Atlanta – October 15, 2026 -- Popmenu has launched Spotlight Menu, a video-led menu product that pairs its SEO and AEO tools with Instagram-style dish videos, as U.S. consumers cut restaurant spending to an average of $100 a week from $115 in June 2025.
The product is aimed at helping restaurants rank higher in Google and AI searches and win more orders. Popmenu serves more than 12,000 restaurants globally.
Popmenu survey finds 82% of U.S. diners favor menus with photos and reviews
In a 2026 Popmenu survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers, 82% said they are more likely to choose restaurants whose online menus feature photos and reviews over text-only menus. The same share said they are more likely to order a dish that has a video than one with only a photo.
Consumer pullback raises the stakes for every order
Nearly 7 in 10 respondents (68%) said they are reducing restaurant spending this year. Average weekly spend of $100 compares with $115 in June 2025.
"Every missed order or empty table hits harder," CEO and Co-founder Brendan Sweeney said, arguing that restaurants must make their food hard to ignore.
Spotlight Menu bundles video, reviews and AI search in one interface
Restaurants can use the product to:
- Run a highlights reel with videos of featured dishes, loyalty rewards and the restaurant's story.
- Show photos, videos, reviews posted through their website and Google, allergens and nutritional information for each dish.
- Promote events and specials through a menu ads reel.
- Let guests search the menu with text prompts using AI.
Popmenu says the format helps restaurants stand out from competitors and third-party marketplaces. Sweeney said it targets younger consumers raised on short-form video.
Menu launch extends Popmenu's AI suite across the guest journey
Popmenu's wider platform covers custom websites, direct online ordering, and automated, personalized marketing. It also includes AI phone answering, waitlisting and reservations, and a consumer app. The company says it offers the most native integrations for online ordering, delivery and reputation management.