TouchBistro Inc. is an all-in-one mobile Point of Sale (POS) and restaurant management system that helps you streamline your restaurant operations.
It often comes up in conversations about the best POS systems for restaurants, thanks to its ease of use. Although some online reviews suggest it may not be as good as it first appears.
In the remainder of this TouchBistro review, we’ll analyze every aspect of this company to help you determine if it’s a viable option for your next restaurant POS solution. We’ll evaluate TouchBistro pricing, key features, user interface, and support, plus more so you don’t have to.
TouchBistro POS Plans & Pricing
How much does TouchBistro cost? Good question! Expect to pay triple digits every month to get the most out of TouchBistro restaurant management systems.
TouchBistro’s website offers a small amount of pricing information, but there’s not nearly as much transparency as we would have liked to see. According to the company’s website, POS licenses start at just $69 per month, which is on par with most other companies’ entry-level plans.
This includes:
- Miscellaneous menu management
- Table management
- Analysis tools
- 24/7/365 customer service support
Unfortunately, there is no information available on what higher priced plans are available or what they include.
Extensions
There are several TouchBistro POS add-ons, which are listed below.
| Add | Cost |
|---|---|
| Order online | From $50/month |
| Reservations | From $229/month |
| Gift card support | From $25/month |
| Loyalty | From $99/month |
| Self-service kiosk | From $69/month |
| Digital menu boards | From $20/month |
| Kitchen Display System | Hardware costs only |
| Customer-oriented display | Hardware costs only |
Additionally, you can expect to pay some sort of card processing and/or transaction fees. However, these vary by country/region and the TouchBistro website does not provide information on what exactly you will pay.
How does TouchBistro’s POS system work?
TouchBistro POS software
Is TouchBistro POS cloud-based? Yes, partially. While their software is hosted on an on-site server, the data in the POS application is stored in the cloud. Not only does this mean you can continue to sell to customers without an internet connection, but it also gives you access to business data from any browser.
The user interface itself is quite attractive and functional, if a bit clunky. There are several add-on integrations available, including a kitchen display system, a self-ordering kiosk display, and a customer-facing display.
TouchBistro POS hardware
TouchBistro uses an iPad-based system that is designed for ease of use and flexibility. Getting started is quite simple and in many cases you can get professional technical assistance to ensure you are up and running as quickly as possible.
Small businesses benefit from a streamlined POS system with a single iPad, suitable when you have a single terminal to accept payments and manage orders. Mid-sized systems with up to five iPads can be used with a sixth iPad as a central terminal for seated table transactions.
Larger systems can be custom built with a more powerful computer as a central hub, allowing you to connect as many mobile devices as you like.
TouchBistro POS Features and Services
Like most restaurant POS systems, TouchBistro offers a range of features to help you maximize occupancy, efficiency and customer satisfaction.
✓ TouchBistro table management tool
One of our favorite features is TouchBistro’s table management tool. Sure, it’s not unique in design, but it does let you create a unique floor plan that reflects your restaurant to make day-to-day order management easier.
✓ TouchBistro Order and pay at the table
TouchBistro’s tableside ordering and payment tools are excellent. Each feature provides staff with everything they need to maximize order value, ensure accurate order placement, and process payments quickly and flexibly.
✓ TouchBistro analytics and reporting
There is nothing worse than being forced to make important business decisions without knowing what you should do. TouchBistro POS systems help you make informed business decisions by providing a range of powerful reports and in-depth analytics.
✓ TouchBistro’s staff management and scheduling tools
Save time and simplify the scheduling process with TouchBistro’s built-in tools. Easily create new schedules with the click of a button, track employee hours and labor costs, and communicate directly with employees if there are concerns.
✓ Inventory management
Quickly calculate base stock and easily monitor beverage costs thanks to TouchBistro’s user-friendly inventory management function.
✓ TouchBistro application integration
From WorldPay to Xero, 7shifts and QuickBooks, TouchBistro POS systems easily integrate with many of the restaurant industry’s favorite applications.
✓ TouchBistro’s Kitchen Display System (KDS)
With real-time performance feedback, improved order accuracy, and transparent communication between back of house and front of house staff, TouchBistro’s KDS is one you can’t miss. Your team can minimize human error and optimize every order without blinking an eye – TouchBistro’s POS does the thinking for you!
TouchBistro POS Support & Customer Support
TouchBistro offers a wide range of support services including multinational phone support and email service via the online contact form. They also have local offices in the United States, Canada, the UK and Mexico, which have their own local phone numbers and contact information.
So wherever you are, help is always within easy reach. And we really mean always: you can reach TouchBistro 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
From the very beginning of your experience with TouchBistro, you will be supported. Their “one-box POS solution” can be set up quickly, so you can start using your POS system right away. If you prefer personal assistance, they can also delegate a skilled installation specialist to help you remotely.
Their online self-help resources are also numerous and available through the Support & Training center. There you will find various setup tutorials and user guides. There are even helpful videos that describe specific actions.
Online customer reviews, however, do not paint a mixed picture of TouchBistro’s support and after-sales customer care. The company has a commendable 4.2/5 star rating (out of 308 reviews) on Capterra, but its customer service rating is slightly lower at 3.9/5.
A large portion of the reviews are about poor customer service and support services, which is a major problem.
TouchBistro POS Contest
TouchBistro has the hospitality industry pretty well covered when it comes to POS systems. They serve every business from the humble food truck to the fancy fine dining restaurant.
However, if you’re looking for a higher-rated restaurant POS service provider, we recommend checking out Upserve POS. The software’s pricing starts at $59 per month, it uses a very flexible system, and its customer service is reportedly excellent.
Another great option is Square POS, which offers flexible POS services tailored to different industries. It doesn’t charge monthly software fees, but you will have to deal with a transaction fee of 2.6% + 10c.
Final verdict
All together, TouchBistro offers excellent POS solutions for restaurants. Its customer service gets poor online reviews, but reports suggest that this is largely due to agents being slow and response times being long.
Ultimately, the company’s feature-rich software, competitive pricing, and easy installation process far outweigh these drawbacks. We recommend checking out TouchBistro if you’re looking for a powerful, customizable, data-driven POS program designed specifically for restaurants.