Guests order from the table and you see it in your dashboard
To take table orders with a QR code, put an order page behind it. CirculateQR's Table Ordering template lists your items with prices; guests choose quantities, add kitchen notes and send the order for table service or counter pickup. Orders appear under Orders in your dashboard, which refreshes every 10 seconds. You move each one from received to ready, and the guest's phone shows its status. Nothing is charged online.
Why the printed version falls short
Servers are stretched thin during the rush
Orders get misheard at a loud table
Guests wait to flag someone down for a second round
Ordering apps ask guests to download something first
Allergy notes get lost between the table and the kitchen
Table Ordering with CirculateQR
Scan-to-order with no app. Orders arrive under Orders with the table number and kitchen notes, and guests pay their server as usual.
- No app download for guests
- Orders arrive with the table number and kitchen notes
- Table service, counter pickup or both
- Guests see their order status on their phone
- Mark items sold out without republishing
- Pause ordering when the kitchen is full
How to set it up
Add your menu
In Studio, open the Table Ordering template and replace the sample items with yours, with prices, photos and allergens.Choose how orders are served
Pick table service, counter pickup or both. Set a table number on the code, or leave it blank and guests type theirs.Print for the tables
Download PNG, SVG or PDF for table tents or stickers. Send a test order from your own phone.Run service from Orders
Keep the Orders page open on a tablet with the chime on. Move each order from received to preparing, ready and completed.
Useful extras
Orders page
New orders show the order number, table or pickup name, items and kitchen notes. The page refreshes every 10 seconds, with an optional chime.
Order status for guests
The guest's phone shows the order as received, preparing and ready, and updates as you move it along.
Sold-out switches and pause
Mark items sold out from the code's page without republishing, and pause ordering at any time.
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CirculateQR vs server takes the order and order at the counter
Guests order when they're ready
- CirculateQR
- ✓
- Server takes the order
- △
- Order at the counter
- ✓
Kitchen notes written by the guest
- CirculateQR
- ✓
- Server takes the order
- △
- Order at the counter
- △
Table number on every order
- CirculateQR
- ✓
- Server takes the order
- ✓
- Order at the counter
- ✗
Order status on the guest's phone
- CirculateQR
- ✓
- Server takes the order
- ✗
- Order at the counter
- ✗
How guests pay
- CirculateQR
- Server or counter
- Server takes the order
- Server
- Order at the counter
- Counter
| CirculateQR | Server takes the order | Order at the counter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guests order when they're ready | ✓ | △ | ✓ |
| Kitchen notes written by the guest | ✓ | △ | △ |
| Table number on every order | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Order status on the guest's phone | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| How guests pay | Server or counter | Server | Counter |
✓ yes · ✗ no · △ partly or with extra work
Frequently asked questions
Do guests have to download an app?
No. The order page opens in the phone's browser.
How do orders get to the kitchen?
They appear under Orders in your CirculateQR dashboard. Keep that page open on a tablet or screen in the kitchen, with the chime on. There's no POS or kitchen-printer integration.
Do guests pay online?
No. Nothing is charged online. Guests are told to pay their server, or at the counter for pickup orders.
Do I need a code for every table?
No. Leave the table number blank and guests type it in when they order. If you'd rather print a code per table with its number filled in, each one is its own page and counts toward your plan's page limit.
Can I pause orders when the kitchen is full?
Yes. Pause ordering at any time and turn it back on when you're ready.
What happens on the free plan?
On the free Standard plan, an order page code stays live for 14 days after you publish it, then pauses. Upgrading reactivates it.
Related pages
More for Hospitality & Dining
Features used here
Start with the Table Ordering template
The template opens in Studio with starter content filled in. Change the text, pick a design and download. The free plan needs no card.