What is QR code ordering?

Guests scan a code at the table or counter, open the menu in their phone's browser, order, and pay from the phone. The order goes straight to the kitchen printer or POS. No app download is needed.

Do guests need to download an app?

No. With Ser.vi the menu opens in the phone's browser when the guest scans the code.

Where do QR orders go?

They print directly to your kitchen printer so your team can prepare and serve them.

What happens when an item sells out?

Staff mark it unavailable from the tablet in one tap, so guests cannot order it.

Does QR ordering replace servers?

It should not. It gives guests who want it a faster way to order, so servers can spend more time with guests who prefer to order in person.

Blog / October 8, 2026

QR ordering guide

QR code ordering for restaurants: how it works, what it costs, and how to set it up

Guests scan a code on the table, order from their own phone, pay, and the ticket prints in your kitchen. That is the whole idea. The details that matter are what it costs, who pays, and how to set it up so your staff trust it on a busy night. Here is a plain guide.

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Short answer

QR code ordering lets restaurant guests scan a code at their table or counter, open the menu in their phone's browser with no app to download, place an order, and pay from the phone. The order goes straight to the kitchen printer or POS, so no one re-keys it. It is different from a QR menu, which only shows the menu.

How QR code ordering works

1

Scan

The guest points their phone camera at the code on the table, bar, or counter. The menu opens in the browser. No app download.
2

Order

They browse, pick items and options, and send the order when they are ready, not when a server is free.
3

Pay

They pay on the phone. With Ser.vi, cards are stored securely so a guest can reorder a round without re-entering details.
4

Serve

The ticket prints on your kitchen printer, tagged to the table, and your team runs the food.
5

Control

Staff mark sell-outs and change daily specials from a tablet, so guests cannot order something you no longer have.

QR menu vs QR ordering vs pay-at-table

	QR menu	QR ordering	QR pay-at-table
What the guest does	Reads the menu	Orders (and usually pays) from the phone	Pays the bill a server rang in
Goes to the kitchen?	No, a server still takes the order	Yes, prints or appears on screen	No
Saves order-taking time	No	Yes	No, saves time at the end of the meal
Typical cost model	Often free	Subscription, per-order fee, or included with a POS	Subscription or per-transaction

Ser.vi self-service is QR ordering with payment on the phone.

What QR code ordering costs, and who pays

Pricing models vary by vendor. Before you compare prices, know which kind you are looking at:

Cost line	What to ask
Monthly software fee	Is there one per location? Does it rise with more tables or locations?
Per-order fee or commission	Is a percentage taken from each order? From the restaurant or added for the guest?
Card processing	Is it separate or included? What is the rate?
Who pays	Does the restaurant pay these fees, or are they added at checkout for the guest?
Hardware	Do you need tablets, a kitchen display, or printers? Can you use what you have?
Table materials	Are QR codes, table toppers, and stickers included?
Contract	Is there a minimum term or a cancellation fee?

How Ser.vi charges

No monthly fee for the software and no commission. Self-service QR orders carry a flat 5% fee added at checkout and paid by the guest, the same rate as online orders. Orders a server enters on the Ser.vi POS are 3.0% + 20¢ per transaction, paid by the restaurant by default; you can pass it to customers with a cash discount program. Hardware is separate. See our pricing page.

Worked example on a $40 table order: 5% self-service is $2.00 added at checkout for the guest. If a server rings the same order on the POS: 3.0% of $40 is $1.20, plus 20¢, so $1.40 — paid by the restaurant unless you use a cash discount program.

Whether your guests accept a visible checkout fee is a fair question for your restaurant; ask about it on the demo.

Where QR ordering works well

Casual dining: guests order a second round without flagging anyone down.
Bars and venues with bars: fewer people waiting three-deep to order.
Entertainment venues: orders from lanes, courts, or seats that are hard to staff.
Coffee shops and counters: shorter lines at the register.
Patios and outdoor areas: tables that are hard to see from the floor still get served.

Same menu also powers your online ordering.

Where to be careful

Some guests prefer to order from a person. QR ordering works best as an option next to your servers, not a replacement for hospitality. Keep a server path for anyone who wants it.

Setup checklist

Clean up the menu first. Item names, descriptions, options, and prices guests can understand without a server explaining them.
Decide the flow: order-and-pay now, or open a tab and pay at the end.
Map codes to tables. One code per table so tickets show where to run the food. Separate codes for bar and counter.
Test printing. Place test orders from several phones and confirm tickets print with the table and every option.
Set up sell-outs. Show staff how to mark an item out in one tap. A menu guests can trust is what lets staff stop watching the tablet.
Place the codes where they are seen. Table toppers in the dining room, weatherproof stickers on bars, counters, and patios.
Brief the team. Who watches the printer, who runs food, and how to help a guest who gets stuck.
Watch the first week. Check which tables use it, at what times, and fix friction.

With Ser.vi we provide the QR codes, branded table toppers and tent cards, and weatherproof wall and counter stickers.

Questions to ask any QR ordering vendor

What is every fee, and who pays it?
Does the order print to my existing kitchen printer or POS, with every option?
Can staff mark sell-outs and specials instantly?
Do guests need an app or an account?
Is there a contract, and what does leaving cost?
Who do I call on a Friday night if it stops?

Questions restaurants ask

What is QR code ordering?: Guests scan a code at the table or counter, open the menu in their phone's browser, order, and pay from the phone. The order goes straight to the kitchen printer or POS. No app download is needed.
Do guests need to download an app?: No. With Ser.vi the menu opens in the phone's browser when the guest scans the code.
How much does QR ordering cost with Ser.vi?: There is no monthly software fee and no commission. Self-service orders carry a flat 5% fee added at checkout and paid by the guest. Hardware is separate. See the pricing page for details.
Where do QR orders go?: They print directly to your kitchen printer so your team can prepare and serve them.
What happens when an item sells out?: Staff mark it unavailable from the tablet in one tap, so guests cannot order it.
Do you provide the QR codes?: Yes. Ser.vi provides QR codes for every table and counter, branded table toppers and tent cards, and weatherproof stickers for bars, counters, and high-traffic areas.
Does QR ordering replace servers?: It should not. It gives guests who want it a faster way to order, so servers can spend more time with guests who prefer to order in person.

See QR ordering on your own menu

Free personalized demo. No commitment, no credit card. We will show a guest's view and the kitchen ticket.

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