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 POS and online ordering menus.

For instance, 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.”

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 POS system must enable you to quickly add 86 items with just one button press. Using Plum POS, you can effortlessly remove an item directly on your device, which eliminates it from all connected platforms simultaneously, so you no longer have to worry that your online ordering customers will order an unavailable item.