# Ordering from the table by scanning a QR code

> I built a platform that lets a seated customer view the menu and place an order directly from their phone.

- Source canonique : [https://allaux.fr/en/realisations/commande-a-table-par-qr-code](https://allaux.fr/en/realisations/commande-a-table-par-qr-code)
- Langue : EN
- Dernière mise à jour : 2026-09-30

## The context

In restaurants, part of service time goes into walking back and forth to take orders, especially during peak hours. The idea was to offer a self-service tool: a QR code on each table links to a digital menu specific to the venue, where the customer builds their order, optionally customises certain dishes, and confirms, with the order going straight to the kitchen or the counter. This wasn't a one-off build for a single client but a product designed to be reused by different venues, each with its own menu and its own layout.

The main technical challenge wasn't the ordering interface itself, but the reliability of the transmission between the moment the customer confirms and the moment the order actually appears in the kitchen.

## What I did

1. **Designed the digital menu per venue** — Built an admin interface letting each venue set up its menu, categories, options and current out-of-stock items.
2. **Generated QR codes per table** — Assigned a QR code to each table, so an order is automatically linked to the right table without the customer having to enter it themselves.
3. **Built the customer-facing ordering flow** — Designed an interface for quick use on a phone, with no account to create, and a clear confirmation once the order is placed.
4. **Built reliable transmission on the venue side** — Set up a real-time display of incoming orders in the kitchen or at the counter, with acknowledgement of receipt so no order goes unnoticed.

## Outcome

> The platform is in production and used by several independent venues, each with its own menu, with none dependent on the others to operate.

## FAQ

### Does the customer need to install an app?

No, the menu and order open directly in the phone's browser after scanning the QR code, with no installation or account creation.

### How is payment handled?

Depending on the venue, the order can simply be passed on for regular payment at the end of the meal, or the flow can include online payment directly.

### Can a venue change its menu at any time?

Yes, menu changes or temporary out-of-stock items are managed from the admin interface and reflect on the customer side immediately.

### Can the platform handle several venues in parallel?

Yes, that's exactly the architecture chosen: each venue has its own menu and its own configuration, with no interference between them.