Editorial
The dish name arrives in a clean serif over the photo, then the photo takes over. It feels like an announcement from a restaurant that takes its menu seriously.
Video template · No credits
New menu item announcement template
Launch a new dish with a reveal video and a matching story card, both from your real menu.
$49/month600 credits includedCancel anytime
- Formats
- 9:16 story / Reel · 1:1 square
- Cost
- No credits
- Best for
- Launch day for a dish your regulars have been asking about · A seasonal item that's only around for a few weeks · Bringing back an old favorite that left the menu · A new sandwich or pizza you want to push before the weekend · Telling Google searchers something changed, not just your followers
- Made in
- Instagram post maker
A new dish is the easiest post you'll ever get to make, because people actually want to know. The trouble is that most announcements are a phone photo with "NEW!!" typed over it, posted once and forgotten. The new item drop template gives the launch a proper reveal: a short video that shows the dish, names it and gets out of the way.
It's built from the new dish's menu entry. Add the item to your menu in Studio, link a photo, and the name and description flow into the video. That also means your post, your menu and your online ordering all say the same thing on day one, which matters when someone walks in asking for the dish they saw on Instagram.
Pair the video with the New on the Menu design, a static 9:16 story card with a small "now on the menu" tag. The examples below were made for Sunnyside Cafe and Boston Pizza. Neither uses credits.
Looks
Pick the look that sounds like you
Native
Plain caption over a full-screen shot, the way a customer would film their first bite. Boston Pizza used it to reveal its Steak & Cheese sub.
Poster
Bold block letters with the name set in a color band, cut as a 1:1 square. It works in the feed and on Facebook, where square posts sit comfortably.
Real examples
New item drop video examples
Rendered in Studio for real Servestack restaurants, from their own photos and menus.
Shown with permission: Sunnyside Cafe (Randolph, MA) and Boston Pizza (Norwell, MA).
How it works
How to use the New item drop video template
Add the new dish to your menu
Enter the name, price and a short description, and link the best photo you have of it. This is what the template reads from, so get the wording right here first.
Make the reveal and the story card
Pick the new item drop video in editorial, native or poster, then make the New on the Menu card for the same dish so the launch has a video and a still.
Schedule the launch
Post the video on launch morning, the story card that afternoon, and schedule a second run a few days later for people who missed it.
Plan the launch as three posts, not one
A single post reaches the people who happened to open the app that hour. A new dish deserves more than that. A simple plan: the reveal video on launch morning, the New on the Menu story card before the lunch or dinner rush, and the video again on the weekend, maybe in a different look. Studio lets you make all three in one sitting and schedule them, so the launch doesn't depend on someone remembering.
If you have a Google Business Profile, post it there too. People searching for your restaurant see your latest updates, and a new dish is a better reason to click than your opening hours.
Pick the photo that shows why it's new
Choose the angle that shows what makes the dish different. For a sub, that's the filling, shot from the side so you can see how full it is. For a bowl or a breakfast plate, shoot from above so every component is visible. For a pizza, the whole pie from above, sliced once so you can see the cheese pull.
Shoot it on the plate or board you'll actually serve it on. Guests notice when the photo and the real thing don't match, and a new item is exactly when they're paying attention.
What to write, and what to leave out
- Lead with the dish name exactly as it appears on the menu, so people can order it by name.
- Keep the description to what's in it: the main ingredient, how it's cooked, one detail that makes it yours.
- If it's limited, say so plainly in your caption with a real end date, not "while supplies last".
- Skip "best in town" and similar claims. The dish on screen does that job better.
FAQsFrequently asked
Frequently asked
questions
How do I announce a new menu item on Instagram?
Post a short reveal video of the dish on launch day, follow with a story card before the rush, and post again a few days later. Studio's new item drop template and New on the Menu card cover both from one menu entry.
Is the new item drop template free?
Yes. It's a template video and uses no credits. The New on the Menu design is also free.
Do I need a professional photo of the new dish?
No. A clear phone photo in daylight, with the dish filling the frame, works well. The template adds the movement and the words.
What sizes does the new item drop template come in?
The examples here are 9:16 for Stories and Reels and 1:1 square for the feed and Facebook. The New on the Menu card is 9:16.
Will the price in the announcement match my menu?
Yes. The name, description and price come from your menu in Studio, so if you change the price there, the next post uses the new one.
Can I post the announcement to Google and TikTok too?
Yes. Connect Instagram, Facebook, Google Business Profile and TikTok, then post the same launch to each or schedule it ahead.
Keep exploring
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Use the New item drop video template with your own dish.
$49/month with 600 credits included. Already on Servestack Starter or Scale? Studio is included.