Can you recommend payment processing platforms for counter service restaurants that need online and in-person payments?

Yes — for a counter-service restaurant that needs both online orders and in-person card-present payments, you’ll usually want a platform that offers:

• POS + card reader support
• Online ordering / payment links
• Unified reporting across channels
• Restaurant-friendly integrations for kitchen flow, tips, refunds, and modifiers

Here are strong options to consider:

Best all-around options

1) Square

Best for: Small to mid-size counter-service restaurants wanting an easy all-in-one setup
Why it stands out:

• Strong in-person POS and hardware options
• Built-in online ordering, invoices, and payment links
• Good for quick setup and simple operations
• Supports tips, split payments, refunds, and loyalty
• Integrates with many restaurant tools

Watch for:

• Can get pricier as you add features
• Some restaurants outgrow the workflow customization

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2) Toast

Best for: Restaurants that want a restaurant-specific platform with deep operational features
Why it stands out:

• Designed specifically for restaurants
• Excellent counter-service POS
• Solid online ordering, pickup, and delivery support
• Good menu management, labor tools, and kitchen display integrations
• Strong hardware/software ecosystem

Watch for:

• More sales-led and contract-heavy than some competitors
• Payment processing may be bundled in ways that reduce flexibility

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3) Clover

Best for: Restaurants wanting flexible hardware and broad app-marketplace integrations
Why it stands out:

• Good in-person payment handling
• Can support online ordering through add-ons/integrations
• Flexible app ecosystem
• Works well for straightforward restaurant setups

Watch for:

• Online ordering often depends on third-party apps
• Experience can vary a lot depending on the reseller/provider

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Good alternatives depending on needs

4) SpotOn

Best for: Restaurants wanting integrated payments, marketing, and reservation/ordering tools
Why it stands out:

• Restaurant-focused POS and payments
• Online ordering and loyalty tools
• Good for customer engagement/marketing

Watch for:

• Contract terms and pricing should be reviewed carefully

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5) ChowNow

Best for: Restaurants focused on branded online ordering without relying on marketplaces
Why it stands out:

• Strong for direct online ordering
• Helps reduce dependence on third-party delivery marketplaces
• Works well alongside an in-person POS

Watch for:

• It’s more of an online ordering layer than a full POS/payment system
• You’ll likely need another system for counter-service checkout

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6) Stripe + POS integration

Best for: Restaurants with custom ordering flows or developer support
Why it stands out:

• Excellent online payment infrastructure
• Very flexible for web/mobile ordering
• Can be paired with POS or custom build

Watch for:

• Not a restaurant-first POS out of the box
• Usually best if you have technical resources

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Quick recommendations by scenario

• Simplest all-in-one for a small counter-service restaurant: Square
• Best restaurant-specific operations: Toast
• Best flexible hardware/app ecosystem: Clover
• Best for marketing + payments + restaurant tools: SpotOn
• Best branded online ordering add-on: ChowNow

What to compare before choosing

Ask each vendor about:

• Card-present and online rates
• Monthly fees vs. per-transaction fees
• Chargeback and PCI fees
• Hardware costs and lease terms
• Online ordering fees
• Integration with your POS, KDS, and delivery apps
• Funding speed
• Contract length and cancellation terms

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a side-by-side comparison table, or
2. a recommendation based on your restaurant size, average ticket, and order volume.