Tables
A real-time visual map of your dining floor. See every table's status at a glance, start orders directly from tables, manage checkouts, generate QR codes for each table, and configure your seating layout.
How the Tables Screen Works
The Tables screen is your restaurant floor, rendered digitally. Instead of watching a physical floor or maintaining a paper seating chart, you have a dynamic grid view where each table is shown as a card. Each card has the table number, the current status (colour-coded), and if occupied, the number of items ordered and the current order total. The moment any staff member takes an order on that table â from any device â the Tables screen updates in real time via WebSocket.
This screen is primarily for front-of-house staff and managers who need to know floor status at a glance. Instead of walking the floor to find a free table for a new party, you can check the Tables screen in two seconds. Instead of asking the kitchen if a table has been served, you can see the order status right on the table card. For billing, the checkout flow starts right here â click the occupied table, see the order summary, and generate the bill.
Table Status Colors â What Each One Means
Every table card is colour-coded based on its current status. Reading these colours quickly tells you everything about your floor without reading any text:
đĸ Available (Green)
The table is clean, unoccupied, and ready to seat a new party. No active orders associated. This is the resting state â when a table is cleared and marked done, it returns to Available.
đ´ Occupied (Red)
The table has an active order. Customers are seated and their order is in the system â it may be in the kitchen, preparing, ready, or already served and awaiting billing. The card shows the current order value and item count.
đĄ Reserved (Yellow)
The table is reserved for an upcoming booking â a party is expected at this table at a specific time. The table is not yet occupied but should not be given to walk-in customers.
âĒ Maintenance (Grey)
The table is temporarily out of service â a broken chair, a spill being cleaned, or any reason the table should not be seated. Set a table to Maintenance to prevent it from being shown as Available.
Starting an Order From a Table
The most natural way to start a table order is directly from the Tables screen. When a new party sits down:
Click the green Available table card
The table detail panel opens. You'll see the table number, capacity, and any notes about the table (e.g. "Window table â booth seating").
Click "New Order"
This opens the order builder for that table. The table number is pre-selected so the order is automatically associated with it.
Add items from the menu
Browse by category or search by item name. Tap items to add them. If an item has variants (Full/Half), a prompt appears. If it has required modifiers, a prompt appears before adding. Each item with a specific customer request (no onion, extra sauce) can have a note added by long-pressing the item in the order.
Submit the order
When you've captured everything the table wants (first round â they can add more later), tap Place Order. The order immediately appears on the KDS, the table card turns Red (Occupied), and the order enters the system.
For subsequent rounds (the table orders additional items), click the Occupied (Red) table card and choose Add Items. This adds the new items to the existing open order for that table rather than creating a separate order. All items for a table are on one order, which is billed together at checkout.
Checkout and Billing From a Table
When customers ask for the bill, the checkout flow starts from the Tables screen:
Click the occupied (red) table card
The order summary expands showing all ordered items, quantities, and the running total.
Review the order for accuracy
Ensure everything the customer ordered is on the bill. If an item was ordered verbally but not entered, this is the last chance to add it. If an item is being disputed (customer says they didn't order it), you can remove it here.
Click "Generate Bill"
The bill is generated with the full itemised list, GST breakdown, and total. You can choose to apply a discount (if enabled in your plan) at this stage.
Select payment method and confirm payment
Choose Cash, UPI, Card, or other. Record the amount paid. For cash payments, the system calculates change if the customer pays more than the total.
Print receipt (optional) and close table
Print the receipt if the customer wants one. Click "Complete & Clear Table". The table returns to Available (green). The order is recorded as Completed in the Orders history.
QR Codes per Table
Unavakam can generate a unique QR code for each table. When a customer scans this QR code on their personal phone, they're taken to that table's order page â they can browse your digital menu and see what they've already ordered. This is particularly useful in high-volume restaurants where customers appreciate being able to track their order status or browse the menu leisurely without waiting for a physical menu card.
To download a table's QR code, click the table card and select Download QR. The QR code downloads as a PNG. Print it and place it under the table number stand, or stick a laminated copy on the table. Each table's QR code is unique and permanently points to that table â you never need to regenerate it unless you change your table numbering or structure.
Managing Your Table Layout
To add, edit, or remove tables, click the Manage Tables button. In the management view, you can:
- Add a new table: Enter the table number (or name â e.g. "Terrace 1"), seating capacity, and any notes. The table appears immediately in the floor grid.
- Edit an existing table: Change the display name, capacity, or notes. You can rename "Table 7" to "VIP Booth" for example.
- Set a table to Maintenance: Click the table and toggle to Maintenance. It will show in grey on the floor grid and cannot be seated until you set it back to Available.
- Mark a table Reserved: For advance bookings, set the table to Reserved with the booking time. Floor staff know not to seat walk-ins at that table.
- Delete a table: Tables with active orders cannot be deleted. Once the order is completed and the table is Available, you can delete it if you've permanently changed your layout. Deleting a table does not delete historical orders associated with it.
The number of tables you can create depends on your plan. The Starter plan allows a limited number of tables; Pro and Elite plans allow more. See Billing for current limits.