Toast POS - Hardware Suite
Supported Operating System(s):
Web browser (OS agnostic), Windows 8About Toast POS
Toast POS is a flexible system built exclusively for restaurants and the food service industry. Offering tools like online ordering, delivery, takeout, mobile app ordering, contactless payments, and e-gift card purchasing, this solution is designed to help restaurant operators adapt fast and take control of changing industry trends and guest expectations. As a safe and secure cloud-based platform, Toast POS includes new feature updates while allowing users to access restaurant data from anywhere, on any mobile device. Its powerful reporting and analytics suite allows restaurant management to identify opportunities for saving on costs, highlight best-selling menu items, and much more.
This POS system can help streamline inventory management and restaura...
277 Reviews of Toast POS
Average User Ratings
Overall
4.23 / 5 stars
Ease-of-use
4.5
Value for money
4.0
Customer support
4.0
Functionality
4.0
Likelihood to Recommend
Not likely
Very likely
September 2019
Jayelynn from 12 West Brewing Co.
Verified Reviewer
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Industry: Food & Beverages
Time Used: Less than 2 years
Review Source: Capterra
Ease-of-use
5.0
Value for money
5.0
Customer support
4.0
Functionality
5.0
September 2019
Incredibly Efficient!
Overall, I'm thrilled we switched to Toast. It's simple to use, has made us more efficient, and wasn't as expensive as similar systems.
Pros
Compared to POS systems I've used in the past, Toast is a lifesaver! It has tremendously improved efficiency and flow of our Taproom. We now have the ability to swipe a card and store credit card information; which is a huge benefit for those of us in co-op spaces. Although they look bulky, their handhelds fit into your back pocket and allow us to close tabs out table side. They are shock and water resistant, plus you can log into more than one device at the same time so if you're working alone, you can close out multiple parties at once. As a GM, I'm grateful that Toast is not only cloud-based, but allows me to access the back end from my laptop or smart phone so I don't have to be onsite to make system changes. Updates are incredibly quick so there's not a ton of down time. There is also Toast Central, where you can troubleshoot issues yourself rather rather than immediately calling Support. They are helpful instructions with screenshots and videos.
Cons
Customer Support is hit or miss. I always get an answer, it's just a matter of when I get it. After hours and on weekends, I feel like their staffing is very limited which leads to delays in getting immediate help. Thankfully it's only happened once where I needed a quick answer and wasn't able to get it.
Reasons for Choosing Toast POS
While it has a lot of features, we couldn't justify the cost versus the features we would actually be using. Since we don't have a kitchen in our Taproom, we didn't need the inventory and recipe features that make Aloha a standard in our industry.
Reasons for Switching to Toast POS
The main reason was functionality. TouchBistro required us to use card readers attached to iPads, but finding iPad protectors that would allow enough room for the card readers was extremely difficult. I also had to be onsite to make any changes to the back end which was extremely inconvenient.
Response from Toast
Replied November 2019
Hi Jayelynn, Jasmine from Toast here. Thank you for your feedback. We are thrilled to hear how multiple features of Toast have improved your operations, and that you are taking full advantage of Toast Central as a resource!
August 2020
Anonymous
Verified Reviewer
Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees
Time Used: More than 2 years
Review Source: Capterra
Ease-of-use
4.0
Value for money
5.0
Customer support
5.0
Functionality
5.0
August 2020
I'd give it a 10 but then it would be perfect!
Overall, I really enjoy the system. It's simple to program and they have a great support system. It's worth the investment to pay for extended support until you or a manager has the ins and outs of the backend in hand. The reporting is awesome and when used the right way, you have your answers to questions you didn't even know you needed to ask.
Pros
I have been using restaurant POS for over 20 years and Toast has shown itself to be one of the best on the market. It is so user-friendly and easy to work in, including the handhelds, that it's amazing. In training new teams they offer a great program and support team. The layout is ideal for high-volume. Reporting is excellent. I refer Toast to most of our clients.
Cons
As with any new system you install, there will be issues and "clunks." Toast is no exception. The worst was the display screen and the use of it on the line. If you do not set aside enough time to train, prior to opening or first use, it will be challenging to understand, especially if you are not used to systems other than tickets and calling out. It just takes time getting used to and working out the kinks upon install.
Reasons for Choosing Toast POS
Price, support, system use
Reasons for Switching to Toast POS
We needed to have a better system than the old one we were using, as in most places. Toast offered the package at a wonderful price and the system supports the costs.
Response from Toast
Replied August 2020
Hi there, Mora from Toast here. It's great to hear that your positive experiences with Customer Care have enabled you to efficiently train up new team members. Thank you for providing this feedback!
May 2021
Allen from Beef O Brady's PCB
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Industry: Restaurants
Time Used: More than 2 years
Review Source: Capterra
Ease-of-use
5.0
Value for money
5.0
Customer support
3.0
Functionality
5.0
May 2021
Toast Software
My overall experience is good. We are pleased with the features that it offers. Our staff does need a while to learn where all of the item buttons are. The modifier buttons seem to be in different locations for different items.
Pros
Toast is a good program for our industry. It will run many reports that are helpful. The connection to a mobile phone is great because you can do almost anything from the mobile phone that you can do from the desktop.
Cons
Since the pandemic, customer support has been very difficult to contact. Our franchise is taking in customer support from Toast so that we can get help when we need it. It does have a learning curve that is difficult to learn very quickly.
January 2020
kestrel from TIN ANGEL
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Industry: Restaurants
Time Used: Less than 12 months
Review Source: Capterra
Ease-of-use
3.0
Value for money
1.0
Customer support
1.0
Functionality
1.0
January 2020
Beware!
Pros
I signed on to Toast because they touted themselves as software specifically for restaurants so I thought it would be an easy transition. It was not. As a POS system the functionality is fine. Servers can ring in food and it prints where we tell it but good luck pulling even basic, typical reports any restaurant would need. A lot of the reports I would want are listed as possible but then they don't populate with actual numbers. Support has no clue. I can wait to talk to a support person for 20 minutes sometimes or even get a "we'll call you back" which comes 24 hours or more later which is such a bummer when I have a guest waiting for a check and I need support to do it. When I do get them on the line they know about as much as I do about how to work the software.
Cons
Toast talks big and presents a front like they know what they are doing but they don't seem to grasp even simple financial or restaurant concepts. Do your servers split tips with a bartender or other support staff? Too bad because you are going to need to create your own spreadsheet outside the system to do that and then tediously go day by day to get the tip info for payroll. It is significantly more expensive than what I was doing before and they forced me to buy all their hardware, like printers and tablets which is dumb. Any old tablet would work better than theirs because they have it locked so we can't play music through it or manage our Instagram account. The list of problem s is too long to even go into here. DO NOT GET SUCKERED INTO RUNNING PAYROLL THROUGH THEM. The payroll program is a complete and utter joke. They have no clue.
Reasons for Choosing Toast POS
They talked a good line on which they have failed to deliver.
Reasons for Switching to Toast POS
I wanted a more modern system and one that was online so that I could make changes to it from off site.
Response from Toast
Replied January 2020
Hi Kestrel, Mora here from Toast. Thank you for providing this feedback, we are continually working on improving our reporting, analytics, and Payroll platform, and appreciate hearing from you. To ensure performance, we will continue to recommend that you only run Toast software on Toast hardware. I'm sorry to hear you have been having trouble getting ahold of our Support team. If our line (617) 682-0225 is busy, please log on to Toast Central (central.toasttab.com) to chat with them live during business hours. I have notified your Restaurant Success Manager to inform them of the issues you've been having and they will be in touch.
June 2021
Don from Chandler Hospitality Group
Company Size: 501-1,000 employees
Industry: Restaurants
Time Used: More than 2 years
Review Source: Capterra
Ease-of-use
5.0
Value for money
5.0
Customer support
5.0
Functionality
5.0
June 2021
CHG Review
Hardware maintenance can sometimes be a challenge, and need some development in enterprise menu management. Otherwise, software is very good and Toast team has been great to work with.
Pros
Ease of use, conversational ordering is great. Easy menu programming. Online ordering also works well with our provider and credit card processing is very good.
Cons
Hardware maintenance can sometimes be a challenge, and need some development in enterprise menu management
Reasons for Choosing Toast POS
Toast was feature rich and easy to use.
