Restaurant QR code: order and pay at the table
A QR code on the table can simplify service, as long as it opens a real order and not just a PDF. Here is how it works and what to check.
By the Maxilog team · · 1 min read
A restaurant QR code is a code printed on the table that guests scan with their phone to open the menu, order and, depending on the tool, pay the bill, with nothing to install. It replaces the paper menu and part of the back-and-forth in the dining room, as long as the order goes straight to the kitchen.
What is a QR code used for in a restaurant?
The QR code links the table to the restaurant’s online menu. Guests scan, pick their dishes, and the order is sent without a notepad or any re-keying. For the team, that means fewer rushed order-takings in the middle of service; for guests, it means ordering and paying when they are ready, without waiting for someone to come by.
Do not mix up two uses: a QR code that opens a plain PDF of the menu, and a QR code that opens a real order tied to the table, the kitchen and the payment. Only the second one changes the service.
How does QR code table ordering work?
With Maxilog’s table ordering, a QR code on the table opens the menu and the live bill in the phone’s browser. Your guests download no app. They order, and the order follows the same path as every other channel: it appears on the kitchen display, using the menu you already keep up to date in the back office.
Can guests pay and split the bill from their phone?
Yes. Payment goes through Stripe or PayPal, with an optional tip and a receipt sent by e-mail. The bill can be split by item, in equal shares, by a free amount or on the remaining balance. These payments go through your own account, and each receipt belongs to you like any other sale. Once the bill is settled, the table is released in the floor plan.
Does the server become unnecessary?
No, and that is not the point. Calls and bill requests arrive on the waiter terminal, which keeps the server in control of the floor. The server can open a bill, add dishes, send them to the kitchen and take payment at the table, and the order stays the same everywhere. The QR code removes repetitive tasks; it does not remove hospitality or advice.
How do you set up QR codes on the tables?
QR codes are created and printed in batches, as stickers or table stands, one per table. A few practical tips:
- one code per table, so the bill is always tied to the right seat;
- a readable support that is easy to wipe, placed where guests rest their hands and phone;
- a short invitation next to the code, for example “Scan to order and pay”;
- a real-conditions test before opening, with the full menu and a payment.
What questions should you ask before choosing?
- Does the QR code open a browsable menu or a real order tied to the table?
- Does the order reach the kitchen display, or must it be re-entered?
- Is the menu the same as at the till, or do you maintain it twice?
- Can the bill be split, and who receives the payments?
- What does the server see when a guest calls or asks for the bill?
- What is included in the quote?
Maxilog pricing is set by quote, based on the number of venues, terminals and products. To see the full journey with your own menu, book a demo. If you are still weighing up your dining-room equipment, also read our guide to restaurant order-taking software.
Frequently asked questions
Do my guests have to install an app to use the QR code?
No. With Maxilog table ordering, the QR code opens the menu and the bill in the phone’s browser, with nothing to install.
Does the QR code replace servers?
No. Calls and bill requests arrive on the waiter terminal, which keeps the server in control of the floor. The QR code lightens repetitive tasks, not hospitality.
How much does QR code table ordering cost?
Maxilog pricing is set by quote, based on the number of venues, terminals and products chosen. Each product has its own line on the quote.