What Does 86 Mean in Restaurants?

86 is a frequently utilized term in dining establishments that signifies an item is out of stock or not available to be served to customers. This frequently occurs, particularly with seasonal, unique, or limited-availability products, and it may also suggest that an inventory item has spoiled.

When a menu item is “86’d,” it typically indicates that the primary ingredient for that dish has run out, necessitating its removal from both the point of sale and online ordering menus.

Example- You may prepare a limited number of ham and cheese croissants each morning, as they are costly and labor-intensive for your bakers. At 11:00 AM, your back-of-house team notifies the front-of-house team to “86 ham and cheese croissants.”

What to do when an item is removed from the menu?

You prefer to avoid handling a dissatisfied customer who wanted a sold-out product. After you 86 an item, you must communicate the change to the front staff and all ordering systems, including online ordering or delivery services.

Your point of sale system must enable you to quickly 86 items with just one button press. Using Toast, you can effortlessly remove an item directly on a Toast device, which eliminates it from all connected platforms simultaneously, so you no more concern that your online ordering customers will order an unavailable item.