Toast
Toast is an all-in-one point of sale and restaurant management platform designed to help you streamline operations, increase sales, and create better guest experiences through integrated technology.
xtraCHEF by Toast
xtraCHEF is an automated inventory and accounts payable platform designed for restaurants to digitize invoices, track real-time ingredient price fluctuations, and manage food costs to protect your profit margins.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Toast | xtraCHEF by Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Website | toast.com | xtrachef.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Boston, USA | New York, USA |
Overview
Toast
Toast is a comprehensive restaurant management platform that unifies your front-of-house, back-of-house, and guest engagement tools. Instead of juggling multiple disconnected systems, you can manage your entire operation—from tableside ordering and integrated payments to kitchen displays and inventory—through a single, purpose-built interface. It helps you speed up service, reduce manual errors, and gain deeper insights into your restaurant's performance.
You can adapt the platform to fit your specific service model, whether you run a fine-dining establishment, a quick-service cafe, or a multi-location franchise. Beyond the point of sale, you can handle complex tasks like automated payroll, team scheduling, and loyalty programs. The software is designed to keep your business running even if your internet goes down, ensuring you never miss a sale during peak hours.
xtraCHEF by Toast
xtraCHEF helps you take control of your restaurant's back-of-house operations by automating the tedious manual work of data entry. You can simply snap a photo of your paper invoices or upload digital copies, and the system automatically extracts line-item data, maps it to your general ledger, and syncs it directly with your accounting software. This eliminates human error and ensures your financial records are always up to date.
Beyond simple bookkeeping, you can monitor price trends for every ingredient you buy, allowing you to spot sudden cost spikes before they eat your profits. The platform also enables you to build digital recipes and calculate exact plate costs based on live invoice data. Whether you run a single independent cafe or a large multi-unit restaurant group, you get the visibility needed to make smarter purchasing decisions and keep your food costs in check.
Overview
Toast Features
- Tableside Ordering Take orders and accept payments directly at the table with handheld devices to increase table turnover and improve accuracy.
- Kitchen Display System Connect your front-of-house directly to the kitchen with digital screens that track prep times and notify servers when food is ready.
- Online Ordering Take control of your takeout and delivery business with a branded online ordering site that integrates directly with your POS.
- Menu Management Update your menu across all devices and online platforms instantly from any location to keep your offerings and pricing current.
- Automated Payroll Sync your employee hours directly from the POS to payroll to ensure accurate paychecks and simplify your tax filings.
- Inventory Tracking Monitor your stock levels in real-time and track food costs to identify waste and improve your overall profitability.
- Guest Loyalty Programs Create custom rewards and marketing campaigns to turn first-time visitors into regulars and grow your customer database.
- Real-time Reporting Access detailed sales and labor reports from your phone or computer to make data-driven decisions for your business.
xtraCHEF by Toast Features
- Automated Invoice Processing. Snap photos of invoices to automatically extract line-item data and sync it with your accounting system without manual typing.
- Real-time Inventory Tracking. Monitor your stock levels in real-time based on purchases and sales to reduce waste and prevent over-ordering.
- Recipe Costing. Build digital recipes that update automatically with your latest invoice prices so you always know your exact margins.
- Price Trend Alerts. Get notified when ingredient prices fluctuate so you can negotiate with vendors or adjust your menu pricing immediately.
- Purchasing Insights. Analyze your spending across different locations and vendors to identify opportunities for bulk savings and better deals.
- GL Code Mapping. Automatically categorize every line item to your specific general ledger codes for faster, more accurate month-end closing.
Pricing Comparison
Toast Pricing
- Cloud-based POS software
- Payment processing integration
- Standard reporting
- Menu management
- Real-time fraud monitoring
- Everything in Quick Start, plus:
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- 24/7 customer support
- Gift card management
- Access to 100+ integrations
- Employee management tools
xtraCHEF by Toast Pricing
- Limited monthly invoice scans
- Basic invoice extraction
- Mobile app access
- Digital document storage
- Basic reporting
- Everything in Lite, plus:
- Increased invoice volume
- Full accounting integrations
- Line-item price tracking
- Vendor management tools
- Standard support access
Pros & Cons
Toast
Pros
- Reliable offline mode keeps you running during outages
- Intuitive interface makes training new staff quick
- Seamless integration between front and back of house
- Hardware is specifically built for harsh kitchen environments
- Regular software updates add useful new features
Cons
- Requires use of Toast for payment processing
- Hardware costs can be high for multiple terminals
- Add-on features can significantly increase monthly costs
xtraCHEF by Toast
Pros
- Saves hours of manual data entry every week
- Highly accurate line-item extraction from messy paper invoices
- Seamless integration with popular accounting tools like QuickBooks
- Provides immediate visibility into rising ingredient costs
Cons
- Initial setup and GL mapping requires significant time
- Mobile app can be slow when uploading many invoices
- Learning curve for staff unfamiliar with inventory software