TouchBistro Review

flag Restaurant menu management software
  • Powers 29k+ restaurants, in 100+ countries

  • $0 commission online takeout & delivery

  • Unparalleled dedication to customer success

  • 24/7/365 award-winning customer support

Pros & Cons

  • Simple and intuitive
  • Constantly updated and improved upon
  • All features available right off the bat including analytics & reporting
  • Unlimited users
  • Award-winning customer support
  • Few integrations
  • Slightly more expensive than the competition

Plans & Pricing

TouchBistro Payments Powered by Chase is a three-in-one hardware, software, and support solution that allows you to accept payments of all types in your restaurant.

Designed to keep your business moving, TouchBistro Payments integrates directly with the TouchBistro POS to reduce the burden of double entry and features a built-in offline mode so you can continue taking payments even if your internet goes down. And with simple, transparent pricing, you never have to worry about surprise payment processing fees.

Additionally, TouchBistro offers a free trial for everyone looking to try out the software before investing in it. They can run the demo on your iPad, or if you don’t have one, you can always book a live demonstration with the TouchBistro team.

*The pricing is provided in US dollars. In order to see Canadian pricing please refer to Touchbistro’s website.

Loyalty

TouchBistro Loyalty is a customer relationship management (CRM) and engagement platform that helps restaurants maximize customer lifetime value with multiple rewards options and a customer web app with mobile payment options. Turn first-time guests into lucrative regulars, and regulars into promoters with a loyalty solution that helps your restaurant create rewarding experiences for every guest. TouchBistroy Loyalty offers this software starting at $99 per month.

Marketing

TouchBistro Marketing lets you automate custom marketing campaigns and promotions so you can engage the right customers with the right message at the right time. Integrate with TouchBistro’s Loyalty software to create targeted promotions, combining guest data with advanced email marketing for a 360-degree customer engagement solution – all on one platform. TouchBistro offers this product starting at $99 per month.

Reservations
TouchBistro Reservations is the complete reservation and guest management platform that helps restaurants tailor every guest experience while managing operations with ease. Simplify reservations, control capacity, and give every guest the star treatment with TouchBistro Reservations. Reservations start at a higher price of $229 per month.

Gift Cards
TouchBistro Gift Cards lets you create and sell physical and digital cards for single locations and multiple venues with either easy-to-use templates or customized designs. Distribute cards that help build awareness of your restaurant, drive immediate cash flow, and give customers one more reason to return. TouchBistro Gift Cards starts from $25 per month.

Special US-only offer:

Upgrade your tech for less. Save up to $7,000 on a new restaurant POS when you switch to TouchBistro

*Valid from October 16th 2023- December 31st 2023.

POS
$69/mo*
Loyalty
$99/mo*
Reservations
$229/mo*
Gift Cards
$25/mo*
Marketing
$99/mo*

Overview

TouchBistro is an all-in-one POS and restaurant management system that makes running a restaurant easier. The company was founded in 2010 by a group of passionate restaurant industry enthusiasts looking to enhance the service industry with groundbreaking technology. As the winner of multiple awards, it’s clear that TouchBistro is keeping true to its original goal.

By pairing innovative restaurant technology with an unparalleled dedication to customer support and success, TouchBistro has powered more than 29,000 restaurants in over 100 countries and is a global leader in changing the way restaurateurs do business.

Rating

  • "Price"
    8 /10
  • "Features"
    9 /10
  • "Ease of Use"
    9 /10
  • "Help and Support"
    9 /10

Features and Functionality

TouchBistro is more than just a mobile payment processing application. It covers nearly every aspect of running a restaurant business from staff to inventory to reporting.

Tableside Ordering

Take and place orders tableside at FSRs and bust lines at QSRs with our mobile POS. You don’t need us to tell you how fast things move in a restaurant. Apparently, the guys from TouchBistro have received the memo as well, because they have specifically designed a set of tableside ordering mechanics to both help your staff fulfill orders faster and upsell margin menu items while doing so. Your staff will see pop-up modifiers of what they can suggest complementing the initial order.

Floor Plan & Table Management

TouchBistro allows you to design a customized restaurant floor plan, take orders by the table, move parties around freely, and manage multiple sections of the restaurant with ease. Customize and edit your floor plan on the go by looking at critical factors like distance between tables, time seated, and spend per table.

Reporting & Analytics

Track sales in real-time and make informed decisions about promotions and menus with the help of reports that show guest spend and behavior. You’ll be able to keep your finger on the pulse of the restaurant regardless of where you are at the moment and gain powerful insights. Check who is doing what, which items are running out of stock, how many guests are there at the moment, etc. all conveniently in the restaurant or on the road with a smartphone.

Menu Management

Increase your average check size and promote high-profit items with a completely customizable menu you can take tableside. TouchBistro’s menu management system is designed specifically for restaurant service staff, with a host of smart features to make your menu ordering, prep, and reporting process a masterpiece. Promote high-profit menu items with a completely customizable menu you can take tableside.  Get detailed menu item descriptions, including allergy information or wine pairing suggestions, to tailor your guest experience.

Staff Management

TouchBistro has great functionality for managing the activity of your employees, including the ability to create, edit, and set permissions by staff type, clock in and out, and track paid and unpaid breaks. Staff management helps to schedule decisions and optimize labor costs.

Gift Cards

TouchBistro Gift Cards lets you create and sell physical and digital cards for single locations and
multiple venues with either easy-to-use templates or customized designs. Distribute cards that
help build awareness of your restaurant, drive immediate cash flow, and give customers one
more reason to return.

 

Hardware Requirements

TouchBistro itself is compatible with any and all iPad models with the exception of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen devices. Still, you’ll need other hardware to run your business, such as:

  • Mac computer: If you have 6 or more iPads, this computer will be the heart of your business, storing the data and managing synchronization between all other devices. You can go for the iMac, Apple Mac Mini, or the Mac Pro.
  • Wi-Fi: An AmpliFi HD Mesh Router should do the trick just fine, though any decent router will work as well.
  • Printers: You’ll need an Impact printer for the kitchen, and a thermal printer to print receipts in front of the house.

Integrations & Add-ons

TouchBistro is integrated with many of the best-in-class software and payment partners like Chase, Worldpay, MarketMan, 7Shifts, Xero, Quickbooks, and more

As for TouchBistro’s own add-ons, they are:

  • Loyalty: This add-on offers a customer relationship management (CRM) and guest engagement platform with personalized marketing and multiple loyalty reward options.
  • Online Ordering: Save on hefty commission fees with a proprietary online ordering link on your website, Instagram, or Facebook page. Send orders directly to the TouchBistro POS, offered at no additional cost.
  • Reservations: Make the most of your capacity, exceed diner expectations, and apply report insights to drive your bottom line – all for a predictable fixed monthly fee.
  • Kitchen Display System: This app is a handy solution for improving the workflow on the kitchen, turning the existing kitchen printer into an insights machine that shares a lot of intel on the orders.
  • Contactless Dining: TouchBistro Contactless Dining is a POS-integrated, no-contact ordering solution. Give dine-in
    guests peace of mind by letting them view menus, place orders, and pay – all from their own
    device.

Ease of Use

Setting everything up for the first time (especially all the hardware) may seem like a challenge, but you will have professional help to assist you every step of the way – from installation to training on the system for you and your staff.

That said, you probably won’t need any professional help with mastering the system as it is pretty straightforward and intuitive.

Customer Support

TouchBistro has won awards for a serveral reasons, with their outstanding support team being one of them. It manages to combine years of restaurant experience with some of the most advanced communications-oriented tech on the market into a 24/7/365 troubleshooting machine.

 

 

  • Phone Support
    Specialists are available via phone days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
  • Email
    If you don’t have the time to talk to an operator right now, you can easily send an email to TouchBistro’s support desk.
  • Video Tutorials
    If you'd like to fix a simple issue on your own, there are plenty of videos online for that.
  • Community Forum
    Purchasing a TouchBistro license grants access to a VIP forum where you can look for advice from like-minded restaurant owners and entrepreneurs.

Final Word

TouchBistro is a popular POS software for a number of reasons. There are 200 features that arrive out of the box with every package. They offer a simple, intuitive interface that actually helps run a restaurant rather than focusing on a single aspect of the process. Lastly, their support team is available 24/7/365 and offer fantastic support when you need it.

Disclosure
This website is an informative comparison site that aims to offer its users find helpful information regarding the products and offers that will be suitable for their needs. We are able to maintain a free, high-quality service by receiving advertising fees from the brands and service providers we review on this website (though we may also review brands we are not engaged with). These advertising fees, combined with our criteria and methodology, such as the conversion rates, our team of reviewer's finding and subjective experience and product popularity, impact the placement and position of the brands within the comparison table. In the event rating or scoring are assigned by us, they are based on the position in the comparison table, or according to other formula in the event specifically detailed by us. See our How we Rate page and Terms of Use for information. The reviews, rating and scoring are provided “as-is” without guaranties or warranties regarding the information contained in our website, which shall not be considered as endorsement. We make the best efforts to keep the information up-to-date, however, an offer’s terms might change at any time. We do not compare or include all service providers, brands and offers available in the market.
amrita
Amrita Biswas
author

Amrita Biwas is a writer with experience in the field of business technology. Beyond her deep knowledge of business software and automation tools, she has years of experience writing and editing for online publications. Her specialty is SMBs – she’d love to help find your business with the software that benefits you most!

We make the best effort to present up-to-date information; however, the terms of each offer can be revised according to the service provider’s discretion. The above shall not be considered as an expert or professional advice for any matter.

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Questions & Answers

Guest
marc reibman

what processors does touch bistro work with? TSYS?

answer
Hi Marc,
TouchBistro works with a variety of payment processors. You can view the list of processors TouchBistro works with here:
https://www.touchbistro.com/help/video/payment-processors
Thanks,
Alex
Guest
Francesca Giovanni

What kind of hardware does the system come with?

answer
If you are looking for hardware, you’ll get a bundle of everything you need from the iPad stand to a cash box and a printer for a starting price of $44 per month (based on 0% interest over a 3-year term). Do note that you’ll have to pay an additional set up fee of $200.
Guest
Monica Sing

I’ve never used an iPad before. How easy is the system to learn?

answer
The TouchBistro is pretty straightforward and intuitive, so you’ll probably be able to master it without any professional help. That being said, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn about its every nook and cranny during the live tour you can book at any time.
Guest
Jeremy Gladwell

I have a large staff. Will I have to pay extra for each user?

answer
One of the best things about TouchBistro is that you can have an unlimited amount of users. However, you should pay attention to the number of licenses you’ll need to purchase. You need a license for each device that is running the software.
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