Contactless Payment for Restaurants: How Lavu’s Up ‘n Go Boosts Speed & Guest Experience

In today’s fast-paced dining environment, speed and convenience aren’t just preferences—they’re expectations. Contactless payment for restaurants has quickly become a must-have, allowing guests to settle their bills with ease and minimal contact. Lavu’s Up ‘n Go solution takes this a step further by streamlining tableside payments, reducing wait times, and enhancing the overall guest experience. In this post, we’ll explore how contactless technology is reshaping restaurant operations and why Up ‘n Go is leading the charge.

Contactless Payment for Restaurants: Lavu Now Offers “Pay at the Table” Experience via QR Code

Lavu, a major global restaurant software and payments solution provider built by restaurant people, and Up ‘n go, a contactless payments provider that powers QR code pay at the table solutions for restaurants nationwide, today announce a partnership that integrates Up ‘n go’s pay at the table checkout experience with Lavu’s point of sale software to save merchants time and enhance the guest experience. 

Starting today, Lavu merchants will be able to automatically generate and print QR codes that guests can scan, using their smartphones to pay as they wish, interacting with an easy-to-use, custom-branded digital check. The payment confirmation is shared directly with the server, a receipt automatically prints at the terminal, the payment is processed seamlessly and it is funded to the restaurant’s bank account. Using a powerful dashboard, merchants have access to detailed sales analytics, allowing them to track volume, payments per hour/day, average payments and tips, as well as payment methods. 

Thousands of restaurants can now turn tables 15-20 minutes sooner, serve 20% more tables daily, keep people safe, enhance the guest experience and ultimately, encourage repeat customers. 68% of people surveyed at restaurants using Up ‘n go said they would return to a restaurant because of Up ‘n go. 

The integration also meets rapidly evolving consumer behaviors accelerated by the pandemic, most notably the accelerated shift towards digital, contactless payments. 60% of Up ‘n go’s payments are via digital wallets. The following payment methods are available: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal, credit cards and gift cards. Diners can also select the option to split the check. 

“By integrating Up ‘n go’s pay at the table solutions into our software, we are advancing our mission of helping restaurants simplify operations, empower their staff and provide the best customer experiences,” said Saleem S. Khatri, CEO of Lavu. “The demand is clear, as is the superiority of Up ‘n go’s solutions in the market, making this a logical and natural partnership.” 

“At Up ‘n go, we are passionate about using technology to simplify the lives of restaurant owners and to offer the best user experience for diners ,” said Touradj Barman, CEO of Up ‘n go. “So there is a natural synergy with Lavu, a mission-driven company and leader in the restaurant tech space. We are excited to partner with them to equip restaurants with the best tools to save time and increase revenues.” 

New and existing customers can learn more at Lavu or contact Lavu Customer Success. 

Lavu and Up ’n go Integration

Lavu merchants can now automatically generate custom QR codes and attach them to their dining tables, allowing guests to pay by scanning the code and following a seamless digital checkout experience. Once customers pay, a notification is sent to the server, and a copy of the receipt is printed at the nearest terminal. Payments are automatically sent to the merchant’s bank account, and closed sales are updated in the Lavu POS. 

Using the digital check, diners are able to pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal, credit cards, and gift cards. Guests can even split the check straight from their phones and pay as needed.

What’s included in the integration? 

  • Custom QR-code capabilities for digital payments 
  • Curbside and Pay-at-the-counter payments capabilities
  • Gift card acceptance 
  • Access to Up n’ go’s dashboard which includes analytics and reporting

What Are the Key Benefits of Using Up ‘n Go for Contactless Payment for Restaurants?

  • Turn tables 15-20 minutes sooner
  • Serve 20% more tables daily
  • Keep people safe by limiting person-to-person interactions
  • Encourage customers to return again and again
  • Customers don’t need to download an app to pay 

How to Get Started with Contactless Payment for Restaurants Using Lavu and Up ‘n Go

If you are interested in adding QR codes to your tables for a more seamless checkout experience, reach out to your Lavu Customer Success Manager and they will get you started! 

About Lavu: Innovating Contactless Payment for Restaurants Through POS Technology

Lavu is the world’s leading restaurant management platform for small and medium-sized restaurants. The company’s products include an award-winning mobile point-of-sale, online ordering, payment processing and accounts payable suite. Embodying values of hospitality in its 24/7 support of restaurant partners in more than 65 countries, Lavu helps businesses grow with solutions built for restaurants by restaurant people. Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lavu was the first iPad point of sale in the Apple App Store and continues to offer the latest in restaurant features and functionalities. Learn more at Lavu.com. 

About Up ‘n Go: Enhancing Guest Experience with Contactless Payment for Restaurants

Up ‘n go powers QR code pay at the table solutions for over 700 restaurants nationwide, including brands like P.F. Chang’s, Old Spaghetti Factory, Tupelo Honey, and more. Since its inception, Up ‘n go has been used over 7.5 million times by restaurant guests to pay over $550 million at the table. Up ‘n go enables restaurants to speed-up table turns by 15 minutes or more, which results in more capacity to seat guests, and increases restaurants’ revenue by freeing-up servers’ time to sell more food and drinks rather than processing credit cards by hand. Guests love Up ‘n go because it’s easy to use, lets them split checks easily and fairly, and accepts popular digital wallets, like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Venmo in addition to credit cards.

Contact

Caroline Pruett, Lavu Media Relations

caroline.pruett@lavu.com

FAQs:

1. What is contactless payment for restaurants and why is it important?

Contactless payment for restaurants allows guests to pay their bills without handing over a card or touching a payment terminal. Using technologies like QR codes, NFC, or mobile wallets, diners can settle their check securely and quickly. This improves hygiene, speeds up table turnover, and enhances customer satisfaction—making it an essential feature in modern restaurant operations.

2. Is Lavu a good touchless payment solution for restaurants?

Yes, Lavu is a reliable touchless payment solution tailored for restaurants. Its integration with Up ‘n Go offers QR-based payments, ensuring diners can pay without contact. This not only supports hygiene and convenience but also enhances service speed and table turnover. The system is easy to set up, staff-friendly, and offers a frictionless payment experience for customers.

3. Is contactless payment for restaurants secure with Lavu’s Up ‘n Go?

Yes, Lavu’s contactless payment for restaurants is highly secure. Up ‘n Go uses encrypted payment processing and never stores card data on the device. It supports major digital wallets and PCI-compliant security protocols, ensuring guest data stays protected while providing a convenient and fast checkout experience.

5. Can I use QR code payment in my restaurant with Lavu?

Absolutely. Lavu supports QR code payment for restaurants through its integration with Up ‘n Go. Guests scan a unique QR code placed at the table, which pulls up their bill in real-time. They can then pay using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or credit card—all without needing staff assistance. It’s efficient and convenient for both staff and diners.

5. How can I set up Lavu’s contactless payment system in my restaurant?

To get started with Lavu’s restaurant contactless payment system, contact the Lavu support team or your account manager. Setup involves integrating the Up ‘n Go platform with your existing POS, enabling QR code generation per table, and customizing payment settings. It’s a straightforward process, and Lavu provides full support to ensure smooth onboarding.

FAQ

Frequently Answered Questions

See how owners like you boosted covers, cut costs and
took back control of their business.

What is Marty and what does it actually do?

Marty is your restaurant’s intelligence engine. It watches every sale, shift, hour, item, and
trend inside your POS and gives you clear, actionable direction.

Marty informs. Lavu automates.
Together they act like a digital GM that never sleeps.

Marty gives you:

  • Daily morning briefings
  • Real time sales and labor insights
  • Forecasts and schedule recommendations
  • High margin bundle suggestions
  • Menu and pricing guidance
  • Server performance insights
  • Alerts when something is off


No spreadsheets. No reports. Just clarity and next steps.

You can run basic reporting and audits without Lavu.

But the full power of Marty only unlocks when paired with Lavu POS.

Why?
Because Marty needs real-time, restaurant-wide data to give you accurate insights and
recommendations.
With Lavu, Marty can see everything that happens in your restaurant and Lavu can instantly automate the action.

Marty informs.
Lavu executes.

Three things owners consistently call out:

It runs on iPads
Staff learn it fast. Training drops from days to hours.

It is flexible and not hardware locked
You are not forced into proprietary hardware. You can buy replacements anywhere.

It is the only POS designed to work with Marty
Other POS systems show you what happened.
Lavu plus Marty tells you what to do next.
This is what restaurants actually need to increase profit

Marty analyzes everything happening in your restaurant.
Lavu automates the work behind it.

Examples:

  • Marty flags high food cost items. Lavu shows the exact recipe cost and usage.
  • Marty spots slow periods. Lavu triggers targeted outreach or bundle suggestions.
  • Marty forecasts sales. Lavu generates the schedule with labor control.


It feels like hiring an analyst and an operations manager without adding payroll

Yes. Lavu uses PCI compliant, encrypted payment processing trusted in restaurants
worldwide.

Secure card handling, safe mobile payments, and no risky shortcuts

Most servers pick it up within one shift because it mirrors real restaurant workflows.

Managers love how much time they get back during onboarding

Lavu offers flexible plans for single location operators and multi location brands.

Pricing depends on your configuration, number of devices, and whether you activate Marty.

We will help you select the right setup based on your volume and goals.

Almost always yes.

Lavu works with major EMV readers, printers, KDS screens, and delivery platforms.
We are partnered with Apple to deliver the best-in-class iPad hardware experience.
For payments, Lavu integrates with Adyen, a global leader in secure restaurant payment
processing.

Because the system is open, you are not trapped buying expensive proprietary hardware.

Yes. Online orders flow straight into the POS with no extra steps and no chaos.

You can manage curbside, pickup, and delivery from the same screen.

Inventory updates in real time as items are sold.

Marty then analyzes the trends and highlights waste, low stock, or margin issues so you can
correct them early.

Yes. Lavu tracks time, wages, overtime, and labor percentage.

Marty adds intelligence on top of it by showing staffing efficiency, server performance, and when labor is running high.

Worldwide.

Both support restaurants across the globe with the infrastructure and partnerships needed
for international operations.

While Lavu is purpose built for restaurants, it works with other businesses too.
Drop us a line to find out more

Hit us on Marty Chat or reach support at support@lavu.com or 505-559-5100

Need help?

Call our award-winning support team 24/7 at 1 (505) 535-5288