Toast POS has revolutionized the restaurant industry with its purpose-built platform designed exclusively for food service businesses. In 2025, Toast continues to lead the restaurant POS market with innovative features and competitive pricing.
What’s New in Toast for 2025
- Toast Now AI – Automated menu optimization based on sales data and trends
- Enhanced Kitchen Display System – Smarter ticket routing and prep time predictions
- Expanded Online Ordering – Commission-free ordering with new marketing tools
- Toast Pay Card – Employee tip management with instant access
- Multi-Location Management – Improved dashboard for restaurant groups
Toast Pricing (2025)
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Starter Kit | $0/mo | Single location, basic needs |
| Point of Sale | $69/mo | Growing restaurants |
| Build Your Own | Custom | Multi-location, enterprise |
Key Features
- Restaurant-specific hardware (spill-proof, heat-resistant)
- Tableside ordering with handheld devices
- Integrated online ordering and delivery
- Kitchen display system (KDS)
- Payroll and team management
- Marketing and loyalty programs
- Inventory management with recipe costing
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Built specifically for restaurants
- Free starter plan available
- Excellent hardware quality
- Strong online ordering integration
- Comprehensive reporting
Cons
- 2-year contracts on paid plans
- Hardware costs can be high
- Processing rates not always competitive
- Limited customization
Our Verdict: 4.7/5
Toast is the best POS system for restaurants in 2025. Whether you run a quick-service restaurant, full-service dining, or a bar, Toast’s restaurant-specific features give you everything you need to succeed. The free starter plan makes it accessible for new restaurants.
Quick Facts: Restaurant POS
Expert Tips for Choosing a POS System
Optimize Your Menu Layout
Organize your POS menu to match how servers think, not how the kitchen is organized. Put high-margin items and combos in prominent positions. Use colors and images to speed up ordering during rush periods.
New to POS Systems?
Start with our quick guide for business owners
Get StartedUse Kitchen Display Systems
Paper tickets get lost and create bottlenecks. A Kitchen Display System (KDS) routes orders automatically, tracks prep times, and reduces errors. Most modern restaurant POS systems offer KDS integration.
Enable Tableside Ordering
Handheld POS devices reduce service time by 20-30% and increase accuracy. Servers can upsell more effectively and split checks instantly. The hardware investment typically pays off within 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Essential restaurant POS features include: table management, menu modifiers, split checks, tip handling, kitchen display integration, online ordering, inventory tracking for food costs, employee scheduling, and reporting. For full-service restaurants, tableside ordering and reservation integration are also valuable.
A restaurant POS tracks ingredient usage through recipe costing features, alerts you to menu items with poor margins, identifies theft through void and discount reports, and tracks waste. Some systems integrate with inventory management to provide real-time food cost percentages.
Yes, most modern restaurant POS systems either have built-in online ordering or integrate with third-party platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Native online ordering typically has lower fees and better integration, while third-party apps provide broader reach.
A cash register simply records sales and stores money. A POS (Point of Sale) system is a comprehensive business management tool that processes payments, tracks inventory, manages employees, generates reports, and integrates with other business software. Modern POS systems provide data-driven insights that help you make better business decisions.