Best 12 Restaurant Apps For Owners

Running a restaurant is a nonstop juggling act. From managing inventory and staff to ensuring compliance and meeting customer expectations, the demands pile up quickly. And when every decision feels like a firefight, you’re left wondering—how can I get ahead instead of just keeping up?

The right restaurant app can help you take back control. 

These tools are built to tackle your toughest challenges, from streamlining operations to boosting efficiency. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best 12 apps for restaurant owners, each one tailored to solve a specific problem. 

Let’s find the one that helps you work smarter, not harder.

How to choose a restaurant app?

Finding the right restaurant app can feel overwhelming, especially when each one promises the world. Sorting between the ‘nice-to-haves’ and the potentially game-changing features is key. 

Start by asking yourself: What are my biggest pain points? Are you struggling with inventory management, staff scheduling, compliance, or customer reservations? Maybe you want to improve restaurant efficiency or simplify processes like food labeling. Pinpointing these challenges will help you narrow down your options.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right app for your restaurant:

• Functionality: Does the app solve specific problems like managing inventory, scheduling staff, or streamlining compliance processes?
• Ease of use: Will your team find it intuitive, or will it require hours of training?
• Integration: Can it connect with your existing tools like payroll, accounting, or POS systems?
• Mobile accessibility: Does it offer a mobile version for on-the-go management?
• Scalability: Will it grow with your business as you expand?

Choosing the right app isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about finding a solution that makes your day-to-day operations easier and sets your restaurant up for long-term success.

Best restaurant apps for owners: at a glance

Here’s a quick overview of the best restaurant apps and what they’re known for:

• Operandio: Good for task management, SOPs, and compliance tracking.
• Square for Restaurants: Good for POS and payment processing.
• Toast: Good for end-to-end restaurant management, including inventory and analytics.
• 7shifts:  Good for employee scheduling and labor cost optimization.
• TouchBistro: Good for POS and table management.
• MarginEdge: Good for cost control and back-office automation.
• MarketMan: Good for inventory and procurement management.
• OpenTable: Good for reservation and customer management.
• Resy: Good for managing bookings and improving guest experiences.
• Tock: Good for reservation and event management.
• Lightspeed Restaurant: Good for advanced POS and analytics.
• Upserve: Good for analytics and customer insights.

Best overall restaurant app for owners – Operandio

If you’re juggling compliance, task management, and operational efficiency, Operandio stands out as the best all-around app for restaurant owners. A leading restaurant management software, Operandio is designed to simplify day-to-day operations and help you maintain exceptional restaurant service standards. From tracking tasks to managing compliance, it’s an all-in-one solution to automate your restaurant business effectively.

Key features that make Operandio a must-have:

• Task Management: Assign tasks and checklists to your team, monitor real-time progress, and ensure nothing is overlooked.
• Digital SOPs: Keep all your procedures and guidelines in one accessible place, ensuring consistency and compliance across shifts.
• Analytics and Reporting: Access real-time insights into sales trends and operational efficiency.
• Compliance Tracking: Stay audit-ready with tools to track and report compliance metrics effortlessly.
• Training and Quizzes: Onboard new employees and upskill your team with easy-to-use training tools.
• Food Safety: Digitize food safety processes, including temperature checks and food labeling, to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Team Communication: Streamline communication with built-in tools for announcements and updates, ensuring your team stays aligned.

What sets Operandio apart is its ease of use. It’s intuitive, mobile-friendly, and scalable—perfect for single-location restaurants or multi-site operations. With Operandio, you’re not just managing tasks; you’re empowering your team to perform at their best while giving yourself peace of mind.

Why choose Operandio?

Operandio bridges the gap between day-to-day task management and long-term operational success. Whether you’re looking to improve compliance, streamline workflows, or enhance team coordination, it’s the reliable partner your restaurant needs to thrive.

Ready to transform your restaurant operations? Book your free demo today.

#2 Square for Restaurants – Good for POS and payment processing

Square for Restaurants simplifies point-of-sale and payment management for restaurants, offering a user-friendly platform for handling orders, payments, and sales tracking. It’s especially helpful for smaller establishments looking for an affordable, straightforward solution.

What makes Square a good option?

• POS and Payment Processing: Manage orders and accept payments seamlessly across all service areas.
• Customizable Menus: Adjust menu items and pricing quickly to reflect seasonal changes.
• Real-Time Reporting: Track sales performance to make informed decisions.

Square is a reliable POS tool for restaurants focused on payment processing, but it doesn’t cover broader needs like task management or compliance tracking, these areas are where Operandio provides additional value.

#3 Toast – Good for end-to-end restaurant management, including inventory and analytics

Toast is a solid restaurant management platform that covers numerous areas from inventory tracking to employee scheduling. Designed for owners seeking a solution for inventory management, employee scheduling, and POS systems, it’s particularly strong in managing those aspects of operations.

What makes Toast a good option?

• Inventory Management: Track stock levels to reduce waste and improve ordering accuracy.
• Employee Scheduling: Simplify workforce management and payroll tracking.
• POS System: Reliable for order and payment processing.

Toast offers comprehensive tools, but its complexity and cost may not be suited to every operation. Restaurants prioritizing simplicity, affordability, and scaling might find Operandio a more streamlined alternative.

#4 7shifts – Good for employee scheduling and labor cost optimization

7shifts is built for restaurants needing efficient workforce management. It focuses on streamlining schedules, tracking labor costs, and enhancing team communication.

What makes 7shifts a good option?

• Scheduling Tools: Create and share schedules easily with your team.
• Labor Cost Tracking: Monitor expenses in real time to control costs.
• Time Tracking: Integrated time clocks ensure accurate payroll data.
• Team Communication: Built-in messaging keeps staff connected.

While 7shifts handles employee scheduling well, it doesn’t extend to compliance tracking or broader operational tasks. For a more holistic approach, Operandio fills these gaps effectively.

#5 TouchBistro – Good for POS and table management

TouchBistro is a versatile tool focused on improving front-of-house operations. It combines table management with POS features to streamline service and enhance the guest experience.

What makes TouchBistro a good option?

• Table Management: Organize and optimize your floor plan for better efficiency.
• Order Management: Take orders at the table with mobile devices to reduce errors.
• Customizable Menus: Quickly update menu options and pricing.
• Integrated Payments: Handle a variety of payment methods seamlessly.

TouchBistro excels at front-of-house tasks but doesn’t address back-end needs like compliance tracking or task delegation, which Operandio supports comprehensively.

#6 MarginEdge – Good for cost control and back-office automation

MarginEdge is designed to simplify administrative tasks like invoice processing and inventory tracking, helping restaurant owners control costs and streamline back-office operations.

What makes MarginEdge a good option?

• Invoice Management: Automate invoice processing to save time.
• Cost Tracking: Monitor food and labor costs in real-time.
• Inventory Management: Update stock counts easily and reduce waste.
• Integration: Connect seamlessly with accounting tools like QuickBooks.

MarginEdge is effective for cost management but doesn’t support operational workflows or team alignment. For those needs, Operandio is a more comprehensive solution.

#7 MarketMan – Good for inventory and procurement management

MarketMan specializes in inventory control and vendor management, making it easier for restaurants to streamline procurement processes and reduce waste. It’s particularly useful for owners looking to gain better visibility into their costs.

What makes MarketMan a good option?

• Inventory Tracking: Monitor stock levels in real-time to avoid shortages or overstocking.
• Vendor Management: Simplify orders, compare prices, and track deliveries seamlessly.
• Recipe Costing: Calculate the exact cost of menu items for better pricing decisions.
• Budget Analysis: Identify areas for savings with detailed cost breakdowns.

MarketMan is a strong choice for inventory-focused needs, but it doesn’t address task management or compliance tracking. Restaurants looking for a more holistic operational tool may benefit from pairing it with Operandio.

#8 OpenTable – Good for reservation and customer management

OpenTable is a popular platform for managing reservations and improving guest experiences. Its tools help streamline the booking process and provide insights into customer preferences.

What makes OpenTable a good option?

• Reservation Management: Reduce booking errors and optimize table usage.
• Customer Insights: Access guest history and preferences for personalized service.
• Promotional Tools: Attract more diners during off-peak hours with targeted campaigns.
• Integrated Payments: Simplify billing with in-app payment options.

While OpenTable is strong in guest-facing operations, it doesn’t support back-end management or compliance tracking. For seamless integration of front and back-of-house workflows, Operandio offers a more comprehensive solution.

#9 Resy – Good for managing bookings and improving guest experiences

Resy provides tools to simplify reservations and enhance customer engagement. It’s geared towards restaurants that create personalized guest experiences while maintaining efficient booking processes.

What makes Resy a good option?

• Reservation Management: Minimize no-shows and optimize table turnover.
• Waitlist Features: Handle walk-ins effectively during busy periods.
• Customer Data: Collect insights to build stronger guest relationships.
• Marketing Tools: Drive more traffic with promotional features.

While Resy handles reservations well, it lacks broader operational features like compliance tracking or task delegation. Pairing it with Operandio can help fill these gaps and streamline overall management.

#10 Tock – Good for reservation and event management

Tock is a reservation platform with a focus on event management, offering tools to handle bookings and maximize revenue through dynamic pricing. 

What makes Tock a good option?

• Pre-Paid Reservations: Reduce no-shows with pre-paid booking options.
• Dynamic Pricing: Adjust pricing for peak times or special events to optimize revenue.
• Event Management: Seamlessly organize and promote events like wine tastings or chef’s dinners.
• Customer Insights: Track guest preferences to enhance their experience.

Tock’s reservation and event features are valuable, but its scope doesn’t include broader team or task management. For operational support, Operandio complements Tock’s strengths effectively.

#11 Lightspeed Restaurant – Good for advanced POS and sales analytics

Lightspeed Restaurant combines POS functionality with advanced analytics, helping restaurant owners make data-driven decisions. 

What makes Lightspeed Restaurant a good option?

• POS System: Streamline ordering and payment processes with a reliable system.
• Sales Analytics and Reporting: Gain insights into sales trends and menu performance.
• Inventory Management: Track stock levels to reduce waste and improve ordering accuracy.
• Omnichannel Capabilities: Manage online orders and delivery alongside in-house operations.

While Lightspeed excels in analytics, it doesn’t support compliance tracking or daily task workflows. Adding Operandio to your toolkit can address these gaps.

#12 Upserve – Good for analytics and customer insights

Upserve is a data-focused platform that helps restaurants refine their operations with actionable analytics. It also includes POS capabilities and tools to enhance customer engagement.

What makes Upserve a good option?

• Customer Insights: Understand guest preferences and dining history to improve experiences.
• Analytics and Reporting: Access detailed data on sales and menu performance.
• POS Integration: Manage orders and payments with an intuitive POS system.
• Inventory Tracking: Monitor stock to reduce waste and control costs.

While Upserve provides valuable insights, it doesn’t offer tools for task management or compliance tracking. Pairing it with Operandio can create a more balanced operational system.

Conclusion

While each of these apps offers unique solutions, Operandio stands out as the best overall choice of restaurant management software. Why? Because it goes beyond just solving one problem—it provides a complete platform to streamline operations, boost compliance, and empower your team.

Ready to elevate your restaurant operations? 

Book your free demo with Operandio today and see how we can transform the way you manage your business.