# Restaurant step 8: take an order at the POS

> Take a restaurant order from start to finish - pick the table and order type, add items with options, send it to the kitchen, print the bill and take payment.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/step-8-take-an-order/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

This page follows one restaurant order through its whole life: the waiter or cashier takes the order at the POS, the kitchen cooks it, the guest gets the bill and pays. Practise it with a few test orders before opening day.

## Before you start

- Steps 1–7 are done: menu, modifiers, tables, kitchen display and order types.
- The cash register for your branch is open (the POS asks you to open it the first time). See [Cash register and closing](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/cash-register-and-closing/).

## The order flow at a glance

| Stage | Who | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order taken | Waiter or cashier | POS or SmartPOS Business app | Order placed |
| Cooking | Kitchen | Kitchen display | Preparing → Ready |
| Served or handed over | Waiter, counter or rider | Orders board | Served / Delivered |
| Bill and payment | Cashier or waiter | POS › Open tabs | Completed |

## 1. Start the order

  **POS V2:**

    Open **Sell › POS**. Pick the location at the top, then open **Order details** under the customer box to choose the table, type of service, waiter and tab name.
    
![POS V2 with menu categories, product list with photos and prices, an empty cart and Send to kitchen, Card, Cash and Pay buttons](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/pos-v2-restaurant-menu.Bjq8X38l.png) (web app page: `/pos-v2/create`)
*POS V2: categories across the top, menu items in a list or grid, and Send to kitchen above the payment buttons.*

  
  **POS V1:**

    Open **Sell › POS**. At the top of the cart, choose the type of service, the table (or click **Floor** to pick it from the floor plan), and fill **Tab / guest name**, **Guests** and **Phone (optional)**.
    
![POS V1 with Walk-In Customer, type of service, Floor button, Kitchen order tick, Tab or guest name, Guests and Phone fields](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/pos-v1-restaurant.DPiHO3iE.png) (web app page: `/pos/create`)
*POS V1: the table, tab name and guests sit at the top of the cart; Send to kitchen is in the bottom bar.*

  

:::tip[Guests don't need to give a name]
Leave the customer as **Walk-In Customer** and use the table, or type a short tab name like "Ali – blue shirt". No customer record is created, and the name shows on the kitchen ticket, the bill and the receipt.
:::

## 2. Add items and options

1. Tap a category, then tap an item, or search or scan it.
2. If the item has sizes, pick one. If it has modifiers, the options window opens: answer the required sets, add extras, and tap **Add to order**.
3. Change quantity on the cart line. To change options later, tap the options chips on the line.

![Options window for Margherita with Crust and Extra Toppings and an Add to order button showing the line total](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/pos-v2-options-window.Csp44kU0.png) (web app page: `/pos-v2/create`)
*Required sets must be answered before Add to order works.*

## 3. Send it to the kitchen

Tap **Send to kitchen**. The order is saved as an open tab (no payment yet), stock is taken, the table turns occupied on the floor plan and the ticket appears on the kitchen display. If no table or name is set on a walk-in, the POS asks you to **name this tab** first.

When the kitchen bumps the order to **Ready**, the waiter serves it and marks it **Served** on the Orders board (or the kitchen's last status does it for you).

## 4. Print the bill and take payment

1. Click **Open tabs** in the POS header and find the table or tab name.
2. Click **Bill** to print the pre-bill for the guests.
3. Click **Pay**. The tab opens with the payment window and the amount due filled in.
4. Choose the payment method. For cash, use **Count notes** to tap the notes handed over; the change is shown on the right.
5. Click **Complete sale**. The receipt prints, the order moves to **Completed** and the table becomes free (or "needs cleaning").

![Payment window with payment methods, Count notes buttons for 5 to 500, change due, Split payment, Pay later and Complete sale](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/pos-v2-payment-window.BrR3WY1s.png) (web app page: `/pos-v2/create`)
*The payment window: pick a method, count notes for cash, or use Split payment for several methods.*

For splitting a bill across cards and cash, and for guests who pay later, see [step 9](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/step-9-open-tabs-and-split-payments/).

## Takeaway and counter service

For takeaway, pick the Takeaway type of service, add items, and take payment straight away with **Cash**, **Card** or **Pay**. If Kitchen is on, the paid order still goes to the kitchen display, and the customer can follow it on the order-status screen.

![POS V2 on a phone with location picker, search and scan bar, category chips and menu items](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/pos-v2-phone.ENO8iLgd.png)
*POS V2 on a phone. Waiters can also use the SmartPOS Business app.*

## Mistakes to avoid

- **Don't use Cash on a dine-in order before the guests have eaten.** Use **Send to kitchen** and take payment from Open tabs at the end.
- **Don't use Credit Sale for open tables.** Credit is for customers who pay another day; see [Credit and part payments](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/).
- **Check the location** at the top of the POS before the first order of the day; it decides which kitchen and stock are used.

## Next step

  - [Step 9: Open tabs and split payments](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/step-9-open-tabs-and-split-payments/)
  - [POS overview](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/pos-overview/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Which POS should a restaurant use, V1 or V2?

Both work the same way for restaurants. POS V2 is faster on touch screens and tablets and puts the tab fields under Order details; POS V1 shows the table, tab name and guests at the top of the cart. Pick one in Business Settings › POS.

### Does sending an order to the kitchen take payment?

No. Send to kitchen saves the order as an open tab, takes the stock and sends the ticket to the kitchen. You take payment later from Open tabs.

### Can a guest add more food after ordering?

Yes. Open the tab from Open tabs, add items and tap Send new items. Only the new items go to the kitchen, marked as Round 2.

### How does a takeaway customer pay before the food is ready?

Pick the Takeaway type of service, add the items and take payment with Cash, Card or Pay. With Kitchen on, the paid order still goes to the kitchen display.

### Can I print a bill before the guest pays?

Yes. Use Bill on the open tab. It prints a pre-bill marked "Bill - not a receipt" with the table, guests, items and amount due.

### What if the internet goes down during service?

Use the Offline POS or the SmartPOS Business app's offline selling. Sales are kept on the device and synced when you're back online. See Offline selling.