Choose the Right POS for Your Restaurant
Table management that flows. Kitchen tickets that never get lost. Online ordering that actually works.
Get expert guidance from someone who knows restaurants — not just POS systems. Vendor-neutral advice, hands-on support, and no commission pressure.
Restaurant-specific expertise • Vendor-neutral advice
We help you choose, implement, and optimize — then stick around to make sure it works.
Why restaurants need specialized POS systems
Turn tables faster during rush
Real-time table status, quick order entry, seamless course timing for efficient service
Zero order errors between FOH & kitchen
Kitchen Display Systems eliminate lost tickets and miscommunication
Online ordering that drives revenue
Integrated online ordering, delivery management, and direct customer relationships
Common Restaurant POS Problems
If any of these sound familiar, your current system is costing you money.
Slow table turns during lunch/dinner rush
Your servers are waiting on the system instead of serving customers. Tables sit dirty longer than they should. Revenue is lost every shift.
Kitchen tickets getting lost or delayed
Orders don't fire to the kitchen on time. Paper tickets get lost or damaged. Expo station is chaos during peak hours.
Order errors between front-of-house and kitchen
Modifications don't make it to the kitchen. Wrong items get prepared. You're comping meals and losing customers over preventable mistakes.
No clear view of table status
Hosts don't know what tables are ready. Servers can't see who's waiting on checks. Managers have no real-time visibility into floor operations.
Manual reservation management
You're using a paper book or basic spreadsheet. Double-bookings happen. No-shows cost you money. Waitlist management is pure guesswork.
Poor online ordering integration
Online orders come through a separate tablet. Menu updates require changing multiple systems. Third-party fees are eating your margins with no direct customer data.
Sound familiar? Let's fix it.
What Your Restaurant Actually Needs
Not every POS is built for restaurant operations. Here's what separates good systems from great ones.
Table Management & Floor Plans
- ✓ Visual floor plans — see table status at a glance, drag-and-drop seating
- ✓ Real-time table status — know instantly which tables are seated, ordering, eating, or waiting on checks
- ✓ Section management — assign servers to sections, balance workload automatically
- ✓ Turn time tracking — optimize seating strategy based on actual performance data
Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)
- ✓ Eliminate paper tickets — all orders appear on kitchen screens instantly
- ✓ Station routing — send appetizers to one screen, entrees to another, desserts to pastry
- ✓ Ticket timing alerts — flag orders that are taking too long or getting cold
- ✓ Expo coordination — bump system ensures all items for a table fire together
Course Timing & Coursing
- ✓ Fire courses on schedule — apps fire immediately, entrees delay until ready
- ✓ Manual course control — servers can hold or rush courses based on table needs
- ✓ Synchronized multi-table — handle large parties across multiple tables seamlessly
- ✓ Kitchen prep timing — coordinate cold station, hot station, and expo for perfect plating
Online Ordering Integration
- ✓ Direct online ordering — own your customer data, avoid third-party commission fees
- ✓ One menu, everywhere — update once, changes appear on POS, online, and delivery apps
- ✓ Delivery management — track drivers, estimated delivery times, and customer notifications
- ✓ Third-party integration — consolidate DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc. into one tablet or screen
Reservation Management
- ✓ Integrated reservations — built into your POS or seamless integration with OpenTable/Resy
- ✓ Waitlist management — text guests when their table is ready automatically
- ✓ Guest profiles — track preferences, allergies, VIP status, and past orders
- ✓ No-show prevention — credit card holds and automated reminders reduce empty tables
Menu Engineering & Reporting
- ✓ Item-level profitability — see which dishes make money and which don't
- ✓ Ingredient tracking — manage recipe costs, portion control, and food cost percentages
- ✓ Sales mix analysis — identify best-sellers and optimize menu placement
- ✓ Labor scheduling integration — forecast staffing needs based on historical sales data
Why Work With The Pulse POS?
We're not POS salespeople pushing one system for commission. We're restaurant operators who happen to know POS inside and out.
Restaurant-Specific Expertise
We understand full-service operations, course timing, kitchen workflows, and the unique challenges restaurants face that bars and retail don't.
No Commission Pressure
We're vendor-neutral. Our recommendation is based on what's best for your restaurant — not what pays us the highest commission.
Post-Sale Support
We don't disappear after the sale. We handle setup, train your team, optimize workflows, and stick around to make sure it works.
Restaurant POS Systems We Work With
We're certified partners with leading restaurant POS providers. Here's our honest take on each one.
SkyTab
Comprehensive restaurant solution from Shift4. Excellent table management, reliable hardware, strong KDS, and dedicated partner support.
Best for: Full-service restaurants, casual dining, fine dining
SmartTab
Strong for bar-restaurant hybrids with solid table management. Better for beverage-focused venues than fine dining.
Best for: Sports bars with food, casual dining, gastropubs
Toast
Built for restaurants with comprehensive features. Strong ecosystem and integrations. Primarily call-center support model.
Best for: Restaurants comfortable with call-center support model
SpotOn
Strong marketing and loyalty features. Good for building customer relationships and repeat business.
Best for: Neighborhood restaurants, regular clientele focus
Focus
Legacy system still used by many restaurants. Stable and reliable but dated interface. Better modern options available.
Best for: Established restaurants replacing legacy systems
Not Sure Which Fits?
Every restaurant is different. We'll assess your concept, volume, and workflow to recommend the best match.
Get Personalized RecommendationStar ratings based on restaurant-specific performance (table management, KDS, coursing, support). Not overall quality.
Get Your Free Restaurant POS Consultation
Tell us about your restaurant — we'll come prepared with vendor-neutral recommendations.
On the call, we'll cover:
- • Your current pain points (table turns, kitchen errors, online ordering)
- • Restaurant type, volume, and service style
- • POS systems that match your needs
- • Honest pros/cons of each option
- • Pricing expectations and hidden cost warnings
What you'll walk away with:
- • 2-3 vendor recommendations (with reasons why)
- • Ballpark pricing for your setup
- • Questions to ask each vendor
- • Red flags to watch out for
- • Optional: help negotiating and implementing
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Prefer email? info@thepulsepos.com
Stop Guessing. Get Expert Advice.
One conversation can save you thousands in fees, lost revenue, and operational headaches. No pressure, just honest guidance.