QR table ordering: a practical guide for Australian venues

QR table ordering lets guests scan a code on their table, browse your menu on their phone and send their order straight through. Done well, it frees your team to spend more time on the floor and less time walking orders back and forth.

Done badly, it can feel cold. This guide covers where it works, how to set it up and how to keep it welcoming. If you’d like to see it in action, here’s how QR code ordering works in RestoGenius.

Where QR ordering works best

QR ordering suits venues where guests order more than once, or where staff can’t be everywhere at the same time.

• Busy bars and pubs, where the next round shouldn’t mean a wait at the bar.
• Cafés with table seating, especially at peak times.
• Courtyards and beer gardens, where tables are a long walk from the counter.
• Large venues, where one table can be a long way from the next.

Keep table service where it matters

QR ordering doesn’t have to replace your team. Many venues use it alongside table service.

Staff can still welcome guests, recommend dishes and take orders from anyone who would rather talk to a person. The QR code is simply another way to order.

Set it up well

• One code per table. Each code should know which table it belongs to, so orders arrive marked with the table number.
• Clear table numbers. Make sure the number on the table matches the number in your system.
• A menu that reads well on a phone. Short descriptions, clear prices and good photos help guests decide quickly.
• Test it yourself. Scan every code and place a test order before your first service.

Keep your team in the loop

QR orders should land on your POS and in the kitchen like any other order. If they arrive somewhere separate, someone has to watch two screens, and things get missed.

When every order shows up in one list, with the table number, the floor and the kitchen stay on the same page.

Make it welcoming

A small card on the table that says what to do is better than a bare code. Try something simple, like “Scan to order. We’re happy to take your order too.”

Have staff check in after the order lands. A quick hello keeps the service personal.

Watch how it’s used

After a few weeks, look at how many orders come through QR and when. You may find guests use it most at peak times, or for second rounds.

With RestoGenius, QR table ordering is included in one flat fee, and every QR order lands on your POS and kitchen screens with the table number.