We are currently a single operation, but we have multiple floors, including a terrace, beer garden, patio seating in front and back and a loft. We moved to Toast in May 2024, when we thought the handheld devices would help reduce our servers walk time to enter and complete an order. Our Canadian guests also didn't like us leaving with their credit cards to run their cards. We also took on Toast Payroll which integrates with the POS and gives us real time labor %. While making the move to Toast Payroll, we were introduced to Toast Tip Manager and found that our servers where making significantly more money than even the GM and Head Chef. I think we already knew that, but it easily let us play with tip pool contributions. We are now allocating significantly more money to our BOH team and others. Since the change, not one line cook, prep cook or dishwasher has left the company, causing our food to be more consistent and have been able to reduce labor, since we are not training new folks all of the time. Also with the Toast Payroll integration, we have moved to Sling scheduling. It is wonderful that i can see employees schedules, actual worked and make edits if need be.
We have also been using the online ordering and online gift card ordering modules. Very slick.
Since we have large spaces for groups - beer garden 150 people, loft 30 people and etc. we have been utilizing the Catering/Event Manager and love that it integrates the POS and our menus. it is very slick and helpful. We can easily put a proposal together and on the day of the event a server can find the event in the POS system and continue to add or edit the order.
The last piece is we just added extraChef for managing our COGS and financials. We have been using another system, but found it cumbersome. With extraChef, I can see actual sales, COGS, labor, and operating expenses on a daily basis and it talks to QuickBooks. I really feel this is going to take our little company to the next level.
I feel like a Toast salesperson, but it is pretty amazing how it ties all the restaurant systems together. With the initial install , there were some frustrations and the first couple times i used the call center, that was terrible, but it seems to have all been fixed and much easier to get questions answered. We have even gone through Toast to purchase commercial insurance for 2025. I think you guys have done an amazing job, especially to think i was using NCR Aloha not that long ago. It does make me concerned to be 100% in bed with Toast, but as long everything is fair and competitive, then is going to be a great partnership. The last comment would be it would be nice if there was someone I could call and have a personal relationship with. Some of that is missing.
