Rest

Help

A detailed guide to IQ Rest — from sign-up to the finer settings.

1. Getting started

What this system is

IQ Rest is a service for restaurants: you create an online menu with a QR code, take orders and table reservations straight from your guests' phones, while the kitchen and waiters work on tablet terminals. Everything is managed from a single admin panel (the dashboard).

Sign-up and login

You can sign in three ways — pick any on the login screen:

  • With Google — click “Continue with Google” and choose your account.
  • With Apple — click “Continue with Apple”.
  • By email — click “Continue with email”, enter your address, and we'll send a 6-digit code. Enter it on the next screen. No password needed.
Note: By email you only get a one-time sign-in code — no spam, no newsletters.

Creating a restaurant (onboarding)

On your first login the system walks you through a quick setup. After that a restaurant is created automatically with a sample menu template you'll later replace with your own.

  1. Enter the restaurant name.
  2. Choose the cuisine type (it determines the starting menu template).
  3. Done: you land in the dashboard with a sample menu already filled in.
Note: The currency is detected automatically from your region — no need to pick it at the start. You can change it later in Settings → Region.

Dashboard overview

Navigation between sections: on desktop it's a top bar, on mobile a bottom bar. Sections: Menu, Orders, Reservations, Kitchen, Analytics and Settings.

  • Next to the restaurant name in the top bar is a small connection indicator: a green dot means orders are syncing in real time.
  • On the “Menu” page there's a “Preview” button — it opens your menu the way a guest sees it.
  • Right there is a “Share” button — it shows the QR code and link to your menu (copy the link, download the QR or open the menu).
💡 Tip: Hit “Preview” after every menu change — you instantly see how it looks to a guest.

3. Tables and QR codes

Tables let you tie orders and reservations to specific spots and print personal QR codes. Section: Settings → Tables.

Creating tables

  1. Open Settings → Tables and click “Add table”.
  2. Enter the table number, number of seats and (optionally) a name — for example “Window”, “Bar”, “Terrace”.
  3. Add a table photo — guests see it and understand exactly where their table is.
  4. Set a table color — the table is highlighted in that color on the kitchen display and in the “Orders” section so staff find it quickly.
  5. Optionally add a short description.
  6. Save.
Note: The table photo is for guests (a “where's my table” cue). The color is for staff (a quick visual marker of the table on the kitchen and in orders).

Table QR code

Each table has its own QR code. A guest scans it with their phone and lands straight in that table's menu — the order is automatically tied to the right table.

  1. Click “Show QR code” on the table you need.
  2. Click “Download QR” to save the image.
  3. Print it and place it on the table (on a stand, in the menu, on a sticker).
💡 Tip: The “Table link” is the same link as in the QR but as text. You can send it to a guest in a messenger.

4. Orders

How a guest orders

The guest scans the QR on the table → the menu opens → they pick dishes, options and quantity → place the order. The order instantly appears in your dashboard and on the kitchen/waiter terminal.

Note: For guests to be able to order, “Accept orders” must be enabled in Settings → Orders. If it's off, the guest sees the menu but there's no order button.

Handling orders in the dashboard

The “Orders” section shows the floor plan. Occupied tables are highlighted and show the number of active orders. Tap a table to open its orders.

  1. Tap a table → “Start order” (or open an existing one).
  2. “Add item” → choose category → dish → options → set quantity and notes if needed (for example “no onions”).
  3. Click “Add” — the item goes into the order.

Item statuses

Each item has a status: Pending → Cooking → Ready → Served. Tap an item to switch its status. Statuses sync with the kitchen in real time.

Discounts, splitting, changing table

  • Discount: “Add discount” — a percentage or fixed amount, on the whole order or a single item, with a reason.
  • Split order: “Split order” — pick the items that go into a new, separate check.
  • Change table: “Change table” — move the order to another table.
  • Duplicate item: quickly add the same one again.

Completing an order

  1. When all items are served, click “Complete order”.
  2. Choose a payment method (if payment methods are configured).
  3. The order closes and leaves the active list.

5. Kitchen (KDS)

The kitchen display (KDS) is a screen on a tablet for the cooks. New orders drop onto it in real time, and the cook marks dishes as ready.

What the display shows

  • Order cards with items, options and the time “on the pass”.
  • Color-coded status: what's cooking, what's ready.
  • A sound alert when a new order arrives.

How to use it

  1. Tap an item to move it to the next status (Cooking → Ready).
  2. Turn on sound with the “Enable sound” button — then new orders come with an audio alert.
  3. Use zoom to adjust card size to the tablet.
  4. Use filters to show only the categories you need (for example only the hot station).
Note: If the tablet loses internet, a “No connection” warning appears. Connect Wi-Fi and orders will start coming again.

6. Reservations

Guests can book a table through your menu, and you manage bookings in the “Reservations” section (“Month” / “Day” view).

Setting up reservations

First enable and configure bookings: Settings → Reservations.

  1. Turn on “Enable reservations”.
  2. Choose the confirmation mode: “Automatic” (bookings confirm themselves) or “Manual” (you confirm each one).
  3. Set the “Booking duration” — how long the table is held for a guest.
  4. Fill in the “Weekly schedule”: for each day — open/closed, working hours, and a lunch break if needed.
Note: You need tables to accept bookings. If there are none, the system will ask you to add tables first.

Handling bookings

  • New bookings awaiting a decision are gathered in the “Awaiting confirmation” block.
  • “Confirm” / “Reject” buttons — for each booking.
  • “Complete” — mark that the guest arrived and the booking is done.
  • Switch between “Month” and “Day”, flip through the period with “Prev” / “Next”.

7. Devices (tablets)

The kitchen, waiter and reservation terminals are separate tablets that connect to your account with a code. Section: Settings → Devices.

Note: Devices are available on a paid plan or during an active trial.

Connecting a tablet (pairing)

  1. In the dashboard: Settings → Devices → “Add device”.
  2. Enter a name (for example “Kitchen — hot line”) and a type: Kitchen, Waiter or Reservations.
  3. Click “Generate code” — a 6-digit code appears (valid for 2 minutes).
  4. On the tablet, open the pairing screen and enter this code.
  5. The tablet connects and immediately starts working in the chosen role.
💡 Tip: If the code expired — just click “New code” and enter the fresh one.

Managing devices

  • Statuses: Online / Offline / Awaiting pairing / Revoked.
  • “Revoke” — disconnect the tablet (for example if it's lost). A new code is needed to sign in again.
  • “Delete” — remove the device from the list permanently.

8. Analytics

The “Analytics” section shows the key numbers for your venue: revenue, order count and their breakdown (for example by payment method and time). Use it to understand what sells best and when.

9. Settings

The “Settings” section opens as a set of section cards. At the top is the active-restaurant switcher (if you have more than one). Below — each card in order.

Website

  • Public menu URL — your unique menu address (you can set your own short slug and copy the link).
  • The venue name (heading) on the public site.
  • Accent color — the main color of buttons and highlights in the menu.
  • Background — an image or video on the home screen; upload your own or generate a background with AI from a description.
  • Menu layout — how dishes are displayed to the guest.

Contacts and address

Phone, Instagram, WhatsApp and a map marker — all shown to the guest on your menu's contacts page.

Region

Currency (used for all prices) and the venue's time zone.

Tables

Floor plan, seats and table QR codes — see section 3 in detail.

Devices

Pairing tablets for the kitchen display and waiter terminals — see section 7 in detail.

Orders

  • “Accept orders” — the main switch for taking orders.
  • “Order mode” — Internal and/or WhatsApp.
  • “Required fields” — what data the guest must provide (Name, Phone, Address).
  • “Payment methods” — to integrate your restaurant's payment provider, contact support.

Reservations

Enabling bookings, automatic or manual confirmation, duration and working hours — see section 6 in detail.

Languages

  1. Open Settings → Languages.
  2. Choose the languages your public menu is translated into (tap to add/remove).
  3. Set the default language.
  4. Texts are translated manually or with the “Translate with AI” button — the system translates dish names and descriptions into the chosen languages.

Billing

Subscription plan, trial status and payment management.

  • Billed monthly or yearly (yearly is cheaper).
  • “Subscribe” / “Switch” — pick or change a plan.
  • “Manage” — change the payment method or cancel the subscription.
Note: Billing is in EUR. To pay in another currency, contact support.

Support

A built-in chat with our team in real time. Send a message — we'll reply right here.

Switching and adding restaurants

If you have several venues, the restaurant switcher is at the top of the “Settings” section.

  1. Open the restaurant switcher at the top of “Settings”.
  2. “Add restaurant” → enter a name.
  3. Choose “Duplicate current menu and settings” (quick start) or “Start from scratch” (an empty restaurant).
  4. Create it — and switch between restaurants anytime right here.

10. The public menu for guests

The public menu is what a guest sees after scanning the QR. It's assembled automatically from your menu, branding and contacts.

  • The menu address is set in Settings → Region (“Menu link”).
  • Get the general QR code and menu link via the “Share” button on the “Menu” page.
  • Each table has its own separate QR (Settings → Tables) that leads to that exact table's menu.
  • The look (background, accent color, layout) is configured in the “Website” section.
  • The “Preview” button opens the menu the way a guest sees it.
💡 Tip: After any menu/settings change, hit “Preview” to check how it looks to a guest.

11. FAQ and nuances

A guest can't place an order

Check Settings → Orders → “Accept orders” (must be on) and that at least one order mode is selected.

Bookings aren't coming in

Make sure reservations are enabled in Settings → Reservations, tables are added, and the day isn't marked “Closed” in the schedule.

The tablet won't connect

The code is valid for 2 minutes. If it expired — generate a new one in Settings → Devices. If the device was revoked — create a new code.

A dish has run out

Don't delete it — click “Hide dish”. It disappears from the public menu, and you bring it back with “Show dish”.

You need devices/terminals but don't have them

The “Devices” section is available on a paid plan or during an active trial. Check Settings → Billing.

Still have questions

Write to us in Settings → Support — it's a built-in chat with our team.

How to use IQ Rest — step-by-step guide