Restaurant booking systems in Australia: Chefzi reservations vs the alternatives
Updated 2026-10-27
A restaurant booking system lets guests reserve a table online and gives you a list of who is coming. In Australia you can pay per cover on a marketplace, pay a flat monthly fee for a booking tool, or use the bookings built into your ordering or POS system. This guide compares those options, including Chefzi table reservations. Competitor prices were read on 27 Oct 2026.
How Chefzi reservations work
- Your rules. Opening times, slot length, maximum party size and covers per slot.
- Your website. Guests book on your own site; share the link on Google and Instagram.
- One app. New bookings arrive in the same Chefzi order-taking app as your online orders.
- No per-cover fee. Reservations come with the Chefzi plan.
Not stated on Chefzi's published pages: deposits or card holds for no-shows, SMS reminders and a floor-plan editor. If you need those, a dedicated booking tool may be a better fit.
Comparison (read 27 Oct 2026)
| Option | Pricing model | Online ordering in the same system | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chefzi reservations | Included in the Chefzi plan (Australian pricing), no per-cover fee | Yes | Chefzi |
| Lightspeed Reservations | +$69/mo on top of a Lightspeed Restaurant plan (from $79/mo) | Order Anywhere is +$59/mo on Starter | Lightspeed AU |
| Dedicated booking tools (Tablewick, Eat App, OneReserve, ResDiary) | Flat monthly fee; see each vendor's pricing page | No, or via integration | Vendor sites |
Cutting no-shows
- Confirm the booking with your address and phone number.
- Tell guests how to cancel; many no-shows simply forgot.
- Hold a few tables back for walk-ins rather than overbooking.
See reservations next to your online ordering on a short call: book a demo.
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- Restaurant POS systems in Australia: Chefzi POS vs Square, Lightspeed and others
- Cloud kitchens in Australia: how they work, costs and rules
- Restaurant software in Australia: the tech stack a venue actually needs
- Food supplier ordering systems for Australian restaurants and cafés
- GloriaFood is shutting down: what Australian restaurants need to do
- How to add an order button to your Google Business Profile in Australia
Frequently asked questions
Does Chefzi take table bookings?
Yes. Guests choose a date, time and party size on your own website, and new bookings arrive in the same Chefzi app you use for orders.
Does Chefzi charge per cover?
No. Table reservations are part of the Chefzi plan, with no per-cover or per-booking fee.
Can I stop overbooking on busy nights?
Yes. You set opening times, slot length, maximum party size and how many covers each slot can take.
What is the difference between a booking and QR table ordering?
A booking reserves a table before the guest arrives. QR table ordering lets a seated guest order from their phone. You can use one or both.
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