NOA restaurant augmented reality menu

Bringing NOA’s Menu to Life: Creating a 3D Augmented Reality Experience for a Restaurant Website

In today’s digital era, restaurant experiences are reaching beyond the table—and NOA is no exception. Recently, I had the opportunity to develop an augmented reality (AR) feature for NOA's website, which allows customers to view each dish in 3D and activate an AR version. This feature offers guests an immersive look at NOA’s menu, showing not only how each dish looks but also providing a sense of scale and proportion—all with full 3D interactivity. Here’s a look at the journey behind creating this innovative augmented reality experience.

The Inspiration: Creating an Interactive and Immersive Menu

NOA is known for its vibrant, visually stunning dishes that are works of art in themselves. The restaurant wanted a way to convey this online, so customers could explore the visual appeal of each dish before even setting foot inside. The goal was to create a feature that would allow diners to visualize each item in 3D and engage with an augmented reality version to experience its real-life proportions.

Step 1: Building 3D Models of NOA’s Dishes

Creating realistic, high-quality 3D models was the first and most important step in the project. We started by photographing each dish from multiple angles to capture its texture, shape, and plating style accurately.

Key Elements in the 3D Modeling Process:

• Texture and Detail: We focused on details, like the texture of sauces, garnishes, and ingredients. Since NOA’s dishes are artistically plated, this level of detail was crucial to making the augmented reality experience engaging and realistic.

• Proportion and Scale: Every dish was scaled to its true size to give users an accurate sense of what to expect when they ordered it. For example, a large entrée versus a delicate dessert would appear true to size in the AR experience.

• Optimizing for Web: Ensuring the 3D models were optimized for quick loading on NOA’s website was essential. We streamlined the models to load smoothly across desktop and mobile, maintaining a balance between quality and performance.

Step 2: Adding Augmented Reality Functionality

Once the 3D models were complete, we integrated augmented reality features to bring the dishes off the screen and into customers’ environments. Here’s how we approached creating this functionality:

Setting Up the AR Controls

To give users full control over the experience, I implemented intuitive controls so they could:

• Position and Rotate the Dish: With touch controls on mobile and mouse gestures on desktop, users could place the dish on a virtual surface, adjust its rotation, and examine it from every angle. This functionality allows customers to explore the dish in detail as if it were right in front of them.

• Zoom In and Out: The zoom feature lets users get up close to examine intricate plating and textures, enhancing the immersive experience.

Implementing AR on the Web with WebAR

To make the augmented reality experience accessible directly through NOA’s website, we utilized WebAR technology. This allowed users to view the dishes in AR without downloading a separate app, offering seamless integration and a frictionless user experience.

Step 3: Testing and Optimizing for Realistic Performance

With the core features in place, the next step was rigorous testing to ensure the 3D models and augmented reality effects functioned smoothly across devices and lighting conditions. We conducted tests on both iOS and Android platforms, optimizing the experience for various screen sizes and AR capabilities.

During testing, we focused on:

• Visual Quality in Different Lighting: The AR feature was designed to adapt to various lighting environments, so dishes look realistic and appetizing regardless of where the user views them.

• Loading Speed and Responsiveness: We streamlined loading times to ensure users wouldn’t experience lag, especially on mobile devices. Each model was optimized for a fast, responsive experience.

The Launch: Bringing NOA’s Augmented Reality Menu to the Table

Once the functionality was fully developed and tested, it was time to launch! NOA rolled out a campaign on social media and on their website to showcase the AR feature, encouraging customers to explore the dishes in 3D before their visit.

Final Thoughts on Creating an Augmented Reality Menu for NOA

Building this augmented reality menu for NOA was a rewarding challenge that took digital dining experiences to the next level. Customers can now explore every dish in detail, from texture to proportion, before they even arrive, elevating their anticipation and connection with NOA’s culinary artistry. For anyone interested in developing an augmented reality feature for a restaurant or retail website, the key is balancing realism, interactivity, and performance to deliver an experience that captures the essence of your brand.

As the boundaries between digital and real-life experiences continue to blur, integrating AR is a powerful way to engage customers and bring products or experiences to life—literally. NOA’s AR menu is more than just a feature; it’s a bridge, connecting guests to the artistry and flavor of NOA’s kitchen, wherever they are.