Role: waiterRole: manager

Waiter Floor Portal, Serving & Tableside Settlement

How waitstaff manage active tables, accept guest orders, serve food, and settle bills from smartphones.

đź“Ť Where to find it on screen:
Staff Login -> /staff/waiter (or Dashboard -> Waiter) → Click "Accept Order / Mark Served / Settle Bill"
Mobile-responsive floor grid showing table cards with live timers, order counts, and rapid action buttons.

How It Works

Interactive Floor Grid: Displays all tables and room codes with live color badges: Active (🟢 Green - vacant), Occupied (🔴 Red - dining), Pending (🟡 Flashing Amber - incoming QR order), and Inactive (⚪ Grey).

Reviewing & Accepting Orders: When guests submit an order, the table card flashes. Waiters tap the card to verify items and tap "Accept Order" to dispatch the ticket to the kitchen.

Server Attribution on Mark Served: When dishes are ready at the pass, waitstaff deliver the food and tap "Mark Served". MintLight permanently stamps the waiter’s name (served_by_name) on the order for shift reporting and tip tracking.

Tableside Mobile Settlement: When diners finish, waitstaff tap "Settle Bill" at the table. Waiters record payments (Cash, Card, UPI, Room Charge, Split Tender), apply tips, and finalize the check on their phone.

Tableside Quick Order Drawer: Servers can tap "+ Add Item" directly on any table card to punch in drink rounds or desserts without walking to the POS station.

What You Need to Do (Step-by-Step)

  1. 1. Open Floor Portal on Smartphone

    Log into /staff on your mobile phone browser using a Waiter Join Code. The floor grid displays all restaurant tables.

  2. 2. Accept Incoming Guest Orders

    When a table flashes Amber, tap the card, review item quantities and cooking notes, and tap "Accept Order" to alert the kitchen.

  3. 3. Pick Up & Mark Served

    When notified that food is Ready at the pass, collect the dishes, serve the table, and tap "Mark Served".

  4. 4. Settle Bill Tableside

    When guests request the check, tap "Settle Bill", select the payment tender (Cash, Card, UPI, Room Charge), and tap "Mark Paid".

Key Screen Controls & Options

Accept Order ButtonWhen a guest places an order from their phone.

Action: Confirms the guest’s QR order and immediately dispatches it to the kitchen KDS.

→ Result: Transitions status to Confirmed; kitchen KDS chimes and starts cook timers.
Mark Served ButtonWhen waitstaff deliver plated dishes to the diners.

Action: Confirms the food has been delivered to the table and records server attribution.

→ Result: Clears the kitchen Ready queue and updates status to Served.
Settle Bill Modal ButtonWhen the dining party requests the check at the end of their meal.

Action: Opens tender selection (Cash, Card, UPI, Room Charge, Split) and tip calculators.

→ Result: Marks order Paid, generates an invoice number, and clears table to Available (Green).
Tableside Quick Order DrawerWhen guests order additional drinks or when patrons decline scanning the QR code.

Action: Allows waiters to punch in verbal food/drink orders from guests at the table.

→ Result: Appends items to the table bill and fires an add-on ticket to the bar/kitchen.
What Happens Next
The order status updates to Paid, the sequential tax invoice is permanently stamped, the table returns to Available (Green), and revenue figures update in real-time.
  • Table card turns Green, ready for the next seating.
  • Portable Bluetooth thermal belt printers can print a customer receipt instantly.
  • Shift metrics log the order under the server’s completed performance tally.
⚠️ Operational Rules & Restrictions
  • There is NO separate cashier role: waiters handle food service and bill settlement directly from their phones.
  • Kitchen cannot see orders until a waiter taps "Accept Order" (unless order originated as direct POS).
  • Once marked Paid, financial amounts lock permanently to prevent unauthorized post-payment edits.

⚡ Common Floor Scenarios & Edge Cases

Situation: Guest pays part in cash and part on credit card.

What to do: In the Settle Bill modal, select "Split Tender". Enter exact amounts for Cash and Card, then confirm payment.

Situation: Diners move to another table during their meal.

What to do: Open OMS Operations tab on the table and tap "Transfer Table". Enter the new table code to move active tickets and tabs.

đź“‹ Real-World Shift Walkthrough

Tableside Service for a 4-Top Party

Guests at Table 2 scan the QR code. Server Sam receives a phone alert, taps the flashing card, and taps "Accept Order". 15 minutes later, Sam’s phone alerts "Table 2 Ready at Pass". Sam delivers the pasta and taps "Mark Served". When diners ask for the bill, Sam taps "Settle Bill", selects "UPI / QR", presents his phone screen for scanning, confirms payment received, and taps "Mark Paid". Table 2 turns Green immediately.

🔧 Troubleshooting & Rapid Fixes

Problem: Kitchen complains they did not receive an order placed 10 minutes ago.
Why this happens: The order was placed via QR code but the floor server forgot to tap "Accept Order".
How to fix: Check the Waiter Portal for flashing Amber cards. Tap the table and tap "Accept Order" immediately.
Problem: Table is red (Occupied) but the guests paid and left.
Why this happens: The waiter served the food but forgot to complete the "Settle Bill" step.
How to fix: Tap the table card, click "Settle Bill", record the payment method received, and tap "Mark Paid".

đź’¬ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can waiters add items for guests who do not want to use their phones?
Yes! Tap "+ Add Item" on the table card to open the Quick Order drawer and punch in items directly.
Q: What happens if a guest leaves without paying?
Notify your manager. The manager can open OMS and mark the order as "Unpaid" with a note for audit investigation.
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