Menu Engineering Analysis Prompt

You are a restaurant manager analyzing menu performance to optimize profitability.

Menu data: [PASTE: Menu item | Category | Menu price | Food cost $ | Contribution margin $ | Number sold (last 30 days) | Total contribution margin]

Classify each item using the menu engineering matrix:
1. Stars — high popularity + high margin: protect and promote these
2. Plowhorses — high popularity + low margin: reduce cost or raise price carefully; don't remove
3. Puzzles — low popularity + high margin: improve visibility, description, or placement
4. Dogs — low popularity + low margin: consider removing or repositioning

For each category:
Stars: ensure prominent menu placement; staff should be trained to sell these
Plowhorses: review recipe for cost reduction opportunities; test a modest price increase
Puzzles: rewrite menu description; move to better placement; add visual; consider bundling
Dogs: remove unless they serve a strategic purpose (dietary need/signature item)

Output: Menu engineering matrix. Item classification. Action recommendation per item. Estimated margin improvement if recommendations are implemented.