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6 Best Self-Service Restaurant Kiosks

See whether a kiosk POS is right for your eatery, discover the best options, and learn how you can afford the investment.

    Nicolette Kier
  • Last updated onUpdated

  • Matt Sherman
  • REVIEWED BY

    Matt Sherman

    Lead Staff Writer

Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.

Self-service restaurant kiosks help businesses get orders out the door faster, cope with short staffing, reduce ordering wait times, and allow customers to order at their own pace. It’s important that an establishment’s self-ordering kiosk is easy to use, can be placed strategically on the floor, and incorporates marketing efforts like a loyalty program and item upsells.

We evaluated 12 of the best POS systems with restaurant kiosk software based on pricing, ease of use, core feature set, and ability to integrate with other restaurant management tools to help you find the right self-service kiosk for your business.

Learn More About Our Top Picks

CompanySummaryNext StepsSummary

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  • Best for fast-casual restaurants
  • $189-$399+/month
  • Monthly/custom contract, early termination fee
  • Best for fast-casual restaurants
  • $189-$399+/month
  • Monthly/custom contract, early termination fee

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  • Best for busy restaurants
  • $90-$255+/month
  • Two-year standard contract, early termination fee
  • Best for busy restaurants
  • $90-$255+/month
  • Two-year standard contract, early termination fee

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  • Best for large restaurants and complex orders
  • Custom pricing
  • Three-year standard contract, early termination fee
  • Best for large restaurants and complex orders
  • Custom pricing
  • Three-year standard contract, early termination fee

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  • Best low-cost option
  • $29+/month
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee
  • Best low-cost option
  • $29+/month
  • Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee

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  • Best for cafeterias and food halls
  • $109+/month
  • Variable contracts and cancellation terms
  • Best for cafeterias and food halls
  • $109+/month
  • Variable contracts and cancellation terms

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  • Best for entertainment establishments and hotels
  • Custom monthly pricing based on number of taps
  • Custom contract terms
  • Best for entertainment establishments and hotels
  • Custom monthly pricing based on number of taps
  • Custom contract terms

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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

What Is A Self-Service Kiosk For Restaurants?

A self-service kiosk for restaurants is a digital touchscreen or QR code that customers can use to add items from the menu to their order, pay, and wait for their food and drinks without the assistance of an employee.

Self-service restaurant kiosks are typically integrated with your POS system and your kitchen display screens so orders can flow naturally from the front of the house to the kitchen without needing to interact with customers.

Kiosks are a great option for when you’re short-staffed or have a large influx of customers.

6 Best Self-Service Restaurant Kiosks

The best self-service kiosks for restaurants are easy to use, work with your restaurant’s floor plan, integrate with your POS and kitchen order display software, and allow customers to collect loyalty points and discounts.

These are our top choices:

Compare The Best Self-Service Kiosks For Restaurants

POS Pricing Kiosk Pricing Hardware Cost Payment Processing Free Trial
Lightspeed Restaurant $189-$399+/month Custom $299-$349+ 2.6%-2.9%
Toast $0-$165+/month $90/month $809+ 2.49%-3.39% or custom
Revel Custom Custom Custom Custom
Square For Restaurants $0-$60+/location/month $29-$200/month $49-$149 2.5%-2.9%
Lavu $59-$279+/month $50/month Custom Custom
Table Tap Custom Custom $700-$15,000+ Custom

Lightspeed Restaurant: Best For Fast-Casual Restaurants

Lightspeed Restaurant

Total Rating 4.0
Pricing3.1

Ease Of Use3.8

Features5.0

Customer Service4.3

User Reviews4.7

Pricing Range

$189-$399+/month

Online Ordering

Yes

Equipment Cost

$129-$519

Pros

  • Highly customizable menu display options
  • SMS “order ready” notifications for customers
  • Customers can request help at kiosks
  • Standing and tableside kiosk options

Cons

  • Early termination fees
  • No cash payments
  • Weak offline mode

lightspeed restaurant self-ordering kiosk at table

Lightspeed Restaurant self-ordering kiosk at the table.

Why We Chose Lightspeed Restaurant For Fast-Casual Restaurants

We love that Lightspeed Restaurant is an easy-to-use system for restaurant owners who have to deal with high employee turnover rates, which is common in the fast-casual industry. The intuitive user interface on registers and self-order screens makes it easy to train new employees.

Plus, it's simple to transition between register, standing kiosk, and tableside ordering kiosk, so customers have several ways to order without holding up any lines. The tableside ordering kiosk comes with features to offer customers a great dining experience, including the ability to request help from a server and input multiple items at the pace they choose.

Lightspeed Restaurant Pricing

Lightspeed Restaurant Plans Price  When To Use
Essential $189/month Restaurants with one or more locations looking for online ordering capabilities
Premium $399/month Larger restaurants & hotels looking for custom payment processing rates

To use Self-Order Menu software, you’ll also need a Lightspeed Restaurant POS software plan. Though the above pricing is for Lightspeed’s advertised plans, you have to get a custom quote and sign a contract that specifies how much you’ll pay in fees and whether fees are charged monthly or annually.

Lightspeed offers self-serve restaurant kiosks as an add-on app called the Self-Order Menu. The company previously advertised the software as costing $39/month but has since removed the pricing and requires restaurant owners to get a custom quote on kiosk software. The more kiosks you build into your restaurant operations, the more you’ll pay per month.

Note: Lightspeed POS plans include one register software license. Additional register software licenses are available as a custom quote.

Lightspeed Restaurant Features

Lightspeed Restaurant Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling Online and third-party delivery platform orders
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management Paid add-on
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Lightspeed Restaurant’s most unique kiosk features include its convertible tableside to standing kiosks. Quick-serve restaurants can easily place standing kiosks near the front of the establishment, while fast-casual and sit-down restaurants can place kiosks at the front or at tables.

Additionally, you can allow customers to:

  • Place numerous orders throughout the tableside dining experience
  • Request help from staff members at the self-serve kiosk
  • Collect and redeem loyalty points at restaurant kiosks using QR codes
  • Send “order ready” confirmation texts for customers who opt into them

Lightspeed also has one of the best kitchen display systems for restaurants, and it syncs well with tableside/standing kiosks. You can create custom menus specifically for kiosks and designate specific kitchen display/expo screens to manage self-serve orders. Orders are synced to your restaurant inventory, and menu items/add-ons will automatically be removed from kiosk order screens when an ingredient runs out.

Restaurant Kiosk Hardware Cost & Options

Lightspeed Restaurant tablet in tablet stand, receipt printer, cash drawer, and kitchen printer

Lightspeed Restaurant tablet in tablet stand, receipt printer, cash drawer, and kitchen printer.

Lightspeed Restaurant POS and self-order kiosks run on iPads. You may purchase your own iPads or through Lightspeed at $329 per device.

If you purchase your hardware from Lightspeed, the iPad stand costs $199, the kitchen bump bar costs $199, the cash drawer costs $129, and the kitchen printer costs $299.

It’s important to purchase your card reader ($299) from Lightspeed to make sure your Lightspeed Payments account is configured correctly with the hardware.

We advise contacting Lightspeed to get a custom quote on a hardware bundle.

Payment Processing Costs

Lightspeed has its own in-house payment processor, Lightspeed Payments, which charges a credit card processing fee of 2.6% plus $0.10 for card-present payments. This rate is for business owners on the Essential plan. Those on the Premium plan can get a lower custom payment processing rate from Lightspeed.

Note: Currently, customers cannot use cash at restaurant kiosks.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Despite the monthly plan pricing listed online, you must still get a custom quote from Lightspeed, which may be more than what the company advertises.

Lightspeed also charges hefty early termination fees, especially for users who opt into a yearly subscription plan or get a discount on their pricing plan.

Lightspeed’s 30-day hardware warranties (14-day warranties on Apple products) also have many stipulations. For example, you must contact Lightspeed to validate hardware purchased through Lightspeed within five days of receiving your order, or Lightspeed warranties won’t apply to your products.

Get Started With Lightspeed Restaurant

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Toast POS: Best For Busy Restaurants

Total Rating 4.0
Pricing2.6

Ease Of Use4.7

Features5.0

Customer Service5.0

User Reviews4.1

Pricing Range

$0-$69 plus custom plan

Online Ordering

Yes

Equipment Cost

$0+

Pros

  • Accept cash, card, gift card, and loyalty points on kiosks
  • Scanner and scale integrations
  • Durable hardware
  • Loyalty program signup at kiosks

Cons

  • Long-term contract requirement
  • Proprietary Toast hardware can be expensive
  • Early termination fee

Toast restaurant kiosk ordering screen

Toast restaurant kiosk ordering screen.

Why We Chose Toast Kiosk For Busy Restaurants

We love all of Toast's restaurant hardware, including Toast kiosks, which are all durable, spill-resistant, and heat-resistant. This is a huge advantage for busy restaurants with a lot of movement.

Toast's barcode scanner and scale integrations also make it easy for your restaurant to offer prepackaged ready-to-go meals and weight-based orders (frozen yogurt, build-your-own salads, etc.). If your busy restaurant includes these kinds of meal options, Toast Kiosk is an excellent option.

We also appreciate that Toast's loyalty signup and redemption options are available at self-ordering kiosks. This is an attractive feature if you want to lean on a loyalty program to drum up new and repeat business.

Toast Kiosk Pricing

Toast POS Plans Price  When To Use
Quick Start Bundle $0/month You have a small, single-location restaurant with basic feature needs
Core $69/month You need a full point of sale suite with processing and custom hardware
Custom Custom Larger businesses looking to access the entirety of Toast’s features

Toast kiosk software costs $90/month, and is an add-on module to POS software plans.

Toast also offers several add-on products, everything from third-party delivery services to kitchen displays, to Toast Payroll. The most popular add-ons are the marketing and digital ordering suite products, which include the following:

  • Digital Ordering: $75/month
  • Loyalty: $50/month
  • Gift Cards: $50/month
  • Email Marketing: $75/month

Toast will often bundle add-ons and multiple POS terminals and give restaurant owners a bulk discount, so you may get a better deal when you get a custom quote from a Toast representative.

Note: If you are on the Quick Start Bundle plan, you can incorporate Toast add-ons for no monthly cost, just an increased payment processing fee (more on this below).

Toast Kiosk Features

Toast POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Like Lightspeed, Toast kiosks allow you to incorporate your loyalty program into your kiosk. Unlike Lightspeed, Toast allows customers to not only collect and redeem points on kiosks but also sign up for your restaurant’s loyalty program with an automated signup prompt. Customers can collect loyalty points with one or more linked payment cards, rather than a loyalty card, which means that it’s even easier for customers to earn points.

You can also allow customers to pay at kiosks or a register with a printed QR code receipt. This allows customers to pay in cash and order alcoholic drinks if you serve them.

Additionally, Toast uniquely includes a scanner integration and weight scale integration, so customers can scan prepackaged items and purchase weight-based items (frozen yogurt, salads, etc.) without needing to see an employee or use a separate lane.

You can also add suggested tipping, daily deals, and upsell prompts on kiosk screens.

Restaurant Kiosk Hardware Cost & Options

toast self ordering kiosk

Toast self-ordering kiosk.

Toast kiosk terminals cost $809.

Other Toast hardware comes at the following prices:

  • Toast Go 2 Handheld POS: $627
  • Countertop POS: $875
  • Outdoor Wi-Fi Access Point: $104
  • Kitchen Printer: $269
  • Cash Drawer: $134
  • Kitchen Display System: $629

On the pay-as-you-go Quick Start Bundle plan, you can get a handheld or countertop POS for no upfront cost and no monthly fees, as long as you agree to pay higher per-transaction payment processing fees. If you pay upfront for your POS hardware, you’ll pay between $69/month and $165/month for your POS software.

In general, we do not recommend the pay-as-you-go plan because the higher per-order fees will cost you more than the original price of the hardware once you get in enough orders.

If you can, pay for your POS and kiosk hardware upfront. Otherwise, look into equipment financing to help you cover the costs of the restaurant hardware you need in your establishment.

Payment Processing Costs

Toast requires you to use its own in-house payment processor which charges the following payment processing fees per transaction:

  • Quick Start Bundle Plan: 2.99% plus $0.15 (3.49% plus $0.15 if you add the Toast digital marketing and online ordering bundle)
  • Core Plan: 2.49% plus $0.15
  • Growth & Build Your Own Plans: Custom quote

Our advice: If you can, sign up for the Standard plan and purchase your equipment upfront. The amount you save on payment processing fees will probably more than cover your monthly fee.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

You have to sign a merchant contract with Toast, which typically lasts at least two years. There are early termination fees, should you decide to break your contract early.

You are also required to buy Toast’s proprietary hardware, which means that you could be paying a lot for a setup that includes POS registers, kiosks, kitchen displays, kitchen printers, etc.

Toast covers hardware purchased directly from the company for up to three years, which is much longer than most POS and kiosk hardware providers.

Get Started With Toast POS

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Revel POS: Best For Large Restaurants & Complex Orders

Total Rating 3.9
Pricing3.6

Ease Of Use3.9

Features4.3

Customer Service4.2

User Reviews3.8

Pricing Range

Quote-based

Online Ordering

Yes

Equipment Cost

Call for quote

Pros

  • Highly customizable menu and modifiers
  • Loyalty program integration
  • Accept discount codes at kiosks
  • Excellent offline ordering mode

Cons

  • No SMS order update feature
  • Pricing and contract terms are not transparent
  • Potentially huge early termination fees

Revel restaurant self-order kiosk ordering screen

Revel restaurant self-order kiosk ordering screen.

Why We Chose Revel POS For Large Restaurants & Complex Orders

We appreciate that with Revel kiosks, you can create custom kiosk menus that include combo building, upsell prompts, timed specials, highly detailed item modifiers, and more. Customers can check on, collect, and redeem loyalty points at kiosks with an individual loyalty points number and branded rewards card. They can also enter custom discount codes, pay via gift card, and send their orders to one central register.

Revel's kiosks also integrate seamlessly with Revel KDS software, so you can create a workflow specifically for kiosk orders. Customers will always get fresh, hot, and correct orders for dine-in or takeout, no matter how complex their orders (or your kitchen areas) are.

Revel's enterprise-level menu, inventory, employee, and sales management console will also ensure success for multilocation restaurant businesses, which tend to lean on kiosks more often than small establishments.

Revel Pricing

Revel POS Plans Price  When To Use
Revel plan Quote-based: three-year commitment for cheapest plan Use if you are committed to the product and have a need for high-end features.

Revel now requires every restaurant owner to get a custom quote on restaurant hardware and software, including pricing on the company’s kiosk software, Kiosk XT.

There’s also a one-time implementation fee starting at $674. The fee includes hardware installation and software setup with a dedicated Revel representative.

Revel Features

Revel POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Like Toast, Revel allows you to collect/redeem loyalty points by manually entering a loyalty member number. They can also swipe or scan a loyalty card at kiosks. Also like Toast, you can set up tipping options, including suggested and custom options.

Revel’s more unique restaurant kiosk features include the ability to:

  • Collect info such as call name, call order, buzzer number, table stand number, etc. through kiosks
  • Require manager override for POS and kiosk functions
  • Funnel orders towards a central register and kitchen displays
  • Create very specific custom modifier rules (e.g. custom toppings on only half a pizza)
  • Print or email receipts

In general, Revel restaurant kiosks offer a smooth ordering experience with upsell items and group combo builder popups, much like any customer would expect when using self-ordering kiosks. You can also brand your kiosks to create a more unified look in your establishment.

Also, Revel has excellent multilocation and enterprise-level restaurant management capabilities, including the ability to run franchises. In fact, its franchise management features are a major reason why Revel is one of the best pizza POS systems.

Restaurant Kiosk Hardware Cost & Options

revel restaurant kiosk hardware

Revel restaurant kiosk ordering screen, card reader, and receipt printer.

You must contact Revel for pricing on the company’s proprietary self-ordering kiosk touchscreen.

In general, Revel software runs on iPads and iPad Minis.

Revel software is also compatible with hardware from providers such as Ingenico, Honeywell, Infinite Peripherals, Epson, Linksys, Brecknell, and Zebra. You can source card readers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, ID card swipers, and routers from any of these providers or purchase them directly from Revel.

Payment Processing Costs

Revel offers an in-house payment processing solution, Revel Advantage (powered by Worldpay). You will receive a custom quote for payment processing fees with Revel Advantage.

You can also use third-party payment processors such as Fiserv (previously called First Data), Heartland, TSYS, Elavon, and Chase, but will most likely pay an added monthly fee to do so.

Our advice: Get a few quotes from third-party payment providers before approaching Revel. You can get a sense of what a fair payment processing rate is for your business and negotiate with Revel to get the lowest payment processing rate you can.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

You must sign a merchant agreement with a three-year minimum commitment, two-terminal minimum, annual billing, and use Revel Advantage if you want to get the advertised pricing plan above. Otherwise, you have to get a custom quote.

If you cancel your Revel agreement early, there are early termination fees, which can get very expensive depending on how close you are to the end of your contract. You must also return any Revel equipment you haven’t paid off.

Plans are renewed yearly unless you give a 30-day notice before your renewal date.

Revel has a one-year warranty on hardware purchased through the company.

Get Started With Revel POS

Read our in-depth review

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Square For Restaurants: Best Low-Cost Option

Square For Restaurants

Total Rating 4.8
Pricing4.8

Ease Of Use4.9

Features4.9

Customer Service4.6

User Reviews4.5

Pricing Range

$0-$60/month/location + custom option

Online Ordering

Yes

Equipment Cost

$0-$799

Get a free card swiper from Square at no cost when you create a free account. Claim your card reader.

Pros

  • Low-cost plan available
  • Low-cost kiosk hardware available
  • Very easy to use
  • Add self-ordering to several on-site and online locations

Cons

  • Not for large, complex orders and establishments
  • QR code orders are subject to online payment processing fees

Square self-ordering kiosk.

Why We Chose Square As The Best Low-Cost Option

We believe that Square is a great option for most startup owners who have very little money to invest in kiosk hardware or software. Square's low-cost self-serve QR code ordering feature that links to a branded online ordering page provides an excellent way for business owners to create ordering stations all around their location.

Also, if you don't have a lot of room in your establishment (or any, if you run a food truck or host outdoor events), printing out a QR code and taping it to a table, wall, or menu is one of the most cost effective and spatially efficient ways to add a self-ordering station anywhere.

In general, Square is one of the best free POS systems, so if you have one location and low funding, strongly consider Square as a POS and kiosk solution.

Alternatively, Square does integrate with kiosk software such as KioskBuddy for a more conventional restaurant kiosk experience.

Square Pricing

Square For Restaurants Plans Price  When To Use
Free $0/month Use if you need the basics in restaurant POS software plus simple processing
Plus $60/month/location Use if you need advanced inventory and 24/7 customer service
Premium Custom Use if you process more than $250,000 a year

You’ll need Square For Restaurants POS software (free for individuals with one physical location) and kiosk software (included with a paid Square Online plan or a third-party kiosk software) to add kiosks to your restaurant.

A Square Online site that includes QR code self-serve ordering costs $29/month, billed annually. If you purchase the $79/month Square Online plan, you’ll get reduced payment processing fees, which could make it worth upgrading to a higher plan if you process a certain amount dollar amount per month.

Third-party integrations usually have a monthly cost, transaction fee, or both. For example, the KioskBuddy integration costs between $50/month and $200/month, plus there are transaction fees if you make more sales than the monthly limit on your pricing plan.

Note: If you have more than one permanent location, you’ll need to upgrade to the Plus plan. On the Plus plan, extra Square registers cost $40/device/month.

Square Features

Square For Restaurants Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty Add-on
Marketing Tools Add-on
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Square offers two distinct self-ordering solutions: a low-cost QR code generator that you can place anywhere in your restaurant and traditional third-party kiosk software that runs on iPads.

Square’s most unique self-ordering restaurant kiosk features include:

  • QR code generator that links to your own branded online ordering site
  • Pre-built QR code designs that you can print and place anywhere (great for popup events, food trucks, spacious areas, etc.)
  • Tie different QR codes to specific ordering locations (e.g. bar, table number) or require customers to manually input their location
  • Accept discount codes and run specials

Square also integrates with software such as KioskBuddy, KIOS, and Kyoo, all third-party software that turns any iPad into a more traditional self-ordering restaurant kiosk. You can install this software on Square Stand Mounts to create a sturdy standing or tableside kiosk anywhere at your restaurant.

Restaurant Kiosk Hardware Cost & Options

Square Stand Mount

Square Stand Mount POS hardware.

Square runs on iPads, which you can source yourself or purchase from Square.

The Square Stand Mount is a great iPad mounting hardware that costs $149 and allows you to permanently or temporarily place standing or tableside kiosks anywhere in your restaurant. This hardware includes an integrated card reader so customers can pay at the kiosk.

You will need a $49 Square Contactless Chip + Card Reader to take payments on the go, which is a great solution for businesses that are mainly mobile, such as food trucks or caterers at event venues.

Read our guide to Square POS hardware to find out the cost of extra hardware and what you may need to run your restaurant.

Payment Processing Costs

You must use Square’s in-house payment processor to process all payments.

QR code orders are considered online orders, so you get charged Square’s online payment processing fees. For QR code payments, you’ll pay either 2.6% or 2.9%, plus a $0.30 flat fee per transaction depending on your Square Online subscription level.

Transactions made at a standing or tableside kiosk using KioskBuddy are considered in-person transactions, which have lower payment processing fees. You’ll pay 2.6% plus a $0.10 flat fee, per transaction.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Square Online plans are advertised as being billed annually, but you can contact sales and set up a monthly plan. You will pay more per month on a monthly plan. There is a 30-day free trial of paid plans and you can pause your subscription for up to three months.

You will pay a higher payment processing fee for QR code orders since they’re considered card-not-present payments.

Get Started With Square For Restaurants

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Lavu: Best For Cafeterias & Food Halls

Total Rating 3.7
Pricing3.3

Ease Of Use4.1

Features4.0

Customer Service3.6

User Reviews3.8

Pricing Range

Starts at $59/month

Online Ordering

Yes

Equipment Cost

$55-$2,500

Pros

  • ID scanner checkout
  • Rotating weekly menus
  • Fire orders to different KDS stations
  • Nutritional info on items

Cons

  • Loyalty program not comprehensive
  • Resellers and financial partners offer custom contracts with variable terms

Lavu self-order kiosk

Lavu self-order kiosk timeout settings.

Why We Chose Lavu For Cafeterias & Food Halls

We like that Lavu has great features for cafeterias with multiple food prep areas. For example, Lavu has kiosk-to-KDS routing rules, allows people such as staff members and students to pay by scanning a badge, and helps you set up rotating weekly menus.

Monthly pricing is transparent and you can add on whatever you want, so you can pay only for the features that are relevant to your cafeteria or food hall.

Lavu Pricing

Lavu Plans Price  When To Use
Lavu POS Starter Plan Starts at $59/month If you have a small fast casual eatery and don’t want to take online orders
Lavu POS Growth Plan Starts at $129/month If you want to take online orders and offer delivery services
Lavu POS Optimize Plan Starts at $279/month If you have a full-service establishment or a very busy fast casual foodservice

In addition to a POS plan, you must also pay for the Lavu kiosk app, which costs $50/month.

Each POS plan comes with one device. Extra devices cost $50/device/month.

Lavu Features

Lavu Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards Core and Grow plans only
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Lavu is a POS system with a dedicated kiosk app, and includes the following best features for cafeterias:

  • Nutritional and allergen information listed on menu items
  • ID scan badges to add meals to a registered account
  • Integrated weight scale so customers can pay for self-portioned items like salad and frozen yogurt
  • Rotating weekly menus
  • Barcode scanner to scan ready-made items
  • Sync kiosks with KDS in different departments/food stations

Customers can also decide whether to pay at kiosks or the register, collect loyalty program points, and decide how they’d like their receipt (email, text, or print.)

You can customize the look of your kiosks and add a timeout feature that clears carts if someone takes too long or abandons the kiosk altogether.

Restaurant Kiosk Hardware Cost & Options

Lavu restaurant kiosk.

Lavu iPad restaurant kiosk and iPad stand.

Lavu runs on iPads, which you can purchase from Lavu or source on your own.

To run a kiosk, you’ll need to use a compatible Verifone device.

You may purchase Epson kitchen display system hardware from Lavu to sync to kiosks, Epson kitchen displays cost between $650 and $2,500, depending on the model you choose.

Payment Processing Costs

Lavu has its own in-house payment processor, Lavu Pay. You can use Lavu Pay and a Verifone card reader to process payments at a custom rate, which will depend on your business size and processing volume.

You may also opt out of Lavu Pay if you agree to pay an additional $60 – $70 per month.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Lavu’s plans are month-to-month and the company offers a transparent monthly pricing structure.

You will have to sign a merchant agreement, which you should read through before signing on with Lavu. Standard merchant agreements are signed with Card Connect and Verifone, Lavu Pay’s financial partners, and last for three years. Lavu claims that there are no early termination fees for terminating your merchant agreement, but there can be hidden costs, so read through your agreement carefully.

Also, there are many Lavu software/hardware resellers who often have a separate agreement from Lavu. The company does not claim any responsibility for any cancellation fees that you may be charged from resellers or financial partners. Keep this in mind when deciding where to purchase Lavu products from.

Get Started With Lavu

Read our in-depth review

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Table Tap: Best For Entertainment Establishments & Hotels

Table Tap


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Pros

  • All-in-one ordering and sales solution
  • Fixed monthly fee
  • Integration with hotel management software
  • Several types of self-pour hardware

Cons

  • Payment processing through Fiserv
  • Huge initial investment

Table Tap restaurant kiosk

Table Tap restaurant kiosk at the stadium.

Why We Chose Table Tap For Entertainment Establishments & Hotels

We like that Table Tap's variety of self-pour systems allows establishments of all shapes and sizes to introduce self-serve beverage kiosks to customers.

Table Tap's unique all-in-one sales solution allows patrons to charge food, drinks, game tokens, and everything in between to one account, which they can add funds to before eating/drinking, or pay off later. The ID scanner and restricted beverage cards also ensure that family fun centers are safe for everyone.

Also, Table Tap's integration with Cloudbeds makes it easy for hotel guests to charge everything to a room and pay during checkout.

Table Tap Pricing

Table Tap kiosk software subscriptions are a fixed monthly cost based on the number of taps you have in your establishment.

You must contact Table Tap for a custom quote.

Table Tap Features

Table Tap offers a line of self-pour beverage kiosks plus a mobile menu ordering solution. Patrons enter an establishment (restaurant, barcade, hotel, etc.), have their ID verified, and receive an RFID card, which they can scan or tap to self-serve beer, wine, soda, and more. Patrons can pre-load cards or pay when they leave your establishment.

Table Tap’s most unique self-serve beverage features include:

  • Designated alcoholic and non-alcoholic RFID cards to restrict beverage flow
  • Keg monitoring and sales reporting
  • Integration with Scannr, an ID-scanning iOS app
  • Restrict self-pouring hours to remain compliant with local alcohol restriction laws

In addition to self-serve beverages, customers can also order food from tableside iPads or QR/barcode-based mobile menus. Promotions, games, and videos are available on tabletop iPad screens to keep customers entertained and maybe even spend a little more on an appetizing special or good deal.

Table Tap’s integration with Cloudbeds, a highly rated hotel management/booking software, also positions this kiosk provider as a great option for hotel restaurants. The only other providers that integrate with property management software are Lightspeed and Toast.

Restaurant Kiosk Hardware Cost & Options

Table Tap self-serve kiosk hardware

Table Tap self-serve kiosk and beverage tap hardware.

Self-pouring beverage hardware is a steep initial investment and varies depending on the number of taps you want to have, whether you get tabletop or wall taps, and how your restaurant is set up.

In general, you can expect to pay at least $700 per tap installation. Full-size beer walls can cost around $15,000.

The initial investment is a lot, but considering bartender turnover rates, the investment is worth it.

Payment Processing Costs

Table Tap has partnered with Fiserv to process payments. You will need to get a custom payment processing quote.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Table Tap requires you to sign a merchant agreement with the company, and doesn’t give much detail on its website. So, don’t sign anything before thoroughly reading and understanding your merchant agreement.

Get Started With Table Tap

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Restaurant POS Review Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing POS providers since 2012. Our writers have tested over 100 different point of sale systems, evaluating pricing, features, ease of use, customer service, and user reviewers. Read more about how we rate POS providers.

Weighted Rating Breakdown

Pricing 40%
Features 30%
Ease Of Use 15%
Customer Service 10%
User Reviews 5%

When comparing different POS software systems, we consider many data points, including relative pricing, the depth of niche features offered, the price of hardware, and any associated payment processing fees. Our lists of the best providers include only apps we’ve deemed worthwhile from multiple vantage points. The POS vendors we pick share qualities such as widespread availability, accessibility, user-friendliness, and reasonable pricing. We also look carefully at niche features, such as check-splitting, inventory management, eCommerce, loyalty programs, gift cards, and more.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the providers included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.

80+

Vendors evaluated

65+

Attributes assessed per vendor

20+

Features weighed

30+

Combined years of experience


Should I Get A Self-Serve POS System?

Benefits Of A Self-Service POS

Self-service POS systems have moved beyond your local grocery chain. In fact, a PYMNTS survey on self-checkouts showed that 28% of consumers are more likely to shop at a non-grocery retailer if a self-checkout option is available. Additionally, the survey showed that 20% expressed interest in shopping at stores that were completely self-service.

Unsurprisingly, self-service options are becoming more popular with retailers and consumers alike. Here are some of the reasons why self-service POS systems are growing in popularity:

  • Convenience: According to an NCR report on self-checkout, consumers like the convenience of self-service kiosks.
  • Contactless Ordering & Payments: Self-checkout POS systems allow social distancing between customers and employees.
  • Speed: Many consumers — especially those with smaller orders or a few items in their baskets — like that self-checkout saves time.
  • Helps With Staffing Issues: Self-checkout can streamline many tasks, such as taking orders or ringing up customers, which is especially useful for understaffed businesses.
  • Cuts Costs: Self-checkout POS systems are a more cost-efficient solution for growing businesses. This option is often much cheaper than hiring new employees.
  • More Productive Staff: With self-checkout POS systems handling many tasks, staff members are free to focus on more productive activities.

The Drawbacks Of Self-Service POS Systems

Self-service POS systems have many great benefits, but there are also some issues to be aware of before investing in your own system. Some of the drawbacks of self-checkout systems include the following:

  • Chance For Increased Losses: One ECR report on retail self-checkouts showed that self-service POS systems accounted for up to 23% of respondents’ unknown losses.
  • Decreased Interaction: Although some consumers prefer to not interact with staff, other consumers feel that self-checkout makes the shopping experience more impersonal.
  • Tech Difficulties: Consumers who aren’t tech-savvy may find that using self-checkout kiosks and hardware is difficult and confusing.
  • Added Expenses: While self-service solutions can cut costs in some areas, purchasing hardware, paying monthly subscription fees for software, and maintaining equipment are all additional expenses.

Which Self-Service Restaurant Kiosk Is Right For Your Business?

Many kiosks for restaurants require you to get a custom quote. To help you decide on which kiosk ordering system is right for you, contact each provider to figure out what you can expect to pay month-to-month.

Also, consider the space in your restaurant. Do you have enough room to fit three kiosks and a beer wall? Is it necessary to have several kiosks? Map out your space before even considering purchasing hardware.

Last, always read any merchant agreements before signing on with a kiosk provider. You don’t want to get stuck with any one company because you were unaware of your contract length and early termination fees.

If you need funding for kiosk or POS hardware, or for your restaurant expenses in general, look into the best small business loans.

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Nicolette Kier

Nicolette Kier

Expert Contributor
Nicolette began writing on small business topics in 2020. After hundreds of hours researching, testing, and assisting small business owners with web building and point of sale software, she is now an expert on all things eCommerce and point of sale. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Nicolette Kier
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