Cali Viejo is a Colombian restaurant whose motto says it all: "Everything starts with a smile!". We designed its printed menu as a brand piece: an object guests hold in their hands that conveys quality, warmth and Colombian pride before the first bite.
The challenge
The menu brings together traditional soups, main dishes, daily lunch specials, sandwiches, sides, add-ons and a kids menu for guests who read in both Spanish and English. We had to organize all of it on a single sheet without overcrowding it, and make the menu reflect the restaurant's personality instead of looking like a plain price list.
Our approach
We chose a deep black base with gold accents: a contrast that puts dish names and photography front and center and elevates how the brand is perceived. On that base we built a clear bilingual hierarchy: the Spanish name leads, the English translation supports it, and each dish gets a short description.
The solution
- Double-sided A3 format with clearly defined sections: Grandma Traditions, Lunch Menu, Hand Held, Sides, Premium Additions and Kids Menu.
- Integrated food photography (the ajiaco and the Indy 436 Sandwich, among others) that sparks appetite and helps guests decide.
- Brand seals such as "Made with love" and "Cooked in premium beef tallow" that tell the restaurant's story within the menu itself.
- Information strip with opening hours, website and phone number, always in view.
- Bilingual legal notes on service charges and allergens, handled with typographic restraint.
Scope
Menu architecture · Editorial design · Bilingual type hierarchy · Food photography integration · Print production
The outcome
A menu that is both a tool and a brand experience: easy for any guest to navigate, consistent with Cali Viejo's identity, and able to say from the table that this is a bold, warm, 100% Colombian place.