Questions about PlateWize
Deep visibility and actionable insights that help you increase your margin
What is PlateWize?
PlateWize brings food cost, menu management, kitchen management, and operations management together, with insights drawn from the information across your restaurant.
Who is it for?
PlateWize is for restaurant owners and their teams who want to understand their business more clearly and keep the big picture in view alongside the day-to-day work.
How does food cost fit in?
Food cost is one of PlateWize's core areas. Having reliable visibility into your food costs allows you to make meaningful, timely decisions about your menu, kitchen, and general operations that really impact your bottom line.
Is it only about the menu?
No. Menu management is part of a broader view that also includes food cost, kitchen management, and operations management.
Why bring these areas together?
Restaurants and bars run on thin margins. A decision about your menu can matter to your kitchen, your guests, and impact your bottom line and how your restaurant runs. PlateWize's focus is on insights and intelligence from that information together, giving you actionable advice on how to increase your margins.
How do my costs get into PlateWize?
Three ways, and you can use any mix of them: upload or photograph your invoices, forward them to the email address PlateWize gives your restaurant, or connect QuickBooks Online and PlateWize picks up the invoices attached to your bills and expenses on its own. Either way, every line is read and matched to the ingredients in your recipes.
Do I have to type in my menu and recipes?
No. PlateWize reads your menu from your website, a PDF, or photos, and reads your recipe book into individual recipes. Where something is unclear it asks you a short question rather than guessing, and for dishes you haven't written a recipe for, it drafts one for you to review.
What happens when a vendor's price changes?
Each new invoice updates the cost of every recipe and menu item that uses that ingredient, so your food cost is always based on what you actually paid. You can see the price history of any ingredient by vendor, and unusually large moves are held for you to confirm before they change your costs.
Does PlateWize help with ordering?
Yes. Count what is on hand, let the kitchen request what it needs, and turn those requests into vendor orders a manager reviews, with printable sheets and exports.
Does it handle allergens?
PlateWize draws allergen and dietary marks for each dish from its recipe, flags anything the recipe contradicts, and gives you a printable allergen sheet and a quick view for servers. You confirm the marks; PlateWize keeps them up to date as recipes change.
What are the insights?
Every day, Home shows a short set of cards about things worth your attention: a price that moved, an ingredient you could swap, a dish earning more than its spot on the menu suggests, or costs that need a confirmed price. You choose which kinds of cards you want to see and when.
Does it work in my language and my units?
The app works in multiple languages. Each restaurant sets its own country, currency, and units, metric or imperial, and menus and recipes are read in the language they were written in.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. PlateWize works in the browser on your phone, tablet, and computer, so a count in the walk-in or a quick allergen check on the floor doesn't need a laptop.
Is there help inside the app?
Yes. The Help assistant answers how-to questions, explains where a number came from, and can make changes you approve, with Undo.
Is my data private?
Yes. Your recipes, menus, prices, and invoices belong to you and are visible only to the people you invite to your restaurant. If you ever leave, your data is exported and held for 90 days so it can be restored, then permanently deleted. See our Privacy Policy for the details.
How can I get started?
We are welcoming restaurants and bars in small groups so each one gets our attention. Request early access and we will be in touch.
Where can I ask about my restaurant's needs?
Email support@platewize.com to discuss what you are looking for. This page is a high-level introduction; contact us about specific requirements and feature availability.