Embedded Payments in Restaurant Tech: From Bookings to QR Code Checkout

Modern restaurants are embracing embedded payments to streamline everything from reservations to takeaway and gift card sales. Integrated payment solutions not only improve guest experience but also reduce no-shows, automate reconciliation, and unlock new revenue streams.

Let’s explore how embedded payments work across various restaurant touchpoints.

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📆 1. Reservation Prepayment or Deposit

Platforms like Tock, Resy, and OpenTable allow restaurants to collect prepayments or deposits upfront when diners make a booking.

🔄 Workflow:

Step	Description
Customer books	Selects date/time and agrees to terms (cancellation, deposit, etc.)
Prepayment	Guest pays deposit or full meal price at booking
Confirmation	Payment is authorized via PSP (e.g., Stripe, Square)
Sync to POS	Reservation and payment synced to POS or table management system

💡 Use Cases:

• Tasting menus or wine pairing dinners
• Peak-hour weekend slots
• Private dining rooms

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🛡️ 2. Credit Card Guarantee

For high-end restaurants, collecting card guarantees is standard. A no-show fee is charged if the guest cancels late.

🔒 PSPs Used:

• Stripe
• Adyen
• Windcave

All payment credentials are tokenized and stored in compliance with PCI DSS.

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🎁 3. Vouchers & Gift CardsGift Cards gift-cards Prepaid cards issued by retailers or card networks that allow purchases up to the value loaded on the card.

Prepaid gift experiences are a powerful way to increase revenue and brand loyalty.

Example Platforms:

Provider	Type	Website
GiftUp	Digital gift cards	Shopify, WordPress plug-ins
VoucherCart	Experience vouchers	Ideal for spas, tasting menus
Square Gift Cards	Integrated cards	POS + eGift cards

Guests purchase online → pay via embedded form → receive QR code or voucher number → redeem in-store.

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🛍️ 4. Takeaway & Online Ordering

Integrated takeaway ordering systems like Flipdish, GloriaFood, and Square Online Ordering allow seamless online orders with embedded payments.

Features:

• Live menu integration
• Order-ahead with tips & loyalty points
• Real-time order sync with kitchen
• Embedded checkout via Stripe/Adyen/Square

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📱 5. Pay-at-Table via QR Code

Guests scan a QR code to view their bill and pay—without waiting for the serverServer server The backend computer system that handles online payment processes and data. or terminal.

Leading Providers:

Provider	Website	Integration
Mr Yum	QR order + payment	POS sync with Lightspeed
Me&U	Aussie-born QR solution	Advanced table insights
Sunday	Pay at table globally	Split bills, tips, Apple Pay

Key Benefits:

• Faster table turnover
• Guests control the payment flow
• Tips and feedback captured instantly

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🔗 Summary Table

Use Case	Examples	Payment Layer
Reservation	Tock, Resy, OpenTable	Stripe, Square, Windcave
Gift Cards/Vouchers	GiftUp, VoucherCart, Square	Embedded checkout APIs
Takeaway	Flipdish, GloriaFood, Square Online	In-app checkout
QR Pay-at-Table	Mr Yum, Me&U, Sunday	POS-integrated QR solutions
Card Guarantee	OpenTable, SevenRooms, Reserve with Google	PCI-compliant tokenization

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🔐 SecuritySecurity security Measures used to protect transaction data from fraud and cyber threats. Considerations

All embedded payments are:

• PCI DSS compliant
• Tokenized
• May include 3D Secure or biometric authenticationAuthentication authentication A security process used to verify the identity of the user or cardholder. May involve passwords, biometrics, OTPs (one-time passwords), or 3-D Secure. (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay)

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🧠 Why Restaurants are Going Embedded

• 💸 Increased Prepaid Revenue
• 🧾 Simplified Reconciliation
• 🚫 Fewer No-Shows
• ⏱️ Faster Table Turnover
• 📲 Superior Guest Experience

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🧰 Tech Stack Snapshot

Component	Tools / Providers
PSP	Stripe, Square, Adyen, Windcave
Reservation	Tock, OpenTable, Resy, SevenRooms
Voucher Engine	GiftUp, Square Gift Cards, VoucherCart
POS Integration	Lightspeed, Toast, Revel, Clover, Square POS
QR Pay Solutions	Mr Yum, Me&U, Sunday

Restaurant type and their relative usage of embedded payments products like reservation prepayments, credit card guarantees, vouchers, takeaway, and pay-at-table QR payments:

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🍷 High-End Restaurants

• Reservation Prepayment / Deposit: ✅ Very common for tasting menus, wine-pairing events, or chef’s table experiences.
• Credit Card Guarantee: ✅ Standard practice to deter no-shows.
• Vouchers / Gift Cards: ✅ Used often for curated experiences and gifting.
• Takeaway: ❌ Rare—focus is on dine-in experience.
• QR Pay-at-Table: ❌ Less likely; personal waiter service preferred over self-checkout.

🍔 High-Traffic Chains / QSRs

• Reservation Prepayment / Deposit: ❌ Not applicable (walk-ins or app-based queueing).
• Credit Card Guarantee: ❌ Not used.
• Vouchers / Gift Cards: ✅ Very common—loyalty apps, bulk gifting, promotions.
• Takeaway: ✅ Core business model (mobile/web/app ordering).
• QR Pay-at-Table: ✅ Increasingly adopted to speed up table turnover and reduce staff load.

🍸 Trendy / Boutique Restaurants

• Reservation Prepayment / Deposit: ✅ Often used for small spaces or seasonal menus.
• Credit Card Guarantee: ✅ Common for limited-seating venues.
• Vouchers / Gift Cards: ✅ Growing trend, especially digital gift cards.
• Takeaway: ✅ Moderate—if aligned with their brand (e.g., brunch, gourmet boxes).
• QR Pay-at-Table: ✅ Adopted for modern UX, social distancing, or staff-light models.

🌴 Seasonal / Pop-Up Restaurants

• Reservation Prepayment / Deposit: ✅ Useful for limited-time bookings.
• Credit Card Guarantee: ✅ Common when prepayment isn’t required.
• Vouchers / Gift Cards: ❌ Rare—short operational windows limit use.
• Takeaway: ✅ Often a key revenue channel.
• QR Pay-at-Table: ✅ Enables faster turnover, especially with temporary staff setups.

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Summary Table:

Product	High-End	Chains/QSR	Trendy/Boutique	Seasonal
Reservation Prepayment	✅ High	❌ None	✅ Medium	✅ Medium
Credit Card Guarantee	✅ High	❌ None	✅ Medium	✅ Medium
Vouchers / Gift Cards	✅ High	✅ High	✅ Medium	❌ Low
Takeaway	❌ Low	✅ High	✅ Medium	✅ High
QR Pay-at-Table	❌ Low	✅ High	✅ High	✅ High