Short answer
A handheld restaurant POS lets servers take orders and payments at the table on a phone or tablet. In EvronDesk the handheld runs the same app as the main register, so there's nothing extra to buy or learn: install it on the device, sign in with a PIN, and start taking orders.
Why restaurants move to handhelds
Watch a server on a busy night with a fixed till. Take the order at table 9, walk to the till, wait for someone else to finish, punch it in, walk back. Every round of drinks is another trip. Handhelds cut that walk out. Orders reach the kitchen a few minutes sooner, servers cover more tables, and guests get their food sooner.
There's a quieter benefit too: fewer mistakes. When a server types the order while the guest is talking, "no onions" goes in as a modifier instead of a scribble that gets lost between the table and the till.
What servers can do on a handheld
- Open a table from the floor plan and see what's already been ordered
- Add items with modifiers, seat numbers and course
- Send to the kitchen, or hold mains and fire them later
- See when food is ready, without walking to the pass
- Split the bill by seat, item or amount
- Record cash or card payment, add a tip, and print or text the receipt
- Clock in and out
Phone, tablet or both
Phones are best for servers on the move: they fit in an apron and work one-handed. 7–8 inch tablets suit bar staff and hosts who need a bigger floor plan. 10-inch tablets make good fixed registers and kitchen screens. Mix them however you like; they all run the same app. Our hardware guide has specific suggestions.
Shared devices and PINs
Handhelds are often shared between shifts. Turn on PIN sign-in and each server unlocks the device with their own four-digit code. Everything they do is recorded under their name, and the screen locks itself after a set time so the next person can't ring up on someone else's account.
Frequently asked questions
What is a handheld POS for restaurants?
A handheld POS is a phone or small tablet that servers carry to take orders at the table. The order goes straight to the kitchen display or printer, and the same device can show the bill and record payment.
Which devices work as EvronDesk handhelds?
Any recent Android or iPhone, and any iPad or Android tablet. Install EvronDesk from the browser so it opens full-screen like an app. Rugged Android handhelds work too, as long as they run an up-to-date Chrome.
Can guests pay at the table?
Yes. Bring the card terminal to the table and record the payment on the handheld, or let guests scan the table's QR code to order. If you've connected Stripe, guests can also pay online from their own phone.
Do handhelds work if the Wi-Fi is patchy?
They keep working. Orders are saved on the device and sent as soon as it reconnects. For terraces and gardens, a Wi-Fi extender or a mobile data plan on the handhelds helps orders arrive instantly.