Role: manager

Dish Variants vs Optional Extras (Modifiers)

How to configure portion sizes (Half/Full) versus add-on toppings (Cheese, Bacon).

📍 Where to find it on screen:
Dashboard -> Menu Manager -> Click any Dish -> Variants & Extras → Click "+ Add Variant / + Add Extra"
Dish customization tabs inside DishModal allowing management of variant groups and extra modifier lists.

How It Works

Variants (Mutually Exclusive): Used when a dish is sold in different sizes, cuts, or styles. When variants are configured, the customer MUST select exactly ONE option. The variant price completely REPLACES the dish base price.

Extras (Multi-Select Modifiers): Used for toppings, sauces, and optional add-ons. Customers can select zero, one, or multiple extras. Each extra adds a positive surcharge on top of the base/variant price.

Customer Customization Flow: When a diner taps a dish that has variants or extras, MintLight opens a customization popup forcing variant selection before the item can be added to their cart.

Kitchen & Receipt Output: The chosen variant is printed directly in brackets next to the dish name on the KDS and receipt (e.g., "Pepperoni Pizza [Large]"), while selected extras appear indented with price differentials.

What You Need to Do (Step-by-Step)

  1. 1. Open Target Dish in Menu Manager

    Navigate to Dashboard -> Menu Manager and click the edit icon on the dish you want to customize.

  2. 2. Enable Variants Section

    In the dish editor, toggle "Enable Variants" to ON. Enter a descriptive group name (e.g. "Size" or "Preparation Style").

  3. 3. Add Variant Options with Full Prices

    Click "+ Add Option". Enter the option name and its FINAL selling price (e.g., "Half - ₹150", "Full - ₹280").

    💡 Note: Enter the complete price for each variant, NOT the price difference.
  4. 4. Add Optional Extras (If Applicable)

    Scroll down to the "Extras" section. Click "+ Add Extra". Enter the topping name and the additional price (e.g., "Add Jalapenos - ₹30").

  5. 5. Save Dish and Test Customization

    Click "Save Changes". Open your customer menu preview or POS terminal to verify that selecting options calculates the total correctly.

Key Screen Controls & Options

Variant Group NameWhen creating dishes that come in multiple portions.

Action: Labels the mandatory choice section in the customer customization popup.

→ Result: Renders as a radio-button selection group on customer phones.
Variant Rows (Name & Price)Specifying different pricing tiers per portion.

Action: Defines the exact price charged when that variant is chosen (e.g. Regular ₹250, Large ₹420).

→ Result: Replaces the base dish price in cart calculations.
Extras Rows (Name & Extra Surcharge)Offering optional add-ons, dips, toppings, or special sides.

Action: Allows diners to check checkboxes to customize their order.

→ Result: Multiplies the extra charge by the dish quantity and adds to the line total.
What Happens Next
When diners or staff select the dish, MintLight presents an intuitive customization drawer. The running cart total recalculates dynamically as options are selected.
  • KDS ticket clearly states the chosen size in brackets so chefs know what portion to plate.
  • Thermal receipts print the variant size and itemize all extra toppings.
  • UniBill calculates taxes accurately across both variant and extra charges.
⚠️ Operational Rules & Restrictions
  • If variants are enabled, you must provide at least two variant options (e.g. Regular and Large). Having only one variant creates unnecessary clicks.
  • Variant prices must be absolute numbers, not plus/minus amounts (enter ₹300, not +₹50).
  • Customer cannot bypass choosing a variant; submission is blocked until one variant is checked.

⚡ Common Floor Scenarios & Edge Cases

Situation: Dish has both Variants and Extras (e.g. Pizza with Size and Extra Toppings).

What to do: MintLight calculates: (Variant Price + Sum of Extras) × Quantity. For example: (Large ₹400 + Cheese ₹50) × 2 = ₹900.

Situation: Kitchen runs out of a specific topping (e.g. Olives).

What to do: Edit the dish in Menu Manager and temporarily delete or disable the Olives extra until restocked.

📋 Real-World Shift Walkthrough

Crafting a Custom Burger with Portions & Extras

For a "Gourmet Burger", create Variants: "Single Patty (₹250)" and "Double Patty (₹350)". Then add Extras: "Extra Cheddar (+₹40)" and "Bacon Strips (+₹60)". A guest selecting Double Patty with Bacon is charged exactly ₹350 + ₹60 = ₹410, and the kitchen KDS displays: "Gourmet Burger [Double Patty] + Bacon Strips".

🔧 Troubleshooting & Rapid Fixes

Problem: The bill total is much higher than expected.
Why this happens: A variant was entered as an extra surcharge rather than full price, or an Extra was entered with the full dish price.
How to fix: Check the dish editor. Variants must contain the full price (e.g. ₹300); Extras must contain only the add-on charge (e.g. ₹40).
Problem: Customer was able to add an item to cart without choosing a size.
Why this happens: The variant section was not toggled ON in the dish editor.
How to fix: Open the dish in Menu Manager, toggle "Enable Variants" to ON, and save the options.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I have multiple variant groups on a single dish (e.g. Size AND Crust)?
MintLight currently supports one primary Variant group (e.g., Size). Additional customizations can be offered through the Extras list.
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