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Open a table and start a check

Pick a free table, say how many guests, the order type and the waiter, and the check opens. A paid table is cleaned and marked Available before it opens again.

  • Restaurant POS Tables and orders
  • 3 min read
  • Updated October 20, 2026

For Waiter or captain Cashier

Open a table

  1. Choose the table
    Who
    Waiter or captain
    Where
    Floor Plan > the floor's tab > an Available table
    What changes
    The Open Table window opens with the table's name.
  2. Fill the check
    Where
    The Open Table window
    What changes
    Guests (up to the table's capacity), Order Type (Dine-In, Take-Away or Delivery), Waiter / Server (required; you by default) and Notes (pick Nut allergy, High-chair needed, Birthday celebration, Anniversary, or type your own).
  3. Open
    Where
    Open Table
    What changes
    "Table opened". The table is Occupied and the order screen opens.
    Needs
    Permission to create orders.
What happens
AreaChange
TableOccupied; the check shows its guests, waiter and notes
KitchenNothing until you send an order
Invoice and IRDNothing
StockNothing

To continue a check, click the Occupied table: the order screen opens with its orders.

Mark a table clean, out of use or reserved

After a bill is paid, the table shows Needs Cleaning. Right-click it (a long press does the same on most touch screens) and choose:

ChoiceResult
Mark AvailableThe table can be opened again
Needs CleaningMarks it for cleaning
Under MaintenanceOut of use
Mark ReservedHeld for a booking

The same menu offers Transfer Table and Merge Tables on a table that already has orders (Move a party to another table, or merge tables), and Reprint Last Bill (Print a bill, a pro forma bill and a reprint).

Common questions

I cannot choose a waiter.

The list is the branch's employees. If it is empty, no employee is registered for the branch.

The table shows Occupied but nobody is there.

An open check is on it. If nothing was ordered, mark it Available; if orders exist, bill or void them.

Can I change the guest count later?

Not on the screen: the count on the check is the one you set when opening.

Related guides

Floors, tables and checks A floor holds tables; a table has one open check at a time; the table's status tells the staff what to do next. Take an order Add dishes from the menu, choose the options, add notes, and check the order before you send it to the kitchen. Move a party to another table, or merge tables Transfer moves a whole check to a free table. Merge puts two tables on one bill. Both are done from the table's menu or the order… Reservations Book a table for a guest at a date and time, and seat the guest when they arrive. A reservation does not block the table by… Quick Order: counter, takeaway and delivery Quick Order takes an order with no table: a guest at the counter, a parcel, or a delivery. It works like a table's check, then…

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