin and technique. The numbering helps guests find their way around menus with several sections.

The accent colour only appears in the numbers, the date and the odd detail, so a red, orange or strong green never overloads the page. The rest is black on white.

Formats where it shines

• Two-column A4: the original, asymmetric layout.
• Slim A4 (140 × 297 mm): one column, the big masthead at the top and long sections.
• Booklet: for menus with wines, one section after another like articles.
• Daily menu: the date at the top, the name and the title in italics, and each course with its number between dashes.

If you like the idea but want something more formal, look at Milano, with Bodoni in black and white. For an even stricter grid, try Swiss.

Tips to get the most out of it

• Fill in the subtitle: it appears in the top line next to the month, like a magazine’s issue number.
• Keep the accent a bright colour: only the section numbers and the date use it, so it never overwhelms.
• Write short, specific descriptions, like a photo caption: produce, origin and technique.
• On slim A4 it looks very much like a magazine: one column, the big masthead at the top and long sections.

Colours, fonts, columns and format can all be changed in the editor without losing the design. It works on A4, US Letter, slim A4, A5, booklet, tri-fold, A3 and images for social media.